Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pets at home - essential trip?

58 replies

Usernamenumber6373 · 10/01/2021 11:13

Hi all, my dog got out of her harness today and has done a couple times this week. We’ve had it for a while with no problems. It’s just a cheap one from Argos so I assume it’s just stretched or damaged. She’s quite small and even when it’s pulled tighter she’s managed to get out.

Our nearest pets at home is half hour away - no smaller pet shops in the area anymore (probably killed off by the larger stores). Aibu to think a trip to pets at home is essential?

I mean we could get one delivered but it means no walks for a few days for a very energetic jrt. She could just go with a lead on her collar but she hates that.

Trying to get into their website but in a queue and couldn’t get on!

Aibu? They are open so essential right?

Scared I’ll get pulled over 😢

OP posts:
CarryOnFestiveNamechanging · 10/01/2021 12:24

Definitely essential

Original poster
Usernamenumber6373 · 10/01/2021 12:24

@Jessbow thank you. Her actual lead is from wilko and lasted years. Impressed! Wilko is even further though..

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 10/01/2021 12:27

Amazon prime if your so concerned

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 10/01/2021 12:31

Go if you feel that's YOUR best option.

MY preference would be Amazon Prime.

Both have advantages & disadvantages.

But your dog needs a safe harness & it's a legitimate reason to drive to a relatively local shop to buy one. It's not like you're driving to Scotland to get a tartan one or something.

ilovesooty · 10/01/2021 12:34

There is no reason for you not to make this trip. Hope they have what you need in stock.

Cherrysoup · 10/01/2021 12:39

Amazon Prime? How big is she that you’re worried she’ll pull you over?! I recommend figure of 8 sliplead which is comfortable and immediately stops pulling.

unbotheredbutbewildered · 10/01/2021 12:40

I, personally, don't see the point in wasting petrol driving to PaH unless you will be taking your dog to make sure it fits her properly. I'd say take her and go to PaH. If you're not going to take her then just log onto Amazon (usually much cheaper anyway)!

But these are my typical views - nothing to do with covid-19.

(Although if you take her you could do a nice little walk somewhere different as a treat for her!) Smile

peak2021 · 10/01/2021 12:48

Pet care is deemed essential by the government. Your dog will be with you I assume without the harness or with the damaged one.

Check what they have in stock first I suggest to avoid a wasted trip. And that they are open!

SFHJ · 10/01/2021 12:51

Have you got a Wilko near, then sell dog harnesses as does shops like B&M home bargains etc in the pet section. Those shops could be closer.

EmpressSuiko · 10/01/2021 12:59

I live in rural Devon and know the struggle! We have to drive over 40 minutes to get to certain essential shops, if you need it you are allowed to be out to get it.

CornishTiger · 10/01/2021 13:04

@Usernamenumber6373 the police aren’t going to waste time pulling you over unless you are committing a driving offence.

Try calling Pets at home to see if they have it in stock.

MaskingForIt · 10/01/2021 13:08

@HorseDentist

Do you not have any local independent pet shops? An hour and a half is definitely not local. Pets at home really don't have the best range of harnesses either. There are plenty online or shop local.
How does Our nearest pets at home is half hour away turn into an hour and a half is definitely not local?!

If you can’t read properly, there’s no point commenting!

SweetPetrichor · 10/01/2021 13:15

Pet shops are essential so I think it’s a perfectly acceptable trip. I travel to pets at home every week to get live food for my tarantulas. I haven’t given it a second thought cause it’s essential to care for pets. Smile

Underadesk · 10/01/2021 13:22

Stop being daft. Half an hour is some people’s drive to a supermarket, and they are open, so essential.

Plus, the police are hovering around key points eg beauty spots and mountains, if they are at all. Not local shopping places......

movingonup20 · 10/01/2021 13:25

My nearest full supermarket is 25 mins 4 junctions up the motorway - the police are not stopping people!

movingonup20 · 10/01/2021 13:28

But I would suggest ordering online, better selection, I have the hurtta one - order 2 sizes from Amazon and return the one that doesn't fit

Ch3rish · 10/01/2021 13:29

@Glitterblue

DH went to Pets at Home the other day because the snake needed food. It was fine, nobody stopped him. A dog harness is essential because you need to walk your dog safely.
I had a takeaway coffee the other day while walking and I didn't get fined but as has been all over the news this week two women did. Just because your DH didn't get stopped doesn't mean that no one will do i the future, how does that work?

In fact on my local news this week there were police in a local park checking on dog walkers, to see how far they'd driven I think.

OP please don't assume that you will be fine because one other person didn't get stopped. No one can tell you who the police might try to stop but in your case you are doing nothing wrong so even if you were stopped you should be OK

GooodMythicalMorning · 10/01/2021 13:30

I'd amazon prime it. food essential bur they never have any harnesses in stock when we go to PAH anyway. Julius k9s are excellent ones.

00100001 · 10/01/2021 13:31

@audweb

I don’t even know why you are questioning this. You need to walk your dog safely. Just go get what you need, the police are not going to give you into trouble for that.
Because all over the news there's reports of police making up laws and fining people for utter bollocks reasons. 🤷‍♀️
ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 10/01/2021 15:35

Call first to see if there is stock. Take your dog to measure the fit.

If you've done both of those, you can definitely argue it's an essential trip if you get pulled over.

QueenoftheAir · 10/01/2021 16:17

Aibu to think a trip to pets at home is essential?

Yes, YABU. Order online.

PoppiesinOctober · 10/01/2021 16:18

Why would you be pulled over to go to a shop that is still open because it's essential?

Go.

midnightstar66 · 10/01/2021 16:23

A well fitting harness is essential. Take your dog and they will help you fit it. We have an ezydog for our JRT. It's adjustable and we've had it since she was 9 weeks old. It's not too bulky like may are for a small dog. Pets at home staff supervised and talked me through the fitting (could not do it themselves due to lockdown rules). For guidance she's still in the XS size but I imagine buying a small for an already adult jrt would be better. As I said we've had ours from when we got her and she's fairly small still for the breed.

Pavit · 10/01/2021 16:34

I went to p at h the other day, 45 min drive its my nearest pet store needed a couple of essential things for the animals. Its open as an essential shop, if you need the harness to walk him safely that's also essential.

queenofSI · 10/01/2021 16:47

@QueenoftheAir

Aibu to think a trip to pets at home is essential?

Yes, YABU. Order online.

How’s she meant to walk the dog before it arrives?

OP yes of course it’s essential

Swipe left for the next trending thread