A holiday plan that did not take off, as Gowri and her friend Yashaswini were not comfortable with leaving behind their pets, sparked off an idea. Pawse, a secluded dog boarding centre located amidst the suburban greenery of Yelahanka, was the idea born out of it that finally came true in less than a year.
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A veterinarian by profession, Dr. Gowri Yale’s degree only added weight to her start-up. “That’s the best thing that could have come out this. I have three dogs and my friend has two. We are not happy with the facilities or the cleanliness at most of the dog boarding areas. Yashaswini is an engineer by profession. She loves dogs and enjoys working around them. She quit her job to start Pawse with me! Pawse actually helped us and all dog lovers in a big way. We got working almost immediately. Our quarter-acre facility includes large kennels with runs designed as per international kennel standards, huge outdoor and indoor play area, socialising space for dogs and their parents and a grooming unit.
It’s a simple plan. Give your dog a break while you are busy at work, going on vacation or when you have too many guests at home. It’s a given that your loved one is having a good time at a clean, safe and healthy holiday home. If you think this sounds like the thing you would like to do, then you are right. “There is no specific degree one would need. The only basic rule is love animals and vouch to take care of them like you would with anyone in your family. Apart from space and basic facilities one would also need to build contacts and keep oneself updated on what’s in and what’s out.”
A normal day at the centre consists of taking enquiries and booking over the phone and emails. One also needs to coordinate pick up and drop offs of dogs. The kennels have to be monitored every now and then; be it cleaning, weeding the playground, playing and grooming dogs, cooking and feeding and shopping for the kennel at regular intervals.
And this is what makes Pawse different from other boarding places because we have individual space for each dog, we let dogs play outside, feed fresh cooked nutritious food and have me as a round-the-clock veterinarian on call.”
While not at the kennel, Gowri is thinking about her four-legged friends. Her initiative called Slurrp is a ragi-based mix can be made into porridge for dogs. “I insist people feed their dogs nutritionally-balanced fresh food rather than packed food on a regular basis. The most challenging part is healthy food is never tasty! And that’s why I decided to explore this option.”
It’s an experience when you leave your dogs at Pawse, and Gowri Yale keeps improvising. Just when you thought she can’t do better than this, she surprised her clients and furry friends with her line of dog accessories to help local women who were looking for jobs to support their families.
“Our products are unique as they are not mass produced; they are handmade with cotton fabrics. We also custom make products too.” For all families looking to celebrate their dog’s birthday or even taking them for a grooming session, look no where else. “Photo shoots, parties are also organised, and we may install a swimming pool and include hydrotherapy for dogs.”
