Sometimes 35, other times 85, actually 65.
When did you start your site?
July 2000
How many pets do you have?
Three dogs
What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
The oldest is Leo, a gutsy 10 year old Bichon Frise, who fears no man, nor dog. Holly, my Blenheim Cavalier King Charles is 3 y/o, and Bramble of like age is a Tri-coloured Cavalier- both prickly things.
Hobbies - What do you like to do, besides keep this site?
Pets hobbies - What do your pets like to do?
Leo is ball obsessed. Bramble's favourite sport is to chase a ball wrapped in a smelly old sock, tied to the end of an old pyjama chord. Holly, alays a lady, prefers to watch and tease the boys by stealing their toys.
Location - Where are you from? Where are you now?
I was born some few years before the war, the second one that is, in the village on the outskirts of a dirty industrial chemical manufacturing town, Widnes, England. While waiting at our local railway station, Paul Simon was moved, quite understandably, to write “Homeward Bound”.
Since then I have been a lawyer, accountant, restauranteur,a photographer, teacher and am now a beachcomber on the banks of the River Mersey (in England) where there is little competition.
Why did you start writing your Web site?
WHY do you write a site about your pets?
When I found that the King Charles Cavalier Breeders Clubs were not interested in doing any research to find out how the condition was proliferating, I decided to make their apathy known in the hope that they would try to breed out the problem.
What kinds of things do you discuss about you pets on your site?
Symptoms of syringohydromyelia, Treatment, Breeders negative attitude, mainly prompted by pecuniary greed, to this and other breed problems.
Do you and/or others in your family communicate with readers of your site?
Yes.
How much email feedback to you recieve from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
I have had many emails and letters from owners, breeders and vets from France, Australia, and USA, prompted by the site. It is gratifying to know that the information given on the site has helped to alleviate the suffering of good number of dogs.
Have you met any new friends because of the site?
Yes. I have also made a number of enemies, mainly the ostriches amongst the Cavalier breeding fraternity who do not want their failings and bad bredding practices problem to be highlighted. There are many good breeders but the bad ones predominate at present.
Has your motivation changed over time?
No.
Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it?
Yes.
HOW has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
Yes. I have learned a little about website creation over the last year and hope that the information shown is helping my target audience.
If you had to do it over again from the beginning, what would you change?
Yes, but not sure how.
What are your favorite things on your site?
The jokes ? Holly's picture on Page One.
What do you look for in an pet Web site, as a viewer?
Ease of use, pages where the adverts and links do not impinge on access to the content. Information first, entertainment second, adverts last.
How do you tackle the mechanics of Web design and how do you deal with your frustrations when you can't do what you envision.
Kick one of the dogs, unless my wife is in the way.
Why do you think people are interested in your pets and what they do?
Cavalier owners are always interested in hearing stories from other owners about their favourite breed.
What compels you to design beautiful pages and to write from the heart (beyond just the usual question of "why do you write a Web site")?
Somebody had to tell "Holly's Story" and I just hope that I have done it adequately and interestingly.
