A FORMER administrator has proved she was not barking mad to leave her job – by becoming a successful franchisee for a dog-sitting firm.

Dog-lover Veronica Young set up her branch of the national business from her Littleover home a month after losing her 13-year-old collie cross, Crystal.

The 53-year-old read about Barking Mad in an in-flight magazine and decided to give up her job of nine years to start her own franchise.

The business offers pet owners an alternative to boarding kennels for pets when they go on holiday, with host families taking the place of the owners.

It cost Veronica, who works with daughter, Laura, 22, around £15,000 to buy the franchise and, six months later, the pair have helped to find temporary holiday homes for around 80 dogs.

And the mother of two, of Mossvale Drive, said she finds her new job very rewarding.

She said: "It was very daunting when I first started up Barking Mad in Derby.

"I've had my own dog and I know what they mean to people so taking on the responsibility of them is something you've got to get right.

"It's also strange when you're settled in a job with a regular pay cheque and you suddenly decide to become self-employed.

"But this business has so many pleasures and, although it's not always smooth sailing, we really enjoy it."

Holidaymakers using the Barking Mad service are invited, with their pets, to meet Veronica, who collects details about the dog's routine and habits.

She matches up the animal with one of her 15 host families and, on the day of the holiday, picks up the dog and delivers it to its sitters.

Veronica then returns the animal back home when its owners return and, if the customer uses the service again, tries to send them back to the same host family.

People who ask to become hosts are paid £5 a day to cover expenses.

Veronica said: "It's a thank-you payment because we want people to come forward for the right reasons – because they are dog-lovers, not for the money."

Veronica said working with dogs also helped her after the death of Crystal. "I still interact with dogs on a regular basis and it's lovely I can do that."

For more information about Barking Mad, ring 01332 523777.