Emma first worked with animals at the age of 12 as a Saturday helper at a local veterinary practice in Tenterden. On leaving school she continued as a veterinary assistant and became a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse in 2001.

She has operated in a number of local veterinary practices including Tenterden, Hawkhurst, New Romney and a spell as head nurse at a large practice in Ashford.

A-Z Animal Care was launched by Emma in 2004 as a home visit service for pet grooming. The business grew rapidly and by early 2005 the search was on for a suitable premises to expand into. The current shop at Bethersden was acquired, renovated and opened on 1st August 2005.

Emma has remained hands-on throughout; grooming, training new apprentices through to qualified groomers and maintaining a constant push for quality and the welfare of the animals in our care. She currently still grooms for a good part of the time, continues to train and also runs reception and a share of the business management.

We first knew Kim as a regular customer when she brought her two dogs to us for grooming. She joined us in 2008 as a receptionist but it soon became apparent that her previous management experience both in London and locally could be put to good use at
A-Z Animal Care.

She became our Manager less than a year later and, in addition to running reception, she now carries out many of the background tasks such as bookkeeping, ordering and general day to day management of the business.

Her two dogs; Annabelle, a Lowchen, and Honey, a Wheaten terrier still come in for their regular groom.

Nevil Ramsden
Director and joint owner of
A-Z Animal Care Ltd

Nevil is Emma's Dad and mainly responsible for the "background business stuff" at A-Z Animal Care. He helped set the company up with Emma, taking care of all the "non-animal" elements like premises, accounts, admin, advertising and website etc.

This has worked well as it leaves Emma free to concentrate on making sure that the "Animal Care and Grooming" is delivered to the highest standard without too many distractions. He runs reception around one day a week to keep a feel for the front-line running of the business and help spot any ways it can be improved.

Nevil has spent around half his working life running own businesses and the other half in aviation. A former Captain with British Airways he retired from flying in 2006 and made the leap "from jets to pets". Strangely, on the important things, there are many similarities; not least the need for a high standard of operation and the paramount importance of the safety of the customers - be they passengers or pets!

Vanessa
Qualified City & Guilds Level 3
in Animal Care & Advanced Grooming
Qualified to Microchip Dogs & Cats

Vanessa was our first apprentice and joined us in September 2005, just one month after we opened at Bethersden. She had previously carried out a 1 year course in animal management at Plumpton College.

Tara
Qualified City & Guilds Level 3
in Animal Care & Advanced Grooming
Qualified to Microchip Dogs & Cats

Tara joined as an apprentice in September 2006 and is now approaching her third year as an advanced groomer.

Laura

Laura started her apprenticeship with us
in June 2010 almost directly after leaving school.

Her training to Level 2 is now complete and she has quickly moved onto
Level 3.

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