"It's been an awesome ride,'' Barb Grundy said.
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"It's been a 'pawsome' ride, mate,'' Carolyn Kidd replied.
Indeed.
The co-owners of Dogs on the Run announced on Facebook on Wednesday night they were winding down their much-loved dog-walking business, finishing up by the end of the year.
It's not because they don't love it or for financial reasons or any kind of disagreement between them, more that their bodies can't take walking up to 25km a day any more.
"Our physios and podiatrists and various other health professionals are going to be lamenting the lack of income,'' Barb said, with a smile. And a wince. She was off to get x-rays for a doggy-induced injury to her right arm, suffered only the day before.
The news was met with some tears and an outpouring of gratitude from their clients.
"There's a lot of love out there,'' Carolyn said.
The business partners and friends started Dogs on the Run four years ago.
It transformed their lives, creating not only a successful business but fostering new friendships, connections and a sense of community. One of their initiatives was setting up a a donation bin at the Ainslie shops for items for the ACT Rescue and Foster group. They were also involved in training Molly the terrier, the mind dog at Ainslie School.
"We feel very, very proud of what we have achieved and the legacy we've created,'' Carolyn said.
The dog-walking business came after Carolyn was suffering from a mental health breakdown and her psychiatrist told her to "get two volunteer jobs by the end of the month" to help her recovery. She started walking dogs at the pound.
Then she met Barb who had left the public service, acquired her beautiful labrador Juddy (after AFL player Chris Judd) and became involved with the ACT Companion Dog Club. She eventually became an instructor.
"Carolyn and I got together for lunch and discussed our mutual love of dogs,'' Barb said.
"We thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool to hang out with dogs all day?'.''
So Dogs on the Run was born. It was only ever the two of them, the pair wanting to offer a very personalised service and gaining the trust of dog and owner. But that also took its toll if one of them had to go away and the other was left to keep the walking going.
"It's the best thing I've ever done in my life but also the hardest,'' Carolyn said.
"We always wanted it to be only the two of us and for people to know us because for the owners, it's like they are handing over their babies.''
Dogs on the Run also spawned many doggy-related good news stories. Carolyn, particularly, became a news hound, able to sniff out a good story among the community, and with the owner's consent.
So, there was Archie the border collie who made national news when he busted out of the Qantas freight terminal at Canberra Airport in 2015 and went on a his merry way around Majura for almost two days before being re-captured.
And Snickle Fritz the dog rescued from a rubbish dump in Afghanistan by a US Marine and relocated to the leafy suburbs of Canberra.
There was also the heartwarming story of Pumpkin the staffy who escaped from his Wanniassa home in 2016, only to be rescued by a nearby tradie who also returned the next day without fanfare to replace the faulty gate.
It is fostering that sense of connectedness that has sustained Carolyn and Barb. Their Facebook page was a place to share stories and to feel part of a community.
"Life is very busy and you can feel very isolated, so I love the notion of community,''Carolyn said.
"Our community on Facebook has been so amazing and supportive.''
