Not qualifying for any financial assistance from the state meant that credit cards and loans were the only monetary recourse open to me. Where I had planned to be able to pay things back I found myself in the unenviable position of having to take on debt. Sleepless nights and anxiety ensued. To have a successful business crash and burn overnight without any warning or time to set in place an alternative means of income is something I would not wish on anyone.
Then one day amid rumors that lockdown was about to be somewhat eased, I received an urgent booking enquiry from someone calling themselves John Clark accompanied by 3 photos depicting a man in a speed boat with a black Labrador type dog, a woman on a sofa with a small baby and a black dog and a third photo of a black dog on a sofa. Something about the email seemed odd. Both the language and grammar used was not commensurate with someone calling themselves John Clark. The black dog looked like a different animal in each of the photos and “John Clark” alleged he was abroad and about to come back to the UK therefore needing accommodation for his dog. This again seemed odd since lockdown had been going on for several weeks so very few UK residents would be outside the UK. In any event giving “John Clark” the benefit of the doubt, I treated the enquiry as genuine and responded in my normal way. When I received a further email from “John Clark” it became glaringly obvious that my hunch had been correct and the whole thing was in fact a scam based on credit card fraud. Interestingly a few days later I had another booking enquiry this time from “Ben” whose only concern was whether I accepted credit cards. This time I gave him short shrift.
In all this doom and gloom there were some rays of sunshine that shone through. A couple of my customers, who are key workers, continued to need my daycare services, so I was still able to enjoy the company of one or two of my regular charges, who broke the monotony of endless empty days when I missed the noise, hustle and bustle of my furry guests with their multitude of personalities, inquisitive faces and amusing activities. I really missed seeing my regular furry friends, as although they are not mine they felt like mine because they so often made themselves at home here.
Then there were the customers who I cannot thank enough for standing by me and my business – paying in advance for bookings yet to be made or paying for bookings they didn’t need or even use. I have to admit I was left in tears at their kindness and thoughtfulness. And on one particular day, when I was feeling very down about everything, a totally unexpected beautiful bunch of flowers made me feel so much better.
My friend Suzan in Cyprus has experienced much the same as me with endless cancellations at her kennels. However Meghan has had to stay there for two more months than planned and she has a couple of dogs belonging to people who are stuck in the UK and unable to return to collect them, which has been a Godsend for her. Kind people have donated sacks of dog food for the stray dogs she cares for. Although things are just beginning to improve in Cyprus and lockdown rules are being relaxed, we still have no idea how long it might be before Meghan can set out on her journey to the UK. Genghis mopes around on the days when I have no doggy customers as he is used to lots of canine company and the recent loss of his older brother and delayed arrival of his new sister means he is alone.
As of now I still do not know if I will be able to salvage any of the few remaining bookings from August onward. The two week quarantine imposed by the government on those returning from holidays abroad has caused me much concern that I will be hit by a second wave of cancellations covering the remainder of the year. Meanwhile my phone remains ominously silent and the bookings I would normally have taken have vanished into thin air.