In Autumn 2003, I decided that I was going to leave my career in nursing to open up my own business of running a boarding cattery and small animal hotel. To be able to do this, we had to move to a property that was suitable for a family home and have the potential for a business on site. In March 2004, the Stanford family moved from Scone in Perthshire to Newburgh in Fife. Plans were submitted to Fife Council in May 2004, but little did I know that it would take nine long months for the Council to grant us permission for the business.
Work started during the very cold days of late February 2005, and soon the massive pile of wood began to take shape as the main carcases of the cattery enclosures.
Walk-in carcase
Penthouse carcase
Family Unit carcase
Aiming to open in time for the Summer holidays, my husband and I worked long hours, hammering, drilling, nailing and screwing the thousands of bits of wood together, finally managing to complete everything in time for the inspection by the Licensing Authority. Environmental Health Department, Fire and Safety Department and Vet all came to inspect the works and granted my license for starting on the 1st of July 2005. A big sigh of relief was made, and I prepared to welcome my first guests.
