Dogs – a girl’s best friend

Two women born in Epping have discovered that dogs, rather than diamonds, are a girl’s best friend.

Jenny Brearley and long-time friend Kathleen Mansfield run the successful, national “Don’t Fret Pet!” pet care franchise group and are now aiming to bring the business back home to Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Started by Brearley in 1993, the business was franchised five years later and in 2000 Mansfield joined Brearley in the business. Working together they have sold pet care franchises around the nation and created one of the largest pet-minding services in the country.

Brearley and Mansfield together attended both St Peter’s and St Monica’s schools in Epping and have remained friends – and now business associates – for over 40 years.

“We work very well together and because of knowing each other and each other’s families for so long, we have total trust in each other,” Mrs Mansfield said.

They are both now keen to see their business established in their home area of the northern Melbourne suburbs.

The service provided by “Don’t Fret Pet” arranges for dogs to stay in the homes of carefully-screened, pet-loving minders while the owners are away.

“Our vision is to make our service available to dog owners all around Australia,” Ms Brearley said.

“The feedback we get from our clients is wonderful as they tell us that they don’t fret about their dogs when they are away as they know they are happy and getting lots of attention.”

The pet minding franchise company also operates a home visiting service for pets that prefer to stay in familiar surroundings.

“We found that many of our clients wanted their dogs, being pack animals, to have human company but also had other pets like cats, birds, fish and the occasional snake, who were better suited to having someone come in and care for them once or twice a day,” Mrs Mansfield said.

“We also bring in mail and put out bins to make it look like somebody was at home so our clients feel that their home is more secure.”

“Don’t Fret Pet!” is currently operating in the Eastern Suburbs but it is Brearley and Mansfield’s keen desire to “bring the business home”.

“We are looking for business-minded pet lovers to run their own very professional service but we’ll be there to train and support them along the way,” Ms Brearley said.

“We have a fabulous team of franchisees and a rigorous selection process to help us to take on the best possible candidates.

“The Pet Industry is growing at an average rate of 15.5% per annum and our service is growing at an average of 28% per annum so, in a growth industry, we are far outperforming the average growth rate. Even with the Global Economic Crisis we have continued to grow,” she said.

Those interested in running a home based pet care franchise business in Melbourne should contact “Don’t Fret Pet!”