A professional couple who had high-flying jobs in India have given up the bright city lights in favour of taking over a Shropshire kennel.
Ryan Harvey, a qualified accountant, and his wife Val, an IT expert, have given up the nine-to-five rat race in Bangalore and moved their family thousands of miles to Newport after buying Chetwynd Firs Boarding Kennels and Cattery on the outskirts of the town.
The couple, who are both 45 years old and have two children, said they always loved animals and wanted to work together looking after pets.
On uprooting from the hustle and bustle of Indian city life in favour of Shropshire, Mr Harvey said it was an easy decision once he saw the county.
“We just wanted a different lifestyle and we wanted to leave the rat race and the daily commute,” he said.
“We wanted nicer surroundings and it seemed worthwhile to look into but once we saw this place we knew we wanted it – it’s beautiful.
“We are loving the Shropshire way of life and Newport is a really friendly town and the staff here are great.”
On choosing Chetwynd Firs, Mrs Harvey said: “Some of the kennels and catteries we viewed were clearly a sideline to other things, often breeding, and the animals looked bored and sad.
“At Chetwynd we felt the animals were well looked after and that the staff were genuinely caring. As dog owners ourselves we liked the fact that dogs are taken for walks in the woodland that is on the site and given a complimentary bath and groom before they leave.
“We want boarding to be a positive experience as far as possible that a pet enjoys rather than endures.
“We fell in love with the Shropshire countryside and particularly the Newport area, so that just sealed the deal.”
Mr Harvey, who worked as an accountant for Tesco in India, added: “I have not missed my work at all. I’m probably working harder now.”
As part of the venture the couple are also offering a pet photography service and a day crèche for dogs and cats.
Contact the kennel on (01952) 550430 or visit www.chetwyndfirs.co.uk
