Hi, I'm Grace, one of the co-founders of Paws & Pause. We’ve just celebrated our five-year anniversary, and I want to kick off this reflection by giving a massive shoutout to my co-founder, Jodie.
Jodie and I met back in 2015 when she interviewed me for a job at St Mungo's. We later went on to run a two-person recovery project for three years. Fast forward to today, and we’ve spent the last five years building Paws & Pause together. Jodie is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, she kind, patient with sick sense of humour, and I honestly can’t imagine doing this journey with anyone else. Where I’m a bit emotional, feisty, and over-excited, Jodie is the calm that balances us out. In eight years, we’ve never had a single fight. The most friction we’ve had is probably bickering over who remembers the tiny details, like who took a photo of the mop receipt.
When it comes to the big things – our first dog, our first team member, our first graduated trainee, the sleepless nights – we’ve been side by side through it all. To say I couldn’t have done this without Jodie is an understatement. I wouldn’t have wanted to. Doing this journey with her has genuinely made it one of the best experiences of my life. Out at dinner with our friends, when I scrape my coleslaw onto her plate without asking and carry on chatting, you can see why our friends refer to us as an old couple (Sorry Jodie's partner). So, I want to dedicate this five-year celebration to having not only the best co-founder but also the most incredible friend.
**The Start of Something… Unusual**
When we kicked off in 2019, some people thought we were barking mad (okay, one pun – but it was worth it). Two friends who met at a homeless charity decided to start a dog day care that doubles as a recovery program for people with mental health challenges and substance misuse issues? Sure, why not?
We knew we wanted to do something different – something that actually mattered. So, we combined our love for dogs with our frustration at the lack of sustainable employment options for people in recovery, and Paws & Pause was born. And let’s be honest, it was a bit of a gamble. But five years later, here we are, still standing, still growing, and still completely obsessed with dogs.
**What’s the Secret ?**
You might wonder, how does a small business like ours not only survive but thrive in London? Spoiler alert: it’s not magic. It’s hard work, a lot of learning on the fly, and a team that genuinely cares about what we do. Our secret ? Dogs, obviously, but also the people who come through our doors – both the ones on two legs and the ones on four.
Over the last five years, we’ve created something more than just a place for dogs to hang out while their humans are off being busy and important. We’ve built a community where people can find a bit of themselves again. It’s a place where trainees can rebuild their confidence, learn new skills, and just get back to feeling like they belong somewhere. And let’s face it, in this world, that’s no small thing.
**The Real MVPs: Our Trainees**
Now, we could go on and on about the hundreds of dogs we’ve looked after (and we probably will), but the real MVPs here are our trainees. They come to us at some of the toughest times in their lives, and we get to watch them make their way back to something good. We’ve seen people who couldn’t look you in the eye on day one go on to get jobs, start new careers, and basically kick ass in life.
And it’s not all rainbows and butterflies – recovery is hard, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But seeing our trainees grow, change, and eventually thrive? That’s what gets us out of bed in the morning (well, that and about three cups of coffee).
**A Massive Thanks (No, Really)**
We couldn’t have made it this far without a lot of people giving a damn. To our clients – the ones who trust us with their beloved pups – you’re the real heroes here. You’re the ones who bought into our weird little dream and stuck with us. You’ve helped us grow, and we’re forever grateful.
To our trainees, past and present – you’re the heart of this place. We’re constantly amazed by your strength, resilience, and ability to laugh at life’s absurdities. We’re proud of you, and we hope you’re proud of yourselves too.
**Looking Forward: Bigger, Better, Busier**
So, what’s next for Paws & Pause? Well, we’re not slowing down. We’re planning to open a third site in South London because apparently, sleep is overrated. More dogs, more trainees, and more of whatever it is we’ve been doing that seems to be working. We’re also cooking up some new ways to make our Trainee Programme even better – because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there’s always room for improvement.
**Join the Party**
We’re not just tooting our own horn here (okay, maybe a little). We’re also inviting you to celebrate with us. Over the next few months, we’ll be hosting some events, sharing stories, and probably posting too many dog photos on Instagram. So, stay tuned and come be a part of the chaos – it’s going to be a good time.
**Cheers to the Next Five**
Here’s to five years of dogs, humans, and everything in between. We’re proud, we’re a little bit tired, but mostly, we’re excited to see what the next five years will bring. Thanks for being part of the journey – we couldn’t have done it without you.
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