Paws for Thought - salon profile

Paws for thought...

visits Jo Woods, who runs Jo’s Dog Grooming in Crawley who trained with Bone Idol part of the iPET Network: Jo began her career after a life changing epiphany.

She and her father battled cancer at the same time, and due to the pandemic she was offered redundancy by her airport job. Jo knew that it was the right time to follow her dreams and enrolled with the Bone Idol Academy in Hove, Sussex.

Here she tells her amazing story...

I have always loved dogs, and grew up playing with my parents’ loyal German Shepherds Zoe and Sasha.

From a young age I wanted to work with animals, and after school I went to Brimsbury College to study animal care, hoping to become a veterinary nurse.

I loved the course, but during a stint of work experience I had an experience that really put me off getting into the veterinary profession.

A healthy German shepherd, just like Zoe and Sasha, has been brought in to be put to sleep, simply because the owner didn’t want it anymore, and I was told to assist with the procedure.

I sobbed and sobbed and it was really traumatic, and after that my heart just wasn’t in what I thought had been my dream job!

I ended up flitting from job to job, before finally securing a role at Gatwick Airport, life had taken over, and my animal dreams were firmly on hold.

I worked at Gatwick for years, working shifts, and enjoyed the job but at the back of my head was always the feeling that I should have worked with animals.

But then my life changed completely...

Ever since I was thirty I have always developed cysts in my breasts, and trips to the doctors to have them checked out had become a regular occurrence.

But on one of these ultrasound trips, which felt so routine I received earth-shattering news. The ultrasound technician looked at the screen and just said “that’s not a cyst”. I was soon diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

I was utterly in shock, and the trauma was compounded by the fact that my dad Mervyn was also battling prostate cancer. I knew that I had to be strong, but some days I really struggled, all of my family, especially my partner Mick were utterly devastated.

There was a moment of realisation one day when I was talking with friends, I realised all my hair would fall out.

It seems like the least of my worries, but it was like the final straw and I just broke down.

My treatment ended up being seven rounds of chemotherapy, and I was very lucky not to feel sick for most of the process.

There were other side effects though to contend with, the treatment attacked my joints and muscles, and I was in a lot of pain.

There were really dark moments where I thought ‘I really could die from this’ but Mick pulled me out of those dark places with his amazing sense of humour, he didn’t let me mope and I don’t know what I would have done without his support.

Thankfully both me and dad recovered, which was a real cause for celebration, but I had to take a whole year off work which really made me assess what was doing with my life. I started to think about animal jobs, and my childhood dreams.

When I got back to work life took over again for a while, and I got back into the day to day, Mick and I also finally tied the knot which was a beautiful way to celebrate all that our family had been through and achieved together.

But then the pandemic struck!

Once again, together with the entire world, everything was turned upside down and the travel industry really suffered which affected my job. Once again I was forced to reconsider my career and my future, and one night I said to Mick ‘I think I want to become a dog groomer’.

But I was nervous, I was 45 and it had been years since I had done any kind of education. Mick spurred me on though, telling me to ‘go for it’, and I knew that I was doing the right thing.

I was offered a severance package by work, which meant that I could take a course, and I did lots of research to find the right qualifications for me.

I found The Bone Idol Grooming Academy in Hove, and when I spoke to them I just felt so comfortable. At the start of the course my confidence was low, but the other students and course leader Helen were so amazing, I soon felt really comfortable.

I realised how much I had missed learning, and looked forward to going to the Grooming Academy for every class. They make it a fun environment and there was no pressure to be perfect the first time, it did me the world of good and my confidence skyrocketed.

When I passed the course there was cause for celebration again, and Mick took me out for a slap-up steak house dinner. I felt on top of the world.

Since I finished the course I have been dog grooming full time, and my parents and Mick invested in me as a business so that I could set up a premises at the bottom of our garden.

The first week I must admit I was nervous, and asked my mum to sit down there with me for support, but it is going really well.

I love being my own boss, and often compact the work into four days so I have more time to spend with my husband and family.

To make things even better, we have also got a new dog of our own, Bailey the English springer spaniel who we are head over heels in love with. It feels like the cycle is complete.

I’ve also been blessed with wonderful clients with amazing dogs, and I couldn’t be happier that I took the plunge and allowed my dreams to finally become a reality!

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