With a love for the senior community and a passion for dogs, Paws and Paws Paws is literally a dream come true. I was terrified of dogs until my family adopted a cockapoo named Buffy when I was 4. Hesitant at first, and maybe for quite a few months, Buffy and I eventually became the best of friends. And that we were for 18 years. He opened my eyes and mainly my heart to a love I cannot live without. Fast forward to today. I have my own two rescues, Tchoupitoulas and Paws who is reminded daily why I love dogs!

My love for the senior community has always existed but it's certainly grown over the years. My work history mainly consists of healthcare professions - assisted living, home care, Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Their innocence is remarkable but their need is great.

Combining the two is the most rewarding career I can imagine. I believe all of our lives - the dogs, the senior community and my own- will truly benefit from Paws and Paw Paws and the programs we offer.

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• Career Highlights:

  • Completed Level 1 Training from the Outstanding Pet Care Learning Center which is the dedicated learning center for pet care facility owners, managers and staff deliver the highest quality of pet care.

  • Top sales producer in 2013, 2014 and 2015 producing over $3 million in revenue for a local retail company while managing a client database of over 2000 contacts

  • From 2009 to 2011, I grew a locally owned health care business over 30% while managing the functionality of the Lafayette office overseeing staffing, billing, invoicing, marketing and sales efforts, and client and caregiver satisfaction

  • Worked in a corporate marketing department for a publicly traded multi-billion dollar company and assisted the executive team as well as national sales leaders by producing weekly and quarterly sales reports, marketing pieces, training programs and press releases

Traci Pecot

Owner, Operations Manager

Traci Pecot

Owner, Operations Manager

Katie Durel

Operations Assistant

I've always been a huge animal enthusiast, and being raised in the country was lucky enough to always be surrounded by them. This is one of the main factors that led me to apply at a vet's office for my first job. There, I learned a lot about animals in general, and developed a friendship with the current groomer at the office. She took me under her wing and during my apprenticeship I discovered I had a passion for grooming. I've been grooming for 8 years now and find that I love it more every day. Each new dog is a different challenge, and I've gotten the privilege of growing with many of my clients. I have yet to meet an animal that I'm not a fan of, which is very obvious given my menagerie. I currently have two dogs, Foxy and Lucky, a cat, Rowan, a horse, Apache, and a bearded dragon, Viktor. 

Brooke Thrashed

Grooming Team Manager

I come from a long line of “pet” people. My family has been a part of the pet industry for over fifty years. My grandfather opened the very first Durel’s Pet Shop in Lafayette in 1951. At the time of his retirement in 1986, Durel’s Pet Shop was the oldest family-run pet shop in the country! Unfortunately, when the pet shop changed hands in 2003, I had to give up my dream of working there like a lot of my family had.

It was sheer serendipity that I happened to drive past the “Coming Soon – Paws and Paw Paws” sign on Robley Drive in April of 2017.  It’s been a great experience working here and learning the different aspects of the business, all while getting to help take care of some awesome dogs!

As a strong supporter of animal rescue efforts, Paws has taught me a great deal about these dogs.  I have since adopted my own precious rescue dog named Lennon, and I can’t imagine life without her!