TWO North-East women have swapped their day jobs for a new career offering home-from-home holidays for dogs.

Barking Mad gives dogs the chance to stay with a host family while their owners go on holiday, rather than being put into kennels.

Tracy Johnston, a former practice manager at her husband’s dental surgery, has taken on the Cleveland, Teesside and Darlington area, while Carrie Jarvis is the newcomer in the Newcastle and Tyne Valley patch.

Both women joined the organisation in May this year and join Sue Seward who operates in Tyne and Wear, and Tina Young who looks after mid, north and south-east Northumberland and recently won the company’s franchisee of the year award.

Ms Seward, a mother-of-three said: "I was previously an assistant manager of a GP surgery and was looking for a change. I have two dogs, Daisy a cocker spaniel and Timmy, a chihuahua.

"Daisy has a heart complaint and I would not consider leaving her in kennels if we went away, preferring instead the one-to-one care and attention that she gets with a host family.

"And after four years of being a very satisfied customer, I decided with my husband Peter to buy the franchise for this area.”

For more information visit barkingmad.uk.com