For those who don’t know me, I’m Laura 👋 the very proud owner of PawPals. I wanted to take a moment to share my journey and the reasons behind the creation of this incredible business we have grown over the past 10 years 💜
When I moved from Ireland to Australia in 2010, I came to seek new opportunities and adventures. In 2012, a beautiful Staffy x Kelpie, named Hank entered my life, and little did I know that he would become the catalyst for an extraordinary career shift. Hank, with his unwavering loyalty and infectious zest for life, ignited a passion within me to spend every waking moment with him. Leaving him behind as I went off to my corporate job broke my heart 💔(if you know, you know!) I yearned for a solution that would allow us to be together for as many hours as possible throughout the day!!
Driven by my love for Hank and my desire to create a life where we could be inseparable, I embarked on a journey of discovery of doggy daycare. For over a year, I delved into research, study and countless negotiations. There were tears, laughter, and LOTS of lessons learned but with the unwavering support from family & friends, I made the bold decision to turn this dream into a reality 💭
Fast forward to January of 2014 and PawPals opened its doors for the first time, offering a safe haven for play & socialisation for Hank and all his new Pals! That feeling of gratitude for my new reality has never left me 🙏🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I understood the immense responsibility we held in nurturing and safeguarding the well-being of other people’s pooches. That’s why I wholeheartedly dedicate myself to constantly improving and always strive to provide the absolute best care possible. I continuously embrace ongoing training, and upskilling not only in leadership and business strategies but also in the latest industry knowledge and best practices. By investing in my own growth, I can ensure that PawPals and our exceptional team can consistently deliver the highest standard of care, showering our pooches with love, joy, and expertise 💜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With a team of people working by my side, one very special client named Aoife, came on board as a new team member and 12 months down the line, we embarked on the journey of PawPals number 2 as business partners. However, life had a few surprises in store for us while building that facility….⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Just as we were about to open a second facility, I found out I was expecting a baby. It was a challenging decision to continue with the idea of opening a new business, but with Aoife’s support and our shared determination, we pressed forward, knowing that we could succeed with a mini-human around. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Just four months after opening the doors, Aoife found out she was also expecting 🍼 All we could do was laugh 🤣 but we knew without a doubt we could make it a success together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Not even 18 months after the arrival of our first children, both Aoife and I discovered we were expecting again, with due dates just a day apart – I know, we could not make this up!! 🙈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of the greatest blessings in building a business and navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood is having an incredible team of dedicated individuals by your side. Their unwavering support and willingness to step up never ceases to amaze me 💜🙏🏼
Afer 5 years in business together, Aoife and I decided to seperate ways in business and we are on the best terms and remian the best of friends but as mothers, we now know this is the est decision for our families. I am so proud of her taking over the facility herself and venturing out to create her own brand and put her own stamp in the doggy daycare world.
To my amazing team, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Your unwavering dedication, passion, and love for what we do fill me with immense joy and pride. Your collective efforts, combined with your infectious energy and unwavering commitment, make every day at PawPals an adventure worth cherishing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You are the heart and soul of our business. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being the pillars of support that make our dreams a reality. Together, we create a harmonious symphony of love, laughter, and so many happy wagging tails that reverberate through the very essence of PawPals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Through the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, PawPals has become more than just a business for me—it’s a place where love, passion, and dedication intertwine. The journey of motherhood, business ownership, and personal growth has taught me resilience, gratitude, and the immense joy that comes from pursuing your dreams. ⠀
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Our mission here at PawPals is to provide exceptional care to our community of dog lovers and prioritise the well-being and safety of each dog trusted upon us 🐾 I am forever grateful to Hank for paving the way and to every client, past, present and future, both human and canine, who has become a part of our PawPals family.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To ongoing growth and determination,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Laura x ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
