Paws & Pause

Paws & Pause, social doggy daycare in south London

Paws & Pause is a doggy daycare with centres in Brixton and Peckham, in south London. It was founded in June 2019 by Grace Beards and Jodie Larsen, who met while working for a homeless charity. According to their account, both noticed the shortage of sustainable routes into employment for people in recovery and the limited job opportunities linked to animals. From there the project emerged, which the company presents as London's only social enterprise doggy daycare.

Origins and social approach

The company defines itself as a women-led business and builds its activity around the idea that the bond with dogs can help people acquire life skills. Its centre is presented as a space of wellbeing for both the animals and those who care for them. The team of volunteers allows a high dog-to-human ratio to be maintained, so that each animal receives continuous attention and contact.

Services for dogs

Paws & Pause's offering is organised into several service lines:

• Daycare for dogs.
• Specific puppy programme.
• Dog grooming.
• Training & workshops.

The company invites you to book a free trial day as a first contact with the service.

Training programme and partnerships

Within its social side, the organisation has a trainee programme and a partnerships line. These elements appear as their own sections on its website, alongside the assistance activity with animals.

Presence and structure

Paws & Pause operates with two separate centres, one in Brixton and one in Peckham, each with its own booking system. The company also maintains a blog, a gallery and a vacancies page.