What better way to celebrate 13 years in business than with a 'Barkday' cake?! Bronte, the Dalmatian chief executive of franchisor Barking Mad, was the inspiration behind the successful business concept and has also reached the grand old age of 91 (in dog years), so merited her special canine treat!

Bronte has turned into a refined, but somewhat slower, lady and indeed as she is owned by Lee Dancy, Barking Mad’s managing director and founder, she is the reason why the 20,000-strong Barking Mad family exists today.

Commenting on the thinking behind the franchise, Lee said: “I was planning a family trip in 1999 and felt so dreadful about leaving my Dalmatian puppy Bronte behind, that I almost cancelled. I tried to find a suitable alternative to kennels or house-sitting but there simply wasn’t one.

“The best businesses are often borne out of a market need and Barking Mad is no exception. My research showed that there was a demand for an alternative to traditional pet care, and so with a background in sales and marketing I set about creating a whole new concept.”

13 years later, Barking Mad remains a genuine success story. They continue to expand their 63-strong network of businesses looking after Bronte's ilk in the economically-thriving pet sector.