MOORHEY

My name is Shirley Hewitson and I live in a small village in Lancashire. I have loved animals, mainly dogs, since I was a very young girl. When I was 10 our next door neighbours bought a dog, a Chow Chow, which was quite rare at the time. I would take him regularly for walks after school. In the holidays I would be out with him all day. I had access to all his combs and brushes and would brush him until he was fed up!!

When I married, I bought my first dog a Labrador. She lived until she was 16. Since then I have had four children, who all loved animals so we ended up with goats, rabbits, cats, chickens, birds and hamsters. I went on to have Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lowchens, a Polish Lowland Sheepdog and finally my beloved Bolognese. I have been attending shows for 20 years but have never showed until more recently. I saw the Bolognese at a show 6 years ago. Two ladies were carrying a dog each and I ran after them and asked what breed they were. I knew then that these where the dogs for me. I have to say they are my soul mates. I started showing last year and I really enjoy the days out and the competition. It is a good hobby where you meet some very nice people with the same interest.

I am a small hobby breeder and do not have puppies very often, usually only when I want a puppy myself. All my dogs and puppies live in the house. My aim is to ensure that the dogs have no hereditary defects. All my dogs have the BVA eye test. Eye certificates can be inspected. I am also an Accredited Kennel Club Breeder. Indeed all my dogs have taken part in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme. Puppies love doing this and it gets them socialising with other breeds. I have one puppy that we are hoping will be accepted to train to be a PAT dog. I take her once a week to a Nursing Home and everyone there loves her. She just brightens up everyone’s day.