Irma the heart of our family

At Irma Leads the Way, caring for dogs goes beyond a service; it's a lifelong passion built on love and trust. As lifelong dog owners, we've always been surrounded by these wonderful companions, making them an integral part of our family. Our inspiration, Irma, is a Brittany Spaniel and Red Setter mix, a rescue dog we adopted at the age of 7 and who is nearly 13 now. She’s our world and the heart & inspiration behind everything we do.

Understanding how important it is to find the right care, especially for dogs like Irma, who suffer from separation anxiety, we ensure every dog at Irma Leads the Way receives the same love, attention, and comfort that we provide to our own. Whether it's dog walking or a drop-in visit, your furry friend will enjoy a warm, friendly, and relaxing home-away-from-home where they’ll be treated like family.

Carry on reading for Irma's story...

Irma's story: Narrated by Irma

My life now

La vie n'était pas si belle, jusqu'à ce que je rencontre maman....OH Pardon me!, let me start again, Hello! My name’s Irma. I’m nearly 13 years old and I’m a Brittany Spaniel cross Red Setter. I was born in France, and my mum (Laura) rescued me when I was 7 years old. Before that, life wasn’t so great. I was mistreated by my owner and the police took me away from him. I then spent a year in a rescue centre, then one day I met Mum and I just knew. You see, us dogs, we have this special sense — we can tell when a human is kind, and the way she looked at me told me she was going to be my new human. I was so right!

Now, life is much better. Mum and Dad (the spare human, I call him) take such good care of me. They give me tons of hugs and kisses, and oh, the walks! I love the smells! But there’s one thing… when I roll in the fox poo, they don’t seem too pleased. They give me a shower and make me all fresh again. Grrr! I don’t get it, but I guess that’s life.

I also get to go on holidays with them, go to restaurants (we only go to dog-friendly ones of course, and if it is not dog-friendly, then we find one that is) and they let me sleep on the bed. It’s so comfy! I have lots of beds now, and the sofa is basically mine. When my dog friends come over with their own beds, I just have to try them out too!

The food? Delicious! Sometimes, when Mum and Dad eat, I get a little extra. Oh, and I always make sure they pay the cheese tax — don’t worry, I’m keeping them in check! Life’s pretty awesome now, and I know I’m loved.

The best part: Mum started Irma (that's me) Leads the Way, our dog walking adventure, and now I get to bring my friends along! 

I may have started life with fear, but I grew into love. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my wonderful years since being rescued, it’s this: a rescued dog doesn’t just get saved…

We save you right back.