25/09/2025
I don’t usually share this story, but here’s how I ended up doing what I do...
I was in my early 20s when I started working at a veterinary clinic — first as a receptionist, then eventually as a vet assistant. It was there I met Neve, a six-month-old Weimaraner puppy who was about to be put to sleep. She was labelled as “too much”: too wild, too stubborn, too difficult, too bitey. But something in me knew she deserved a second chance.
Taking her home changed everything.
Neve was difficult. She tested every limit I had. But I threw myself into understanding her — training, researching, learning. Over time, she became my soulmate. My protector. She even saved me from being attacked when i was out walking her in a secluded location. She had my back, always. That dog didn’t just change my life — she gave it direction.
After six years at the clinic, I stepped away to have my child. Like many of us, I drifted into jobs that paid the bills but left me unfulfilled — call centres, offices, the usual. But I never stopped thinking about the animals. About Neve. About how much purpose I felt when I was helping dogs like her.
At 33, I decided to stop ignoring that voice in my head. I went back to college, then onto university, and eventually earned my master’s degree specialising in canine behaviour. That’s when Darwin’s Pet Supplies was born — and for the first time in years, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Then came along my interest in learning how to groom dogs and become a qualified groomer — it felt like a natural extension of what I loved most: helping dogs feel safe, calm, and understood. That’s how Darwin’s Dog Grooming came to life.
Because of Neve, I’ve built a life around helping dogs that others may have given up on — the ones labelled “too anxious,” “too reactive,” “too much.” The ones other groomers may have refused to see again. Those are my dogs.
Then came along Darwin — my little Puggle (Pug x Beagle), who’s now nearly ten. Where Neve was intense, sharp, intelligent and always on high alert, Darwin is soft, goofy, and a total cuddlebug. He’s never met a snack he didn’t love or a sunny spot he didn’t claim for a nap. The two of them couldn’t be more different, but he’s brought so much joy into my life. I even named the business after him — my little man, always by my side.
Those dogs are the reason I do what I do. Every transformation at the grooming table, every nervous pup that walks out a little more confident — that’s what fills my heart. That’s what keeps me going.
I’m still learning. The path hasn’t been perfect. But I’ve found my way back to what I love — and that has made all the difference.
Dogs are my world, and I treat every single one that comes through my door with the same patience, love, and care as if they were my own.
Thanks for reading my story
Emma
