Woofie's Highlights Women Franchise Owners During National Women's Small Business Month

Woofie's, the pet-care franchise offering mobile pet grooming, dog walking, and pet sitting services, is celebrating its women-owned franchises during National Women's Small Business Month. More than half of Woofie's franchise owners are women, with the corporate team also led by a strong female leadership bench. This celebration coincides with co-founder and president Amy Addington being named a 'Woman of Wonder' by Franchise Dictionary Magazine in its October issue.

Addington, nominated by the publication's 450,000-plus readers, was recognized for her impact on franchising, ability to overcome challenges, and commitment to community giving. She co-founded Woofie's in 2004, launched franchising in 2018, and has since expanded the brand to 67 locations nationwide. Currently, 43 Woofie's locations are owned by women, representing significant female entrepreneurship within the pet care industry. The complete list of women-owned Woofie's locations is available at https://www.woofies.com.

Crystal Witt, owner of Woofie's of Greater Jacksonville with her husband Neil Dakake, exemplifies the franchise's impact on women entrepreneurs. After a breast cancer diagnosis, Witt pursued her lifelong dream of business ownership to demonstrate to her children the importance of building a fulfilling life. 'We have frequent interactions with local pet owners and feel like business ownership has deepened our relationship with our community,' Witt says. 'The icing on the cake is getting to surround ourselves with pets just about every day!'

Tanya Lee, owner of Woofie's of Reston-Herndon, has grown her operation to include 10 office staff, 12 groomers, and approximately 100 dog walkers and pet sitters. 'All of them come from our local community so they know the people. They know the neighbors,' says Lee, who was recently featured in the International Franchise Association's 'Franchise Means Local' campaign and covered in Franchise Wire. Her story illustrates how women-owned franchises create substantial local employment opportunities while strengthening community ties.

Woofie's commitment to diversity extends beyond gender representation. In 2022, Entrepreneur ranked Woofie's as a top franchise for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, recognizing the company's efforts to promote diversity throughout its organization and franchise system. To help lower barriers to ownership, Woofie's offers a $5,000 Diversity Discount on franchise fees for qualified minority-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Prospective franchise owners can learn more at https://www.ownawoofies.com.

The brand's female leadership extends throughout the corporate structure, including Vice President of Operations Lydia Best, Franchise Development Manager Jill Devlin, Franchise Business Consultant Gabby Loielo, Franchise Relations Specialist Jessica Koenig, Onboarding Operations Manager Caroline Murphy, Lead National Talent Partner Jenises Negron, and Marketing Manager Kellie Notman. This comprehensive female leadership demonstrates Woofie's commitment to creating pathways for women in business leadership roles.

'Helping women realize their dreams of entrepreneurship is really important to us at Woofie's,' says Addington. 'Every woman who steps into Woofie's ownership strengthens our communities, creates jobs, and elevates the standard of care for pets and their people. We're proud to foster a culture where women lead, innovate, and support one another—because when women thrive in business, everyone benefits.' This philosophy underscores the broader economic impact of supporting women-owned businesses, which contribute to job creation, community development, and industry innovation while serving the growing $100 billion pet care market.