FORMER IT specialist Stephen Hunt admits he is barking mad - and proud of it.

At 45 he decided he had had enough of the rat race and set up his own dog sitting business with wife Donna.

Stephen had been in information technology since leaving school and for the last 15 years worked for a software house in Cheshire, as a training-sales consultant.

As he zipped up and down the country he eventually realized he wanted more from life than sitting in hotels, and longed to start a business where he could work from home.

Fortunately, just as he was talking to Barking Mad about becoming a franchisee, he was made redundant so he used the money to invest in his new home from home canine care business.

He and Donna both love dogs, and have a two-years-old Border Collie named Cody.

The couple, who live in Lowton. have always been reluctant to kennel their own dogs, so thought the Barking Mad concept was a great alternative that offers a more personal service for owners and their dogs.

It arranges accommodation for dogs and certain other pets in a caring environment with select host families, where their existing feeding and exercising routines are maintained.

The success of the venture is due not only to the pets being extremely well cared for, but also because they are suitably matched with a host family whose environment is similar to their own.

They couple started trading in October and were totally booked up over Christmas.

Stephen said: "People are now booking for the Easter and summer holidays, and we even have bookings for next Christmas.!

"It's a great Job, with very few downsides. Donna and I now have the perfect home, working balance."

Stephen, who is franchisee for Warrington, is actively recruiting more hosts, said: "Most of them tend to be retired people who have had dogs in the past, or have recently lost a dog, and miss the companionship and love a dog can bring to a home.

"The funniest thing so far is seeing my wife trying to breathe with a seven stone bull mastiff called Tilly sitting on her lap watching telly, but the nicest part of the business is seeing the owners' smiling faces, when their dogs walk back through the door, happy and settled, as if they have never been away!

"That's because we pick up the dogs from the owner's home, and the dog thinks he or she is going for a walk, and that their owners are still in the house. This helps the dogs to settle very quickly with the hosts because they haven't seen their owners walk away."

Stephen can be contacted at stephen.hunt@barkingmad.uk.com or directly on 01942 603400.