I’ve put my 21-year NHS career on pause to launch my Hebburn-based petting sitting business

Jane Wheatley, 53, has put a 21-year NHS career to one side to open her Hebburn-based business – Pet Poppins.

The name is a play on the fictional character Mary Poppins, celebrated in films and on stage for her magical powers of looking after people, and Jane believes her experience of working in the mental health sector, are transferable into her new role with pooches and felines.

She says her knowledge of what makes people tick will add to her already strong empathetic insight into animals.

She also says her engagement skills – developed by two decades working with clients fellow health professionals – will reassure owners their pets are in good hands while under her care.

Her business aims to specialise in at-home support, in which she visits or stays at clients’ abodes to provide support for hours, days or even weeks.

She said: “I qualified as a mental health nurse in 2004 and have thoroughly enjoyed my career and what was a very challenging role.

“I have also always loved animals, often looking after those in my extended family or belonging to friends, and so Pet Poppins seemed like the right thing to be doing.”

She added: “A few years ago, I did think about switching to pet sitting, but it was only recently a friend who dog walks, assured me that there was a gap in the market for a pet sitter.

“I’m fully insured with the relevant industry body, and I’ve just spent two weeks over Christmas looking after two dogs and three cats at a property in Lincolnshire.

“The idea is that I go into a client’s home and care for their beloved pet.

“As well as the animals getting my full attention, the owner knows their home is also being very well looked after.”

“My business’s name is a play on Mary Poppins. People have previously said that I’m a bit like Mary Poppins, in the way I like to look after people.”

Jane worked for the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

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She specialised in offering support via home visits and clinic-based work, and she managed a client caseload.

While she plans to keep her nursing qualifications up to date and to continue doing some part-time NHS shifts, she is aiming for Pet Poppins to become her full-time job.

Jane added: “I have had some lovely reviews already about my pet sitting work and I’m hoping the business will be a big success.

“I love spending time with animals and to care for their needs, I love doing the walks and giving them lots of cuddles.

“The service I provide means owners do not have to put their animals into kennels when they want to get away on holiday.

“I love caring for a pet in another person’s home, it’s very satisfying to be spending time doing that.”

You can find out more about Pet Poppins at: https://www.facebook.com/pestsittingservice.