🐾What’s Happening at Hillcote Pets for New Year 2026 🐾

Artie surging in to 2026 ready for new adventures at Hillcote

Hello and Happy New Year from all of us at Hillcote Pets! As we step into 2026, we wanted to take a moment to sit down (with a cuppa and a few wagging tails nearby) and share what’s coming up for the year ahead. If you’re part of the Hillcote Family already – thank you. And if you’re new here, welcome… you’ve picked an exciting time to join us.

Growth – More Ways to Care for Your Pets

One of our biggest focuses for 2026 is growth. Last year we restructured the type of services we offer. We are now able to care for a greater variety of pets and we are planning to increase our expertise in species focused qualifications and training. Last year we welcomed our first reptile to the family and we hope to welcome many more in the future.

This year we will increase both the number and type of services, so we can help even more pet owners while continuing to deliver the silver service you know and trust. From pet sitting and drop-in visits to enhanced walking options, our aim is to support you and your pets at every stage of life – without ever compromising on quality, care, or attention to detail.

Expanding the Hillcote Family

With growth comes expansion, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming more pet care professionals into the Hillcote Family. We’re bringing on board passionate, experienced animal lovers from further afield who truly share our values. Every new team member is carefully selected, fully trained, and genuinely passionate about pets (just the way we like it!).

We intend to nurture their interests and strengths by providing species specific training to develop our expertise to ensure we provide the highest standard of care to each individual pet. By increasing the number of pet professionals on the team we can cover more areas and offer greater flexibility while maintaining the personal touch we’re known for.

A Very Welcome Return – Kayleigh Is Back!

Kayleigh & Pippa

We’re especially excited to share that Kayleigh is returning to Hillcote Pets after a prolonged absence to look after her daughter Pippa and herself. Kayleigh unfortunately experienced very serious complications after Pippa’s birth and it is still a long ongoing road to recovery but she has decided that now is the right time to start integrating herself back into the daily grind.

Kayleigh will be mostly overseeing the day-to-day running of Hillcote Pets with Ida though you may also see her covering pet sitting and drop-in visits. Kayleigh is absolutely buzzing to be back working with the team, and we know many of you will be just as delighted to see her return. It feels wonderful to have her back where she belongs.

In addition to supporting the growth and expansion described above, Kayleigh has been working closely with Ida and they have been wearing their creative and entrepreneurial hats together and have decided to explore other opportunities for Hillcote Pets, offering professional content creation services including writing about pet care to offer invaluable information and signposting for pet owners.

Every member of the Hillcote family is a pet owner themselves and so we know what its like trying to navigate a minefield of information available on the internet and we want to make this simpler and more accessible for all.

More Walking Options – Adventures Await

In 2026, we’re expanding our dog walking services too. Because at Hillcote Pets, we don’t just walk your dog… we take them on an adventure. Whether your dog thrives on long countryside rambles, enriching sniff-filled strolls, or structured walks to build confidence, we’re offering more options to suit different personalities, energy levels, and needs.

Freddie the Labrador enjoying a muddy a puddle in Stansted Forest

Elliot is specialising in adventures for active and working breeds using gun dog training principles. He is undertaking various training opportunities to ensure he is providing optimal welfare focused enrichment for your dogs. He is working towards a qualification and we are supporting him every step of the way.

Bespoke Care – Always About Your Pet

At the heart of everything we do is you and your pet. We continue to work closely with you, the owners, to ensure every service we provide is completely bespoke. No two pets are the same, and their care shouldn’t be either. From routines and preferences to medical needs and quirks, we take the time to truly understand your pet so they receive care that feels familiar, comfortable, and stress-free.

Each client is is asked to complete an in-depth questionnaire about your pet and prior to any service we will carry out an in-person assessment to ensure we are providing the right type of care for your pet. We get to know and understand their needs and preferences so that you both feel reassured and you can have peace of mind knowing that they are being well cared for.

Looking Ahead

2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Hillcote Pets, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you. Thank you for trusting us with your beloved companions and for being part of our growing community.

Here’s to another year of adventures, cuddles, muddy paws, and happy pets. 💚 If you’d like to find out more about our services or chat about your pet’s needs, we’re always just a message away.

Happy New Year, The Hillcote Pets Team 🐶🐾🐱