THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> GROWING UP IN LOGAN SQUARE, CATALINA AND HER SIBLINGS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE DOGS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY BEG.

IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT THEY WENT ON TO, NOT ONLY OWNED DOGS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO OPERATE DOG DAY CARE CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

LIKE MANY SMALL BUSINESSES, THE PANDEMIC TOOK A BITE OUT OF THE DAYCARE, BUT SHE DID NOT ROLLOVER.

INSTEAD, SHE NOSED AROUND FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING OPTIONS TO HELP HER BUSINESS.

>> MINGLE, PLAY, SOCIALIZE.

NOT ONLY DOGS, BUT HUMANS LIKE MYSELF.

THEY GET DROPPED OFF ON THE SCHOOL BUS AND GO HOME HAPPY.

>> Reporter: THE OWNER OF FURRY PAWS DOWN TO TAKE HER DAYCARE IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> MY PARENTS MIGRATED HERE FROM MEXICO.

50 YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN YOUR.

MY MOTHER HAS OWNED A RESTAURANT FOR 30 YEARS .

IT IS IN OUR BLOOD TO BOSS UP AND BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND OPEN UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS .

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER FAMILY ENCOURAGED HER TO JOIN THE DOG DAY CARE BUSINESS WHEN SHE HAD HER FIRST CHILD.

SINCE THEN, SHE HAS SEEN UPS AND DOWNS.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THE DOGGIE DAYCARE INDUSTRY WAS VERY NEW.

SKYROCKET HIGH.

EVENTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, IT WAS STILL HIGH, BUT THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND IT HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

FOR AFTER THAT POINT, SHE SAYS SHE FINANCED FURRY PAWS ON HER OWN.

BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC DIP, SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT OPTIONS.

>> I WAS REFERRED TO THE SMALL DIGITAL GRANT.

IT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST ATTEMPTS.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF ME GETTING AWARDED?

LONG STORY SHORT, I DID.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE $10,000 GRANT ALLOWED HER TO ADD SERVICES LIKE GROOMING, AS WELL AS BOOSTER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

>> I LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN, FROM THEM LANE DOWN TO WRESTLING AND DRINKING OUT OF WATER BALLS.

>> Reporter: CLIENT SAY THOSE KINDS OF TOUCHES MAKES FURRY PAWS STAND OUT IN A CROWDED FIELD.

>> I LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DAYCARE AND WHERE FREDDIE IS IN THE PICTURE.

THE TRUST HAS GROWN HAVING A PLACE LIKE THIS TO SEND HIM WHERE HE LOVES IT AND THEY LOVE HIM.

THIS IS LIKE HIS FAMILY.

I CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON IT.

THE REASON NEIGHBORHOOD SURVIVE IS BECAUSE A SMALL BUSINESSES.

YOU DON'T GET THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR SAY LOVE FROM A BIG CORPORATION.

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A DOG WITHOUT FURRY PAWS.

WE FEEL SO CONFIDENT IN THEM AND KNOW HE IS SO LOVED ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: SHE ENCOURAGES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES HELP KEEP THEIR FINANCES OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE.

>> SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MYSELF, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES OR PLATFORMS.

I HAVE TO KIND OF PUT MY PRIDE ASIDE AND START LOOKING FOR GRANTS.

DOGS ARE MY PASSION.

THE FACT