Guinea Pigs Don't Bounce

His early encounters with a variety of animals – and their equally diverse owners – provide a series of hugely entertaining snapshots of pet ownership and care in the UK. Denis tells it like it was – the ups and the downs, the successes and the failures, the straightforward assignments and the bizarre, the pleasure and, on occasions, the pain of caring for other people's much-loved pets. Humour binds it all together. The book is illustrated throughout in full colour with the delightful cartoon images of Dave Ball

Guinea Pigs Don’t Bounce Guinea Pig's Don't Bounce relates the memorable first year (2003-04) in the development of pet care company Animals at Home. A nationwide success story today, with nearly 60 area franchises, AAH's beginnings were very much a leap into the unknown by husband and wife team, Denis and Shelley Chirgwin, who had left behind the financial security and certainties of life in the Surrey suburbs to move to the Isle of Wight and launch a business venture – looking after animals in their own home while the owners were away – which was far removed from their previous experience Denis's diary entries during that first year form the basis for this account of the fledgling business. The couple's encounters with the extraordinarily diverse assortment of animals – and owners – were full of interest, incident and eye-opening insights into family life. The stories are candid, laced with humour – animals do the funniest things but so, sometimes, do the people looking after them! – and not without pathos. Time and again, the importance of pets to the lives of those who own them is underlined. The diary extracts are augmented by reflective passages as the author looks back on subsequent related events and developments, while the text is colourfully illustrated throughout by a selection of cartoon images depicting some of the most memorable incidents.

Denis was born in Surrey England in 1951 he lives on the Isle of Wight a small Island just off the South Coast of England, His wife Shelley, who he has been married to for 40 years, has helped with the running and administration of Animals at Home since its conception. He has two grown daughters both of whom live on the mainland. Denis was educated in Surrey to A level standard, and has undertaken many business related courses since. He has spent his career in commerce starting in administration, working through sales and marketing director positions, with PLC companies, and holding a position of MD for five years. He spent two years in Hong Kong and the Far East. His activities are really boring, loves his animals, wife, fishing and writing.