Anna and Patrick created Paws and Smile as a dog walking service in Washington, DC and expanded the company to include daycare and boarding within months of opening. While officially opening in 2018, both began working professional with animals years before. Patrick particularly enjoys young, energetic dogs, as his interest lies mostly in training and behaviorial rehabilition. He is currently working on his training certification through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. Anna provides more of a maternal vibe and likes the old, small, and special needs dogs. She was studying to be a vet tech through Colby Community College before life got too busy. While not a medical professional, she can advise on small cuts or injuries and can provide services such as medication administration, ear and teeth cleanings, anal gland expressions, and nail trims. They were lucky to have found each other in life and Paws and Smile is lucky to have two organizing members with such different individual expertise.
Anna Markowitz
Anna began professionally caring for animals in the DC area in 2015 while looking for a job after finishing graduate school. She quickly learned animals were her passion and what she was born to do; she eats, sleeps, and breathes pet care. Whether she's out walking a pack of dogs, dropping in on bunnies or birds, communicating with clients, snapping photos of pets, organizing Halloween parties, or snuggling with her own dog, this is the life Anna chose and she’s never been happier! Her only problem is falling in love with nearly every pet she meets. She treats them like family and longs for the day when she can have a farm full of animals in every shape, size, and color. Anna has a particular affinity for small, disabled, and elderly dogs, as well as "exotics" such as birds and rabbits.
Patrick Prodey
Patrick was lucky enough to grow up with dogs and help his relatives train them. He even trained his aunt and uncle's Greater Swiss Mountain Dog to bring in the newspaper! Patrick began professional providing dog and cat care in DC in 2016. He walks, boards, manages the daycare program, provides basic training, and can offer "puppy bootcamps" in which he helps with house breaking, crate training, and loose leash walking. While officially training with CATCH, Patrick combines thoughts and practices from a variety of training professionals to find the best fit for your dog. His goal is to gain the respect and understanding of each and every dog. He provides love without compromising training and always looks forward to the snuggle session at the end of a long day. Patrick works particularly well with puppies, big dogs, and dogs with lots of energy.
Rigo- Chief Dog Operator (CDO)
Rigo was found as a young adult in a field outside of Dallas in January 2013. Anna was asked to watch him for the weekend until his owners were found, but they soon realized they were meant to be and have been inseparable since. Rigo originally did not approve of the idea of opening his home to other dogs, but is proof that an old dog can learn new tricks. He started out as a stereotypical, possessive chihuahua, but has since become an empathetic dog who helps other dogs adjust to the Paws and Smile environment. He has a way of advocating for other dogs’ boundaries, enjoys cuddling with older, slower dogs, can lure out awkward dogs who have been hiding under their cabinet for 3 days, and can still keep up with the big dogs running around outside. Rigo will help acclimate your dog to our home and our rules as he has learned to love sharing his home and his family.
Aoife- Chief Socialization Officer (CSO)
Aoife came to us in the summer of 2020. Instead of the stoic Irish Wolfhound mix we were told she would be, she ended up being a goofy boxer mix. She grew up in a doggy daycare and has integrated the qualities of virtually every dog breed. We believe dogs speak dog better than humans, and Aoife has learned to translate our expectations with the pack. Whether she’s helping new dogs jump into the van for the first time, teaching dogs to walk loose leash beside her, leading playful dogs out of the quiet room, or referreeing two dogs playing with each other, Aoife has become the pack leader we were hoping she would become. Ask her for a high-five next time you see her- she loves to show off her tricks.
Our Location
Camp Paws and Smile is located on nearly 3 acres in Shawnee, Kansas. Our yard is currently under construction and will consist of a variety of terrains to help acclimate dogs to different surfaces. It will also allow us to switch our play areas if a spot gets too muddy, although we can always use the grooming station to wash off! We will have several pens on the property to separate based off activity, including a long, narrow run perfect for playing fetch. There are several mature trees on the property, as well as a covered carport, that provide shade to allow us to continue playing even when the temperature rises. On hot days, we might even bring out the dog pool or splash pad!
Our indoor dog space is temperature controlled and has dog-friendly flooring. Our dedicated dog kitchen has plenty of storage, including a refrigerator, for all your dog’s food or medications. We have food bowls and slow feeders in every size that are washed on a regular basis to prevent cross-contamination. The indoor space is filled with different types of dog beds and blankets for your dog to choose their maximum level of comfort, whether that be shag, memory foam, orthopedic, or even cold tile. We provide 24/7 supervision in our kennel-free environment; the dogs sleep in a bedroom with a human every night, no exceptions. In our experience, even dogs used to sleeping in kennels at home enjoy the pack sleeping set-up and will find at least one snuggle buddy for the night.