Hi, I’m Glenn, and if there’s one thing Mandy and I have learned over the years, it’s that life has a funny way of steering you towards where you’re meant to be—even if the path isn’t exactly straight.

In 2004, we left South Africa for the UK, swapping sunny beaches and braais for Wiltshire’s rolling hills. Why? We needed a change, a fresh start. Most importantly, we wanted our son to have career opportunities he’d never find in South Africa. Mandy quickly landed a role managing high-profile IT events, while I ventured into sales and eventually gravitated towards recruitment. Between work, raising our son, and settling into a new country, life was full. But we never forgot our love for animals or the bittersweet decision to rehome our beloved Sasha before emigrating.

Our mission is To provide compassionate care for your pets and secure management of your home - so you can travel worry-free.

Fast forward to 2018, when Mandy convinced me to take another leap—this time onto a canal boat. With no practical boating experience, we swapped a house in Swindon for life on the water. That first winter was brutal, but we adapted as we knew we would. The calm mornings with birdsong and misty countryside became our unique kind of bliss. Little did we know, this new chapter was laying the groundwork for something even bigger.

Two years drifted by, and in 2020, the pandemic swept across the world and changed everything. Locked down at home, millions of people adopted dogs and cats. Fast forward another two years, and as life returned to normal, people were eager to make up for their missed holidays. Except now, they had pets who needed care.

Enter my younger sister, Jenny. She and her husband had been housesitting for select clients for several years and had built a thriving business. One day, a couple approached her, desperate for a capable sitter for their menagerie: a dog, a cat, rare breed sheep, ferrets, two tortoises, and even a skink. Jenny was already booked, but she thought of us—and she was right.

What began as a one-off housesit quickly evolved into a packed calendar of bookings. Mandy and I loved reconnecting with so many different pets. From audacious pugs to aloof cats, each one stole a piece of our hearts. By the end of 2022, we’d spent nearly 200 days caring for homes and pets across the Cotswolds, and we’d cemented relationships with a loyal core of regular clients already planning their next trips.

Then, in 2024, a serious and unexpected health scare made us pause. Until that point, Mandy and I had been splitting up to cover overlapping bookings for our regulars. But moving forward, that was no longer possible. Thankfully, Jenny and her team at Running Duck Pet Services, along with my older sister Merryl, stepped in to support us. It was a turning point—a chance to rethink and grow.

And so, A-Breed-Apart was born: a space to share our extensive experience in companion pet and farmyard animal care. Through this venture, we hope to give pet owners peace of mind and provide practical, insightful advice.

Mandy and I are excited to share our story and help you on your journey. Thank you for reading this far—we look forward to welcoming you into our adventure!