Young lawyer, a double winner at the True Pet Industry Awards

For Renee Francis, what began as a practical way to finance her law school education has blossomed into an award-winning business. Now an attorney-at-law, Francis is also the proud founder of Renee’s Palace, a booming pet grooming and boarding business that took home two major honors –Top Dog Groomer and Outstanding Animal Boarding House – at the recent True Pet Industry Awards. The double win left her feeling deeply grateful.

“I feel truly humbled and honoured to receive these awards,” Francis shared. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God and to everyone who voted for Renee’s Palace. These awards tell us we’re doing something right– at Renee’s Palace, your pets are treated like royalty.”

Her journey began during her years at the Norman Manley Law School, where she first started out in the pet-care business to help fund her education. What started as a way to make ends meet soon became her passion. Today, Renee’s Palace has two locations – one on Paddington Terrace in Kingston and another at Palms Plaza in Portmore – employing a team of eight. Balancing her dual roles as a business owner and attorney has been no small feat, but for Francis, it’s a labour of love.

“My original goal was just to support myself through law school,” Francis explained, “but it grew into something much bigger. I now practise law and run this business, both of which I wholeheartedly love.”

The inspiration for her pet-centered venture came from her then best friend, who saw Francis’s deep love for dogs and suggested grooming and boarding as a business. Over time, Francis immersed herself in every aspect of pet care. She became well-versed in pet import and export regulations, disease prevention, and best practices for managing socialisation and safety at her facilities. Learning everything from scratch, she taught herself grooming techniques through online research, videos, and hands-on practice.

Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox

Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.

“Every new dog is a learning experience,” she shared. “I get to see breeds from all over the world that we don’t typically have in Jamaica – like the Chow Chow, Whippet, Sheepdog, Yorkshire Terrier, and Maltese.”

Growing up between Clarendon and St. Catherine, Francis attended Clarendon College and St. Jago High before moving on to The University of the West Indies and later the Norman Manley Law School.

Francis emphasises the importance of regular grooming for pets. “A dog should be groomed at least every four weeks, and owners should brush their pets three to four times a week. Regular grooming keeps pets comfortable and helps them feel more at ease with the groomer,” she explained. “If a dog’s nails aren’t clipped every 2-3 weeks, they can curl into the skin, causing painful infections or abscesses.”

With Renee’s Palace thriving and her clients thrilled, Francis is not just making a mark in the pet industry – she’s redefining what it means to care for animals with excellence and compassion.

The True Pet Industry Awards are presented at the True Pet Expo, an annual pet lovers event that showcases small businesses from all areas of the pet industry. Find out more about the True Pet Industry Awards at truepetfoods.com