Franchisee story · We Love Pets Bury St Edmunds

From NHS burnout to business owner

After decades working in healthcare, at 52 years old, Tasha knew something needed to change.

Tasha of We Love Pets Bury St Edmunds smiling on a countryside path with her dalmatian

Previous career

NHS nurse: theatres, oncology and palliative care

Joined

February 2022, aged 52

Branch

We Love Pets Bury St Edmunds

What she loves most

Trusted relationships with pets and owners

Tasha's story

The pressures, long hours and emotional demands were taking their toll.

Tasha's career in the NHS had seen her work across a variety of demanding environments, including surgical theatres, oncology and palliative care. While the work was incredibly rewarding, the pressures, long hours and emotional demands were taking their toll.

Following a period of ill health that forced her to stop and reassess what she wanted from life, Tasha found herself asking an important question:

"What would make me genuinely happy?"

The answer was surprisingly simple: spending time outdoors, working with animals and helping people.

That realisation led her to We Love Pets.

Although a move into pet care might seem like a dramatic career change, Tasha had always loved animals and had previous experience working with both horses and exotic animals earlier in life. Combining that passion with the support of an established franchise gave her the confidence to take the leap into business ownership.

Tasha has built a successful local pet care business and a lifestyle that looks very different from the one she left behind.

"One of the best things about this business is knowing that every day you're making a difference to both pets and their owners. The relationships you build with clients are incredibly rewarding, and no two days are ever the same."

Building a business takes commitment, and I wouldn't have it any other way

Like any business owner, Tasha has learned valuable lessons along the way. Building a successful business requires commitment, adaptability and a willingness to keep learning, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Owning my own business has given me a level of satisfaction and freedom that I never imagined. It was a big decision, but looking back, it was absolutely the right one."

Today, Tasha enjoys running a thriving business, working with animals every day and having greater control over her time, her future and the life she wants to create.

It's never too late

Her story is proof that it’s never too late to change direction. Starting a completely new career at 52, Tasha shows that with the right support, mindset and determination, you can build a business that brings both success and fulfilment.

Tasha's advice: “If you’re passionate about animals and willing to put in the work, don’t let fear hold you back.”