Q1 How long has HughesHire Ltd. been trading?

"I started the business up in 1997 with a close friend and colleague of mine, Mark Everson. Neither of us had any experience with animals or the hire industry, but it just seemed the logical move to make at the time."

 

Q2 And why did you originally set up HughesHire?

 "It started when I looked after a friend's cat for a week whilst he went on holiday. I enjoyed the experience so much I thought it would be great to be able to lay my hands on any different animal for a short period of time. Knowing that there would be countless thousands like me all over the country, I decided to start the company."

 

Q3 Is there any animal that HughesHire can't supply for rent?

 "I don't believe there is. HughesHire has for rent every animal you've ever heard of and many more as well. We have had a few requests for extra-terrestrial creatures which we aren't able to supply yet."

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Q4 Are all the animals in stock kept in humane, comfortable conditions?

 "Mostly. Sometimes it's inevitable that an animal gets stored in the wrong department. Tropical species don't take too kindly to refridgerated enclosures, as I find out to my cost."

 

Q5 What is the most popular rented animal?

 ""At the moment it's Koala Bear. Such a popular rental with parents. "

 

Q6 Do you offer any animals for rent in groups or is it all individual animals?

 "Everything is dependent on the species. Some animals are only available as solitary animals. They prefer to live alone. Others have to be rented in herds. Wildebeeste for example. We can only offer these as a herd of 200, minimum."

 

Q7 Do you offer a full consultancy service on care, upkeep and how to look after the animals when on hire?

 "Yes. Full instructions are provided with every rental. We will also be adding a general care page to the website very soon."

 

Q8 Where do you source your rarest animals from?

 "Hopefully you'll understand why I can't divulge any of my trade secrets. Rare animals are only rare when you don't know how to find them. I happen to know where to look for many of the world's rarest animals."

 

Q9 Are there any amusing stories involving the animals you have rented over the years?

 "We try to keep up our levels of confidentiality with most customers. Some smart a**e did rent a thousand woodworms to strip the exterior cladding from his house. It then fell down and he tried to sue us for damages. Ha!, Idiot. "

 

Q10 Do you trade with any of the large Zoos and Safari Parks

 "Many of the animals you see at Zoos, Menageries and Safari Parks up and down the country are on hire from HughesHire."

 

Q11 So, lets say that hypothetically, I wanted to start my own Safari Park in a few farmers fields on the outskirts of Monmouth, would you be able to help?

 "Of course. We even have a special starter pack offer for the budding safari park owner. Off the top of my head, I think it consists of two Elephants, a Hippo, a tribe of Colobus Monkeys, your choice of a Pride of Lions or a Pack of Wolves, a Toucan, several Lizards, and 5 mountain Gorillas."

 

Q12 Isn't the Mountain Gorilla endangered?

"Not at HughesHire. we have hundreds of them in stock."

 

 

Q12 Finally, what is the mission statement of HughesHire Ltd?

 "We are already recognised as the premier animal rental company in the South-West, in the world. We want to become the premier animal Rental Company in the World, in the South West."

 

Nick Hughes, Managing Director of HughesHire Ltd, thank you for taking time to answer our questions.