When Elaine gave up her job as a fitness instructor, she found herself looking in an unlikely place for her next endorphin kick.
Claiming to be the “Cilla Black of the dog world,” a former policewoman has revealed her four-legged solution to debilitating depression – running an Airbnb-style business, matchmaking holidaying hounds with the perfect human hosts.
Comparing her role to that of Cilla on the much-loved TV show ‘Blind Date,’ for many years Elaine Warburton, 46, of Scotlandwell, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, used exercise to keep her demons at bay, working for some time as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.
Then the go-getting mum-of-one, who married her childhood sweetheart, John, 47, in 2010 in Croatia, discovered that man’s best friend was her real salvation, after they took over the reins of Barking Mad, a dog boarding experience, in 2014.
Enthusing about the venture, which she and John run together, Elaine said: “Instead of owners having to send their pets to kennels, they come to us and we match each dog with an appropriate host, who will look after them in their own home and give the animals their very own holiday.
“It’s a win win for everyone involved. The dogs are thrilled to explore a brand new environment and the hosts, who are often retired, get to experience the joy of having a pet without the long-term commitment.”
Manning the business since 2014, the match-making process has proved invaluable for Elaine, who has struggled with depression since the breakdown of her first marriage in 1994.
She said: “I feel like I have the best job in the world. I’ve always used exercise to help treat my depression and running around setting up our pups with their hosts has helped boost my mood in ways I could never have imagined.”
This is an amazing natural tonic for Elaine who was just 25 when her depression was at its worst and, so low she could not get out of bed, she was prescribed anti-depressants by her GP.
Ongoingly, Elaine, whose daughter Emily is 14, has suffered with intermittent bouts of depression, which she has treated using a combination of natural and conventional medicine.
“Since my first diagnosis I’ve tried everything possible to boost my mood naturally, as well as using medication,” she explained.
“From smoothies and herbal treatments to CBT and talking therapy – I’ve tried everything and still take some anti-depressants, but only a very low dose.”
Getting into health and fitness in her later 20s was a great help and saw Elaine focusing on active jobs – becoming a personal trainer in 1996, before joining the police in 2000. Then, after leaving the force in 2008, she returned to work as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.”
She explained: “From my first workout, I immediately felt the power of endorphins rushing through my brain and I slowly began to lower my dose of anti-depressants.”
But, when she reached 43, she could no longer keep up with the physical demands and realised she needed a change.
“I was holding 17 fitness classes a week and my body just couldn’t keep up like it used to,” she added.
Slowly, she reduced the number of classes she was holding each week, before eventually hanging up her Lycra for the last time in 2014, when a friend told her about the opportunity to take over the Barking Mad franchise in Perth and Kinross.
“I broached the idea with John, but he wasn’t too sure about it at first,” she said. “It’s a big decision to make, running your own franchise, but it’s also pretty exciting. Who doesn’t want to be their own boss?”
Eventually John, who had worked as a marketing director, came around to the idea, with the pair taking over the franchise later that year and slowly building a community of 20 volunteers, who host the dogs while their owners are on holiday.
Elaine said: “It’s a great alternative to kennels, where generally the dogs are locked up outside and not given much one-on-one attention.
“Quite often owners feel guilty leaving their beloved pets at the kennels while they’re jetting off on a nice holiday, but we offer a mini-vacation for pets too!”
And the couple have a stringent selection process, before matching animals with their hosts.
Elaine explained: “Finding the individual who will love and care for someone else’s dog the way they would their own is no easy feat, but luckily our family is made up of the most wonderful people from all walks of life. The majority are retired people who still want to be very active and be part of something.
“Eighty per cent of our volunteers are in the over 70 bracket and looking after these animals is an escape for them. We bridge a lot of gaps in the community.”
And Elaine also quickly realised that being surrounded by animals was having a positive effect on her mental health, too.
“The animals became my therapy – a way to get the same benefits as I did with fitness,” she added.
While the number of canine holidaymakers using the couple’s franchise grew, so did their own four-legged family, which saw them going from having one pet springer spaniel, Woody, to six in the space of two years – adding Shadow, Bracken, Jazz, Willow and Milla.
“The dogs keep me on an even keel and my anti-depressant medication is at the lowest it’s been in a long time – I’m in much better frame of mind these days,” said Elaine.
She concluded: “People may think I’m barking mad for doing this, but at least I’m no longer depressed!”
