About

Experience | Qualifications | Accreditations

Hi, I'm Lydia 

Hoppiness Pet Care is based in Hedge End and was founded in 2025. It's entirely run by me! My home is shared with my mum Julie, our dog Buzz, & our two house rabbits, Apollo & Willow.

At the heart of Hoppiness Pet Care is Apollo and my angel bunny, Athena (pictured). They reconnected me with my love for animals and taught me so much about the joy & responsibility that comes with caring for them. They inspired me to take the plunge and follow my passion to provide services where other pets could feel just as loved while their owners are away - whether enjoying a well-deserved holiday, or working late to ensure a constant supply of treats!

Before founding Hoppiness Pet Care, I worked in Communications for a conservation charity, which was an incredible 6-year experience that even took me to Kenya! After that, I ventured into freelance marketing work for people who specialise in holistic animal health, plus photography gigs. These experiences gave me a unique opportunity to learn about animal care & welfare from experts. But, while I've enjoyed marketing (and having a "real" job! 😆), my heart has always longed to work with animals directly. I’m beyond grateful to be able to start this chapter!

I hope you'll join me and I can't wait to meet you and your pets.

Small Animal Boarding Services in Southampton - Rabbits - Guinea pigs - Rats - Hamsters - Degus - The Hoppiness Lodge - Lydia and Athena
Hoppiness Pet Care - Dog Walking and services - near hedge end (1)

What I Do

Happy Pets, Happy Owners

At Hoppiness Pet Care, I believe that every pet deserves love, patience, and quality care. Whether it’s a one-to-one dog walk or a drop-in visit to check on your fur (& feathered or scaled!) family, I'm here to provide trustworthy, stress-free pet care, so you can relax knowing they're in great hands.

I absolutely adore all animals - from rabbits and hamsters to huskies and beyond!

When you're running a professional service, love isn't always enough. Unfortunately, this line of work is generally very unregulated and flooded with those who mean well, but lack insurance, checks, or training (eek)!

That's why I work hard to make sure you feel confident in my services and can trust that your pet is in safe hands. I am DBS-checked, Pet First Aid trained, have a pet sitting & dog walking diploma and am fully insured. You can take a look at my qualifications below, and insurance/DBS on request.

I cover a lot of the areas surrounding Hedge End (where I am based) and offer reliable and tailored dog walking, home visits, and photography services throughout this area.

Qualifications & Associations

At the core of my commitment to providing exceptional care lies a solid foundation of education, and memberships with renowned organisations. Click on a heading to learn more.

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Diploma (CPD)

Pet First Aid Certificate

Diploma in Pet Psychology (CPD)

SEG Awards Level 3 Award in Small Animal Care and Welfare (OFQUAL Accredited)*

Rescue Charity & Foster Experience

Certificate in Applied Zoopharmacognosy

Member of the Pet Industry Federation (PIF)

Member of the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF)

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Compliant

Personal Experience