Living it up at the Pet Hotel

It’s a dog’s life at the Birch Pet Hotel where pampered pets can take a dip in the hydrotherapy pool, work off excess pounds on the treadmill or spruce themselves up in the grooming parlour.

Mother and son team Sue and Robert Aston run the unique hotel, in Langley Lane, Heywood, which caters for everything from cats to cockatoos.

As well as the luxury kennels and catteries there’s a grooming parlour and a fully stocked shop.

But the piece de resistance is the K9 health and fitness centre which includes a hydrotherapy pool, a magnotherapy centre and a hydrospa hot tub.

Sue, who set up the business 20 years ago, said: “Some of the dogs use the pool as a way of losing weight after being referred by their vet but others just like to have a splash around.

“It’s lovely and warm but sometimes it takes a bit of coaxing to get them in the water.”

Those that need a little bit of extra encouragement are coaxed into the pool by Robert who admits the job is a bit of a deviation from his marine biology degree.

The 27-year-old, who’s sister Charlotte is a vet, said: “It’s really hard work here but it’s extremely worthwhile and enjoyable.”

When pet owners are arranging for their animals to stay at the hotel Sue and Rob do everything they can to create a home-from-home environment.

Sue said: “Animals can feel frightened when they are away from their home so we do what we can to make them feel at ease.

“We keep them on the same food they are used to and give them lots of attention.

“Basically, we treat them as if they were our pets when they are here.”

Although Sue and Rob both enjoy their jobs they admit it is tiring but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The kennels have to be cleaned twice a day, all the animals have to be fed according to individual taste and the pair like to have a stereo on in each room to keep the animals at ease.

Rob said: “We do work hard but at the end of the day we love what we do and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”