Exploring Life & Business with Victoria Woodlief of Tori’s Pups

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Woodlief.

Hi Victoria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been an avid animal lover for as long as I could remember. Growing up with dogs, cats, fish and even a frog. Even though I was told at a young age I was allergic to cats, my mom often found me petting and loving on them anyways, ready with a Benadryl! My parents took our dog Abby to a local doggy daycare for boarding when we would go out of town. Anytime I went with to drop her off or pick her up I would ask if they were hiring. Finally in 2016 they were and I worked there for about a year before they just weren’t able to offer me enough work. Then one day the owner called when I was 18 and asked if I would be their full time manager. I of course said yes because I missed all of the pups so much! But unfortunately In March of 2020 the owners of the doggy daycare decided to let myself and all of my co-workers go and only offer boarding, doing it themselves, due to covid.
I started receiving calls and text messages from some of my most loved clients from the doggy daycare that they weren’t happy with the care they were receiving since my co-workers and I had been let go. They then asked if I would be interested in providing care myself, and of course I said yes because I was unemployed and loved their fur babies so much! So then I started a Facebook page called Tori’s Pups in hopes to reach new clientele and grow my business. In the matter of a few months I was swamped with meet & greet requests and currently have served over 100 clients across middle TN. I never in a million years imagined I would be where I am today with this business and am so grateful for the experience I got from the doggy daycare and the clients who trusted me to offer them my services when I was freshly starting out!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say with any small business you have your absolutely amazing weeks/months, but you also have some challenging ones. Sometimes people just aren’t traveling and that can take a tole on income. Sometimes one of your clients pets get sick and that can take a tole on you mentally and physically while trying to care for them. Or sometimes you get the occasional client that likes to stir up issues and that can definitely be a struggle. But overall, the good always outweighs the bad.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I offer Overnights, Drop-in visits, Hourly stays, Walks & Escorting pets to their owners weddings. All of my services, expect the wedding ones are based out of my clients homes. Providing the clients and pets the opportunity to have not only their pets at home in their safe space but also the clients home well cared for while they are away. Although my start was a doggy daycare, I am no stranger to knowing some pets just do better at home. Whether that be heath or behavior wise. I believe what sets me apart and what I’m most proud of is my deep care, love, dedication and professionalism I offer to my clients and their fur babies. I treat them like my own. I notice shifts in behavior and health and report them back to the client. I cry with them when their pets are sick. My clients know that if they ever needed me, I would be there in a heartbeat. And they can go out of town knowing that their fur babies are being well taken care of by someone who truly loves them.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that I’m sticking to my word of providing care, love and support to any and everyone who meets me. I hope that people see me as a light in what can be a very dark world. And I aim to be helpful, honest, open-minded and uplifting to anyone who crosses paths with me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torispups/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/torispups/
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BdYmkMdUdyatJp4X7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy