A PET-LOVING couple took over the Wiltshire franchise of a dog first aid business after the skills they learned saved the life of one of their beloved pooches.

Vikki Capon and Eddie Foote of Dog First Aid Wiltshire want to help pet owners around the county learn the same techniques which proved vitally important when their Staffordshire bull terrier was badly injured.

Vikki said: "A week after taking a dog first aid course in July, another dog hurt one of our Staffordshire bull terriers - he came out of nowhere, there was a tussle, then the other dog ran off.

"We never expected to actually have to use the skills we'd learned, especially not that soon after learning them, but because of the course we knew how to stem the bleeding and patch Oaken up before taking him to the vets.

“It was a truly terrifying and shocking experience. When the ordeal was over and we were all safely back home from the vet, we wanted to be able to pass this information to others.

"Had we not done that course, we think the outcome could have been very different."

Vikki and Eddie already managed their own dogwalking and training business before deciding to take on the first aid franchise in September.

They quickly completed extensive training with members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and have already taught dog first aid to more than 200 people so far.

Vikki added: "It's been quite a journey and we've loved every minute, though it has been quite challenging learning so much in such a short space of time and looking after three children and two businesses at once.

"We've met some fantastic people, had a great response to our training courses and chosen to support a local charity, SN Dogs, in Swindon.

"Everyone who works with or owns a dog should learn these skills and have that knowledge under their belts just in case they get into a sticky situation.

"Things are going very well, we've had a lot of support and we are very much looking forward to 2020, it's all heading in the right direction."

For more information, visit do-first-aid.com/wiltshire