My dog took me to Manchester's newest pet shop and got the worst possible news
In my 16 years of motherhood I've spent more time in pet shops than I ever envisioned.
With a young son who was animal mad, we started out with fish and eventually ended up with two guinea pigs, two lizards, a tortoise, a dog and what we thought was a giant African land snail - that sadly turned out to be your average garden snail.
Obviously pets don't last forever, but thankfully we're still left with gecko Joel, our big bouncy Labrador Milo and our hermann's tortoise Sheldon, who will probably outlive us all.
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It's Milo who demands most of the attention - he's hard to miss - and it was him who was invited for a VIP first look around the new Pets at Home at Manchester Fort.
He seemed excited at the prospect, pounding through the doors of the swish new Pet Care Centre, homed in the former Sports Direct which has undergone a £982k transformation.
Our first stop was the weighing scales, where the worst possible news was confirmed - the boy needs to diet.
The staff didn't say as much - they're here to advise not preach - but at 40kg and a belly that suggests his penchant for pig's ears and cheese is not boding well, I didn't need telling that we should perhaps make our way to some of the healthier treats.
Don't get me wrong, he has a good diet and is raw fed, but he never stops wanting food and as a result of almost scratching a hole in the fridge door - his relentless signal for 'I want more food' - he definitely has too much.
Thankfully this place has loads of healthy food and with a dedicated Nutrition Hub, there's an increased range of fresh and frozen food including Butternut Box, which you can get a subscription for, and raw food options to reflect the diverse feeding choices pet owners are adopting.
The pick-and-mix treat bar is stocked with natural products and I picked up a few things for Milo, like a long-lasting yak chew, some veggie pigs ears and some freeze dried raw treats to try to curb his appetite.
Even as a frequent visitor to Pets at Home - regularly picking up live grasshoppers for our lizard - I was still a bit oblivious as to many of the services they offer in the newly-branded Pet Care Centres.
As well as the free weighing scales, there's a team of highly trained pet care advisors on hand every day to support with free advice, including flea and worm subscriptions, pet food consultations and fitting services for dog coats and harnesses.
Store manager Stacey Revilles, who was showing us around the new store, made sure Milo's harness fitted perfectly - discreetly and seamlessly swapping him to a bigger size to save his blushes.
He was more than a little taken with the toy aisle, where there is a four for three offer on toys and treats, and we discussed the various calming products for the times he gets overanxious, mainly with loud noises and other dogs, eventually deciding on some Lily's Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits and Pooch & Mutt turkey and hemp treats, both of which came highly recommended.
A small animal pet village sits near the back of the 10,500 sq ft superstore, currently home to guinea pigs and eventually housing rabbits too once the purpose-built in-store Vets for Pets veterinary practice opens on the mezzanine floor this summer, above the aquatics area.
It's this pet village area that will host the popular free My Pet Pals workshops that Pets at Home hosts in the school holidays, giving youngsters the chance to learn how to care for a range of animals.
There'll be sessions taking place this weekend - March 8 and 9 - to celebrate the launch of the new store, as well as a face painter, performances from local favourite 'The fingerless magician', and delicious 'pup'cakes.
Store manager Stacey, who recruited locally for positions in the new store, said: 'We're incredibly excited to open the Pet Care Centre right here at Manchester Fort Shopping Park. This isn't just a store - it's a haven for pet lovers and their furry friends.
"With a range of top-tier services, and a shopping experience like no other, we've created a space that truly celebrates the joy of pet ownership. We can't wait to welcome customers to explore, connect, and see how we're raising the bar for pet care.
"Whether you're here for your dog's next adventure, your cat's favourite treat, or expert advice for your small animals, we've got everything you need to keep tails wagging, whiskers twitching and hearts full."
The new Pets at Home Pet Care Centre is open seven days a week, 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
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