PAWS in the City, More than just a Job…
Julia Maiden has been working with dogs for over 25 years, training, grooming and now providing a great place for dogs to spend their day.
Five years ago, Julia was providing dog grooming services based at ANIMATES in Kaiwharawhara, when the opportunity came for her to create a business out of her genuine enjoyment of her work. Out of her wish to “just do what she really wanted to do” and alongside her two business partners, Carol Meilink and Karen McCarthy and so PAWS was born.
PAWS is a service for Wellington dogs and their owners – at two locations in the city (Kaiwharawhara and Newtown). Owners can be assured their dogs will be provided with a safe and stimulating day programme. Julia and Karen also take in dogs and puppies from the SPCA – so that they can be socialised amongst other dogs before being adopted. Several SPCA staff members dogs in her care – a sure mark of approval for her service.
PAWS is an active fundraiser for the SPCA, organising and taking part in lots of fundraising events. Recently PAWS was involved in the SPCA fundraising appeal and was instrumental in bringing in $35,000 in donations – vital money to keep the SPCA service running.
Julia and the team also organise Monday evening puppy walks in the city, where a load of puppies (20!) on leashes meet up with volunteer dog walkers down at the waterfront, who give the pups an outing – sniffing and digging, walking through the tussocks in Waitangi Park, and generally doing the things that puppies do – being adorable.
Grace at PAWS in the City
Grace McIntyre is one of Julia’s team. Grace had a work experience placement at PAWS while studying at WELTEC for a qualification in animal care. After the placement, Grace rang regularly to ask if there were any positions available, and one day her persistence paid off – she now works at least 15 hours a week, and is always keen and willing to do any extra shifts that come up.
Grace now helps out with a range of activities – sitting with the puppies for socialisation, walking the adult dogs for exercise, and of course the essential feeding and cleaning up that goes with animal care.…….
Grace says that this is her perfect for her job – doing something she loves and feeling that she is doing a good job. She is continuing to develop her skills, and is happy that she is working in a field that was always one of her true loves (besides performance and art!)
Julia says that Grace is a great employee, who is willing and ready to learn and apply her learning to her work – and that she has a true empathy with the dogs. She adds that dogs are a great judge of human nature, and respond very quickly based on their instincts about people.
Julia adds that while many people think they want to work with animals, sometimes the practicalities that are required in the job are not in line with their vision – it is a really good idea for people to volunteer at ani8mal organisations (and there are many!) to get a realistic idea of what is really needed on the job, especially before they sign up to courses.
Throughout her senior study years, Grace volunteered at the ZOO and had work experience at the SPCA, so was well informed about the hands-on aspects of animal care.
Grace says that finding this job has been just awesome – her confidence is growing daily, and who knows just how high she can fly in the future, but it is looking really good. For now, she is happy to go to work at a job that feels like a perfect fit for her talents and her training.
