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A former ICU nurse has launched a new Carnoustie pet shop alongside her dog grooming business.

Janine Black, 47, left her career as an intensive care nurse in Aberdeen to follow her passion for working with animals.

After grooming dogs part-time while still in nursing, she opened Happy Paws in May last year.

It has proved a success and she has opened a new pet shop on Carnoustie High Street.

Janine said leaving nursing to open her business has given her more flexibility and a better work-life balance.

“I got my training and was grooming friends’ dogs and it just took off,” she said.

“I just groomed part-time alongside my nursing.

“I was nominated for Salon-Based Dog Groomer of the Year award last year and I thought, let’s go for it.

“Some customers were asking me to get cat, rabbit and guinea pig things.

“I thought, I may as well do the whole hog and so I bought the shop.

“Now I have the pet shop and the dog groomers.”

The grooming salon sits at the back of the High Street shop.

And demand has been high, with Janine’s diary quickly filling up.

The new shop sells dog and cat food and treats, animal toys, and a wide range of products for smaller pets, including budgies and other birds, rats, parrots and guinea pigs.

And Janine says she can order products for any animal depending on customer requests.

“People used to travel to Arbroath or Dundee for pet supplies, so they’ve been delighted that we’re open now,” she added.

“Some don’t realise yet that we’re a pet shop too – they think we’re just groomers.

“We’re very animal inclusive – I’ll supply anything for any animal.

“If I don’t have it, I will try and source it in the next couple of weeks.

“The pet shop is finding its feet, but people are starting to come in and say it’s great.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 22 September 2025