Burley-in-Wharfedale teenager offers free dog walking service (From Wharfedale Observer)

Burley-in-Wharfedale teenager offers free dog walking service

12:55pm Friday 12th October 2007 in Local news By Andrea Hardaker

Animal lover Katia Bouznik is offering to lend a hand to busy dog owners - by walking their dogs for free.

Katia, 17, has decided to combine her love for dogs with a desire to get fit and is appealing to locals to take her up on her offer.

She has already put up signs in her home village of Burley- in-Wharfedale and is hoping to leaflet households alerting them to her generous offer.

She said: "I just hope someone will take me up on it. I will take the dogs on a really good walk, up on the moors or round about - wherever the owners want me to go."

Katia, who is a pupil at Bradford Girl's Grammar School, came up with the idea as a way of keeping in shape.

She said: "I do go running at the moment but it's boring going running or walking on your own. If I had a dog to walk it would be fantastic - I could play games with it and all sorts.

"I don't want to charge for the service - I already have a part-time job and won't need to charge extra for walking the dogs - it's just something that I would like to do.

"I used to have a dog called Fluffy but it died when I was 11 and I really miss having one around. Dogs are great fun and I love being around them."

Katia, who lives with her parents at Greenfields Way, added that she would be available to walk dogs most days and especially at the weekend.

She said: "I could get up early in the morning and do it before school, or I could walk them in the evenings after school.

"I am aiming the service at elderly people who are perhaps unable to get out and walk their dogs - especially in the winter, or professionals who have to go out to work and perhaps are unable to get home early enough to do it themselves.

"If people don't want me to do it on a regular basis, perhaps I could do it when they are on holiday. Most people pay a fortune for kennels but I would walk their dogs for them.

"I'm happy to do it for free - I would enjoy it."

Anyone who would like to take Katia up on the service should contact her on 07806 760597.