Elisa’s Menagerie!

We are running a little series about our Not Just Pets Team and their pets. Last month we featured Wendy in our Frome shop and this time up is Elisa, who works in our Larkhall shop in Bath, who has been with us since 2004 – you can find info about her on our recent NextDoor post. Elisa has had a wealth of pets and has also worked with some larger animals too – so she has shared pictures for us and a little about each one. Enjoy!

The first photo is of Jack, Elisa’s current pet cat. Jack is 10 years old and is a rescue. He was originally with a friend who got him from Cats Protection but she realized after a while she was allergic to him, so Elisa took him on – and she calls him her funny little furball.

When Elisa was a young girl at home, she had a dog called Shreddie. Very cute!

Elisa’s first pet rat was given to her in1996 by the college where she studied Animal Care – he was getting old and she fell in love and wanted to look after him. She named him Jack. Elisa has had many rats since!

Elisa’s very first pets when she left home were Arthur and George. Can you tell what they were?

When Elisa first moved to Bath her first cat is the black one here, called Smudge. The friend lying close was Elisa’s daughter’s cat, Katie.

Next we have Froggy who Lis said used to croak instead of meowing and the cat on the right is Ollie (also known as Smelly Cat – he had an ongoing ear problem!)

Next up is Clarence as he had a wonky eye and the pic below shows Fizzgig (aka Fuzzball) Elisa’s oldest cat who lived to a grand old age of 22. The rabbit next to Fizzgig is Jazzman who used to follow Fizzgig around the garden.

In 2010, Elisa had a pet rabbit she named Flopsy Mopsy.

Elisa has always loved horses and she bought Rover from a local riding stables in Weston in Bath, which sadly is no longer there. Rover looks very handsome, don’t you think?

She has also had polecat ferrets – meet Peter!

Elisa even had a duck at one point, but the neighbours complained about the noise so here it is being packed up to go to a local wildlife park – Elisa was not happy!

From here we move on to a few more unusual pets – Colin the Corn Snake, also a rescue, who lived in our pet shop for many years. One year he went missing – for a few weeks! – and we found him snuggled up on one of the high hot water pipes. We have lost pics of Elisa with Colin, but here he is styling himself as a belt on my trousers during one of our open days. He lived to a good old age of 16.

Elisa has also owned Sally the Salamander and Lucy, a stripey mouse.

And now to bigger animals – in 1983 Elisa’s first job on a YOP scheme was in the reptile house at Bristol Zoo, which included the care of giant tortoises and coati mundi plus 2-toed sloths. Also, she got to work with the wolves. How exciting is that?

Here is a picture of a sloth and baby before they went on show at the zoo

Also meerkats – here again before they went on show

Elisa was even famous for a day in the Evening Post in July of 1983.

Elisa also worked as a reptile keeper and an ape keeper at Bristol Zoo. Here she shows us Jeremiah, the baby lowland gorilla who had to be taken away from his mum as she wasn’t looking after him. This is way back in 1984 and Elisa looked after Jeremiah – and also Cain, the baby Orangutan who also needed hand-feeding and company. So much cuteness here!

Elisa’s first snake was Sid – a common boa constrictor, again in 1984. Sid was a stowaway and came from RAF Lyneham and Elisa got to take him home to care for him.

But here are the bigger reptiles she cared for – having a cuddle here with a reticulated python who was about 15ft long!

Elisa has also had responsibility in our shops since 2004 for so many species of animal. Here are some of them;

  • many other reptiles, including snakes, skinks, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, chameleons, uromastyx and more.
  • Mantids, millipedes, cockroaches, giant land snails, stick insects and all our bugs and not forgetting spiders of all kinds – although to let you into a secret, Elisa is actually arachnophobic!
  • She has also looked after all our cold water and tropical fish in the past and has a vast knowledge about those too. We have even had axolotls and piranha in the past to take care of as rescues!
  • In the shops we have had in Bath she was responsible for all the small animals including hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, chinchilla, degus and jirds
  • In our big old shop we used to have aviaries for birds including budgies, cockatiels, finches, even parrots occasionally and yes, she looked after those too.

So, when we say Elisa knows a little about animals.. well, you can see for yourself, she really does! I am sure there are many missing from the above lists too. Elisa is an asset to our business and is fabulous with the human species too.

We hope you have enjoyed this little insight to Elisa’s crazy menagerie over the years. Do give us any comments below, we would love to hear from you. You can also join us on our Facebook pages at @Not Just Pets Frome and Not Just Pets Larkhall and our Instagram page @NotJustPets. You can also email us at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01373 462068. And please don’t forget our website where you can find many lovely things to purchase for your pet at www.notjustpets.co.uk

It’s Christmas! 2014 News and Products

December is here which can mean one thing… Christmas! The best time of the year where we can decorate the store, get ready for Christmas and display all the favourite Christmas stock! We have been busy stocking our shelves with festive treats for all animals.

This blog will contain all the Cracking Christmas treats that we have in store for dogs, cats, and small animals as well as how we are preparing for the Christmas festivities.

We have decorated our Bath city centre store windows with a festive scene and a winter wild bird window.

 

 

Here is a shot of the wild bird window! As you can see it is a wintry scene with some very wild birds joining us… March of the penguins!

 

 

 

 

 

In our other window we have a festive party with a wintry scene. Father Christmas seems to be having some trouble on the roof!

 

 

 

We have a range of Christmas toys and treats for cats, dogs and small animals as well as all our usual toys, accessories and gift ideas.

 

 

Does your cat or dog look at you longingly for your favourite Christmas treats? Here in the Armitage range are dog and cat friendly treats including mince pies!

 

 

 

 

 

Small animals are not forgotten this festive season. We have some lovely natural festive treats, toys and accessories available for them to enjoy. Christmas stockings also available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What special doggy wouldn’t want to wake up to these special gifts on Christmas morning! A fantastic pudding outfit, a festive dog friendly cracker, a soft reindeer toy and a lovely bed. We have a range of festive costumes, coats and jumpers for dogs of all sizes. We have plenty of beds in our Relaxing room downstairs where you can try out the beds! We stock a wide range of colours and sizes.

 

There are plenty of special gifts and toys for our festive felines! Doesn’t this igloo bed look warm and cosy?

Festive toy balls, tinsel wise and danglers as well as a festive stocking just for cats!

Billy+Margot have these fantastic Luxury Christmas crackers for dogs! They look fab, just like the real thing, only these do not have a bang inside so are great for dogs!

They do include a joke, a hat and a packet of treats, antler or bone.

 

 

We have had an extra helper this year in the Bath city centre store in the shape of the Christmas Bear who likes to share! He helped us by promoting Christmas discounts on Facebook and Twitter!

Here he is helping Mike out on the till!

Helping himself to the Billy+Margot crackers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measuring dogs up for warm coats to keep them warm on their festive winter walks!

Promoting the Natures Menu and Lily’s Kitchen products that we stock, by trying to make Christmas trees out of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making snowflakes out of wild bird food!

Here he is making friends with the goldfish and looking very comfortable with the festive Vet Bed we have in stock. Is this the Princess and the Pea? No! It’s the Christmas Bear deciding which colour bed he likes the most!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you are going away over Christmas? Do you have anyone to free to care or your pets? If the answer is no then give the store a call! Our Pet Hotel has spaces available for small animals, birds and reptiles.

In our Bath city centre store we have spaces available over the festive period! Staff will be in store over the Christmas break so your pet will be cared for everyday, including Christmas day!

We are open all the way up until the 24th December Christmas Eve should you or your pet need anything in our stores. All your pet needs will be sorted over the Christmas period. Contact us if you have any questions or queries.

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

Rabbit Awareness Week 2014

 

Rabbit Awareness Week (10th – 18th May) is a nationwide event that aims to make the public aware of the welfare needs of rabbits.

Rabbits make very rewarding pets as they are intelligent, fun and inquisitive. However, they do live up to 10 years plus and are a long term commitment. We want to make sure that your decision to choose a rabbit as your pet is the right one.

Rabbit awareness week is an annual campaign that Not Just Pets supports. We take it as an opportunity to educate local owners and potential owners on how to take care of their pets properly.  We aim to raise awareness of caring for rabbits as well as raising funds and promote local charities.

In order for an animal to thrive and be happy there are five main areas that need to be met. These areas are Diet, Environment, Behaviour, Company and Health.

Whether you are an existing owner or plan to be one there is a wealth of knowledge to be found during Rabbit Awareness Week.

In store we are holding an open day in conjunction with Bath Bunny rescue. There will be a fabulous raffle and cake sale to raise essential funds for the charity. Here is the star cake from the last cake sale!

The date for your diary is Saturday 10th May. We will be holding the Open day at our Bath store 8-9 St James Parade.

Our staff will be on hand to guide you through any rabbit purchases you may need help with and Michelle from Bath Bunny Rescue will be in store to answer your questions and to chat about all things rabbit.

Michelle will also be bringing in some rabbits with her so please come and visit them for a cuddle!

Rabbit themed incentives and promotions will be available so come and get a treat or learn something new during Rabbit Awareness Week!

 

 

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

On Facebook:(https://www.facebook.com/NotJustPets) and Twitter: (https://twitter.com/NotJustPets) and  Pinterest: (https://www.pinterest.com/notjustpets/)

We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!