Home boarding service for whippets launches in Wiltshire

A Wiltshire woman has created a ‘haven’ for whippets to stay while their owners go on holiday.

Liza Edwards, who lives in South Marston, just north of Swindon, has created a home boarding service called Just for Whippets.

Its creation was inspired by her own whippet, Finn.

“I have struggled to find suitable care for Finn while we’re away,” she said.

“I had a very long list of requirements and kennels were out of the question.

“Finn is an important member of our family and finding someone that I could trust to leave him with, without feeling guilty was such a daunting task. I wanted to find somewhere with a home from home feel, where the people had knowledge and experience of the breed and where he would be loved as if he were with family.

“When I couldn’t find anywhere suitable, I thought I must have been the only one out there. However, then I shared my struggles with fellow Whippet owners and realised that I wasn't alone and shared the same worries as others.”

Previously, Liza ran a successful dog walking and pet care business, Liza’s Pet Care.

After floating the idea for a home boarding service on Instagram, other owners soon got in touch in to say it would be of interest.

One woman said a kennel staff member had ‘rolled his eyes’ at her when she had brought in blankets for her whippet to be snuggled in, as it got easily anxious.

Just for Whippets has already had great success, and are expecting a busy summer as more people go on staycations.

“Some kennels are brilliant, but for whippets they really do thrive with home comforts,” said Liza.

“It takes a whippet owner to know a whippet owner.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Liza’s love of Sighthounds started many years ago while she was school and completing work experience at a local greyhound racing kennels.

Years later, she and her husband Richard got an ex-racing Greyhound called Tilly. Then along came our two Lurchers, Storm and Lucy.

After Storm and Lucy, Finn joined the family.

“Whippets are certainly quirky, they can be strange at times, but I’d never go back to any kind of breed. They’re brilliant dogs.”

If you want to find out more, go to https://justforwhippets.com/