Every month Rye News features women celebrated in the HerStory of Rye project. Capturing the stories of women of all ages who work in and around Rye, the website is building up a huge archive of local lives. This month: Nikki Lovell
Growing up in Rye, I spent many happy hours on the Salts with my Jack Russell who believed that every stick in existence belonged to him. So, imagine my delight when I was asked to write about a local shop dedicated to one of my favourite animals of all time – the dog!
Paws ‘n Claws sits in the centre of the bustling Rye High Street and is owned by Nikki Lovell – a warm-hearted lady whose love of animals (particularly dogs) is immediately obvious. Waggy-tailed woofers are everywhere, positively vibrating with excitement as they tow their owners through the door like furry torpedoes in search of treats.
Nikki’s attentive staff are always ready with helpful advice for pet owners and curious children alike. The shop itself is thoughtfully organised, with clear signage and shelves groaning under the weight of everything from nutritious pet food to brightly coloured toys. It feels less like a shop and more like a social club for animals – with humans tolerated mainly as the ones who carry the wallets.
Nikki adores dogs and says they are the main reason she embarked upon this career. Over the years she has collected some fabulous stories. One of her favourites involved a certain not to be named celebrity who popped in with his Chihuahua. The tiny bandit managed to steal a packet of treats and make a lightning bolt for the door before anyone could say ‘sit’. Fame clearly hadn’t improved its manners.
Another memorable visitor was a Labrador retriever (Nikki’s favourite breed) who physically hauled his owner into the shop and then planted himself firmly on the floor refusing to budge until he had been bought a squeaky toy. Labradors as we know are nothing if not persuasive! Nikki has also welcomed a parrot perched casually on a customer’s shoulder and more than a few cats being walked on leads, which must have raised a few eyebrows amongst the more traditional canine clientele.
As if running a busy pet shop wasn’t enough, Nikki also meticulously stitches traditional ‘Newmarket’ horse and dog blankets, which she sells at trade fairs and exhibitions all over the world. She has over 2,000 followers on her socials and her blankets are regularly seen at events such as the Badminton Horse trials. She will also be exhibiting at Dog Fest in the near future – which sounds rather like Glastonbury, but with more fur and slightly better behaviour.
Nikki also offers other services, including teeth cleaning for dogs, which is extremely popular. When I asked whether she had ever been bitten, she confidently assured me that this had never happened. As that exact moment, an enormous German Shepherd joined the teeth cleaning queue and gazed thoughtfully in my direction. I decided that might be an excellent moment to take my leave…rather as Little Red Riding Hood should probably have done a few chapters earlier…
Image Credits: Susan Benn .