Somerset pet shop set to close in the New Year
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Tina's Pet Pantry in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, will be closing its doors in January with the owner admitting "it's time to do something different"...
Tina Edgar took on the shop five years ago when the previous owner decided to move on.
She said: "I'd been here for about 20 years before I owned it, and I'll be so sad to see it go."
But before she closes up, Tina has a message for her beloved customers. "Thank you very much to everyone who's supported me," said the 54-year-old.
"I've met some lovely friends and good people over the years. It's going to be a gut-wrenching experience to let go of this place. But I'm looking to do something different."
Over the years, Tina said she has enjoyed having a natter and a laugh with customers. "Back when we used to keep birds, we had a cockatiel who would wolf-whistle.
"This guy came in, bent down to look at something and the bird wolf-whistled and he thought it was me. You can have such a good giggle."
Having been in the shop for more than two decades, there are plenty of wonderful memories Tina will take with her.
But her stand out moment surrounds Shepton Prison. She said: "The prisoners were allowed to have budgies and they used to ring up to ask what birds were in, how much they cost and asked if I'd deliver.
"I told them they'd have to send a prison officer to pick up the birds. Once they had them, they used to ring me up and tell me how the birds were getting on. I visited the prison recently and could see the cells where the birds had been, which made me smile."
The shop is expected to close in January, although an exact date is not yet known.
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