Rotherham woman living with chronic illness builds award-finalist pet boutique inspired by her Labrador
Rotherham-based entrepreneur Louisa, founder of Dolly & Co Pet Boutique, is building a Yorkshire pet business inspired by her black Labrador, Dolly, while living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), fibromyalgia and hip dysplasia.
After leaving her job earlier this year, Louisa began developing Dolly & Co as a business that would allow her to work around her health, at her own pace, while doing something she genuinely loves.
The business began with handmade waterproof dog collars and leads and has since grown into a Yorkshire pet boutique offering accessories, toys and thoughtful gifts for dogs and their humans.
One of Louisa’s proudest achievements has been being named a finalist in the Small Business Awards UK for Handmade Dog Accessories Business of the Year in Yorkshire and the Humber.
However, Dolly & Co is becoming more than a shop. Through the business website, Louisa has created Dolly’s World, an online community where dog owners can share photographs of their dogs, read helpful articles and discover dog-friendly places and local businesses.
Louisa has also created a dedicated Quiet Message space on her website, where anyone who might be struggling, feeling overwhelmed or simply needing someone to talk to can send a private message. Inspired by her own experiences with chronic illness, it’s a small but meaningful way of offering a listening ear and reminding people that they don’t have to face every difficult day alone.
As part of Dolly & Co’s wider community focus, Louisa has developed free downloadable activities for children and families, including colouring pages and working on educational resources that encourage children to learn about dogs and how to interact with them safely. New activities are added on an ongoing basis, giving families a reason to keep coming back, whether they make a purchase or not.
Giving back is also important to Louisa. She has worked with local animal charity Rain Rescue, supporting its events and having Dolly & Co products stocked through the charity. Also supporting Thornberry Animal Sanctuary by attending events and sponsoring the 2027 calendar.
The business is guided by Louisa’s motto, “The Dolly Way” — for the gentle days, the brave days, and every little moment inbetween. The phrase reflects her experience of living with chronic illness and the happiness dogs can bring to people’s lives.
Although Dolly & Co remains a small business, Louisa is proud of what she is building in Rotherham and hopes her story will encourage others living with chronic illness, or anyone dreaming of starting a business, to believe they can give it a go.
Dolly & Co Pet Boutique is available online at https://dollyandco.uk.