Introduction to Penny

Hi, my name is Penny Parker and I will have been a puppy walker for six years in May this year, although I am now walking my seventh puppy. I live in Felixstowe, Suffolk, not far from the beach.

My two daughters Hannah 23 and Lauren 21 still live at home. Hannah works full time but helps out with the puppies and fundraising in the evenings and weekends. Lauren has special needs and suffers from Williams Syndrome, but has placements three days a week. We share our home with Umber a white Labrador (our first guide dog puppy that, unfortunately, was withdrawn from advanced training due to depression) and two cats Bonnie and Beauty.

I first got into puppy walking because I had seen an article in a magazine at the doctor’s surgery and was looking for a new venture. I had recently given up being chairperson of two school PTAs after over 10 years and felt a little lost. Hannah checked online for all the details, like who paid for the food and vets bills, and came bursting into the lounge to announce that she felt we met all the requirements.

We applied and waited. Eventually we had our interview and garden check, nothing much needed doing so I asked how long it would be before we got a puppy. The supervisor said it could be anything between six to eight weeks. I admit I felt a little disappointed, I wanted one now! That was Monday morning, that afternoon she called and said could I take one on Wednesday - well wishes do come true!

As I mentioned, Umber was withdrawn from training, and so home he came making our house a three dog palace! I went on to walk Ulma, a black Labrador and Iris, another black Labrador. I then took a break, not because I wanted to but because we had secured a name a puppy with our local paper who wanted a yellow pup called Star (after the “Evening Star” the name of the paper). Star was beautiful and stole the hearts of the readers of the paper. The paper had guaranteed to raise £10,000 by the time star went for training, she arrived in the September and by Christmas they had raised £15,000. Since then they have named four puppies and are almost at number five. Star was lovely, so calm yet attentive; she was chosen to be a brood bitch.

Next we had Faith a Labrador retriever cross, who Umber adored, and again sponsored by the paper. She qualified last year and works in London. Star gave us her first litter in September 2010 and the paper named one Sterling (“little star” in old English), which we puppy walked. He is lovely, a real gentle giant who has just gone on to advanced training in Surrey, so our fingers are crossed for him.

Star gave us another litter in 2011, we had asked for a yellow boy (purely because the photos come out better!) again sponsored by the paper. However having had a black Labrador mate she gave us only 2 yellow pups, both girls. Not to be put off we gave the photographers a challenge and I’m now puppy walking one of her sons a beautiful boy called Robson, named after Sir Bobby Robson not Robson and Gerome! He is full of character and we certainly know we have him! Umber is still reserving judgement on whether he likes him or not but he [Robson] gets on great with the cats!