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If you know of or are a business that goes above and beyond, we want to hear from you, and celebrate our local independent traders and high street heroes. Email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk for more details.

CREATURE COMFORTS, Connah's Quay

On paper, taking over a business right at the start of a global pandemic probably doesn't look good, but that's exactly what Luke and Connie Chapman did.

Despite throwing themselves into the deep end of things, the couple, now the proud owners of Creature Comforts pet shop in Connah's Quay, are giving it their all.

With the original owners looking to retire, and the business having been in the town for 40 years, Luke and Connie, who met at 17 while studying animal care and animal science, jumped at the chance, and took over in April.

I caught up with Connie, 31, who also works a second job and is mum to two young children, to find out more.

She said: "We'd always wanted to do this, and here was the opportunity. We just said 'if it fails, it fails'.

"But despite everything, it's been fun. It's been mine and Luke's dream.

"We wanted to help people, it's our passion."

And it was that attitude, a desire to be part of their community, that saw them change things straight away, starting with deliveries during lockdown.

It was one of their stand out moments so far, with Connie adding: "With us being in business for only six months and being in a pandemic, our proudest moment is definitely doing deliveries for the people that can’t come out or for those people that just need a delivery."

Looking ahead, they'd love to bring back livestock to the shop and "the spark to Connah's Quay", and have already started with birds.

Connie let us know more about the business.

What does the business do/make/sell?

We are a small pet shop. We sell wet and dry dog foods such as Burns, Wagg, Harringtons, Chappie, Bakers , Dr John, Butchers, Pedigree etc.

We have a small range of frozen raw dog foods, dog equipment such as leads, collars, harnesses, flea treatment wormer, brushes, shampoos, water, food bowls, dog treats and toys.

There's cat foods such as Purina, Go Cat, Whiskers, Burns etc, and cat equipment - bowls, litter trays, treats, toys, beds, flea treatment, wormer, collars.

Small animals foods for hamsters, gerbils, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets etc, and small animal equipment such as sawdust, straw, hay, beddings, natural chews, treats, toys, health treatments.

We have a wide range of bird food such as budgie, canary, finch, cockatiel, parrot, pigeon, wild bird, and poultry, plus bird equipment such as sand sheets, substrates, cleaners,treats, toys, perches, vitamins, minerals, bowls, feeders,fish foods, pond foods, and frozen fish foods.

Any strange requests or stories from customers?

Not really, but I am doing hampers and sweet cones for people’s pets that can be for starter packs (puppy, kitten etc) Halloween treats, birthdays, and Christmas. We go on the customer's budget.

Anything else we should know?

If we don’t stock it, we will try our best to get it in for you (just give us a week's notice). We do free local deliveries, and we should be doing livestock in the near the future.

• Creature Comforts

65 High Steet

Connah's Quay

Deeside

07923695649

Facebook - @creaturecomforts.deeside