Petpals celebrates 20 years of franchise support manager Tracey Dawber

Petpals is celebrating 20 years since Tracey Dawber joined the business as franchise support manager, marking a key milestone for the company during its 25th anniversary year.

Dawber joined Petpals when the head office team comprised just two people supporting a small network of franchisees. 

She has remained with the business as it has grown into one of the UK’s established pet care franchises.

Her role has evolved alongside the expansion of the network. Initially involved across multiple areas of the business, she now plays a central role in recruiting and onboarding new franchisees, while continuing to provide ongoing support to operators across the country.

Petpals has expanded its services, systems and use of technology over the years, while maintaining a focus on personal support for franchisees and high standards of pet care.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Dawber is preparing to run the London Marathon in 2026 to raise funds for the PDSA animal charity.

Reflecting on her time at the company, Dawber said: “When I joined Petpals, it felt much more like a family than a corporate brand. There was a genuine sense that everyone cared – about the pets, about the franchisees and about each other.

“Kevin has grown Petpals with real empathy, always understanding the realities and ever-changing challenges of working within a small team. Even as the business has grown, that feeling has never gone away.”

Kevin Thackrah, director at Petpals, added: “Tracey is quite simply at the heart of Petpals. Her knowledge, compassion and commitment to our franchisees and their pets have helped shape the business we are today.”