RICHARD Millar had been lying in a hospital bed for two months following a mountain biking accident on the Sugar Loaf when he was told there was a chance he would never walk again.

For the Abergavenny roofer and active sports enthusiast it was a devastating blow and one which would force him to completely re-evaluate his life and the direction he was going.

Now, three years on there can be few people in Monmouthshire who cover as much ground in a day as Richard; and it’s all thanks to his love for a rescue labrador called Bugsy and an understanding mother who was happy to share a large chunk of her house.

‘It was a long haul back to fitness, not helped by further injuries, but when I got Bugsy (pictured above) it gave me the motivation to get walking again’, explained Richard, 28.

He had been told that the heavy work and constant climbing of the roofing trade was out of the question but he still needed to make a living. ‘I was exercising Bugsy regularly and when I recovered full fitness it occurred to me I could offer a Doggy Day-Care service.

‘I knew a couple of people who did not like leaving their dogs alone while they were at work and I soon built up a small regular clientele,’ said Richard.

Becoming the ‘Dogfather’ of Abergavenny did not just happen overnight however.

Richard explains, ‘It’s not just a case of keeping an eye on my guests, dogs have specific needs and they are all different.

‘There are some who are content to sleep all day and others who are far more active and needs plenty of long walks, but most importantly, dogs are social pack animals, they want company’.

With little space to accommodate dogs, Richard turned to his mother, Kay, who offered Richard a spare room where he and his canine clients could share some space.

He launched a Facebook page and as the customer base expanded so did the need for space and soon three rooms were taken over.

What started out as a tentative earner has turned into a thriving daycare and boarding business that keeps Richard on the go from five am to late evening seven days a week as word of mouth brings in more and more clients.

‘I can tell within thirty seconds whether a dog is going to fit in with the rest; mostly they are all fine and get on well but there are rare occasions when I have to turn one down,‘ said Richard.

There are big future plans in the pipeline too but Richard is playing his cards close to his chest as the ‘Dogfather’ enterprise cranks up a gear.

‘I never thought I would ever be this active again - or enjoying life so much. Every day I am with the dogs is a pleasure; I have made loads of new friends - two and four-legged - and can’t wait to get up each day to see what comes walking in’.