07/03/2026
With Paws & Claws thriving and moving through our third year of business, I’ve been doing a lot of looking back lately. I wanted to share a bit of my story with you all, because the truth is, my life has always been about animals.
It all started when I was just 7 years old, showing my family’s Border Collie in 4-H. That’s where I learned the fundamentals of dog etiquette, safety, and—believe it or not—how to trim dog nails at a super young age! (Fun fact: I also used to shave down sheep and pigs for the 4-H show rings... so I guess you could say I’ve always had a clipper in my hand! 🐑🐖)
As an adult, my passion only grew. I worked at a kennel in Texas where my love for the industry completely solidified. When I moved back to California, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I ended up living on-site as a manager for a major kennel, running the day-to-day operations and realizing how much I loved the business side of animal care. To round things out, I also spent time working as a veterinary assistant/technician, learning the medical and health side of keeping pets safe.
In January 2019, I took a massive step and bought my very first kennel property in Ocean Shores, WA. While running that, I decided I wanted to dive deep into the grooming world. I spent months traveling back and forth to Spokane every other week, training intensely under an amazing seasoned Groomer.
Fast forward a bit: I moved to Elma, welcomed my beautiful daughter, and started offering in-home nail trims and pet care to make some extra cash while pregnant. You guys blew me away with your support! Suddenly, everyone was asking, "Are you going to open a shop?"
Opening a storefront wasn't my original plan, but Elma showed me so much love that I decided to take a massive leap of faith. We opened the doors to our grooming shop on July 1st, 2023.
Three years later, thanks to all of you, we are thriving with a reputation I am incredibly proud of. When you trust me with your pups, you aren't just getting a standard haircut—you're getting a lifetime of veterinary knowledge, kennel safety, professional master-groomer training, and a deep love for animals that started when I was just 7 years old.
Thank you, Elma, for trusting me with your fur babies every single day! ❤️