14 Jan 2019

Twenty-two-year-old Letlhogonolo Modisane of Mochudi has decided to turn his love for breeding dogs into a business to beat unemployment. 

In an interview with BOPA, he said his business called Happy Paws, was established in 2016 and is currently operating from his home. 

He said he raised his start-up capital from puppies of the cardigan welshi female he had long kept. 

Mr Modisane said he has loved dogs since childhood and what motivated him to start selling them was people who admired his dogs and wanted to buy from him. 

 He said the love, business insights and motivation he received from his friends and family encouraged him to shift passion into a real business. 

Happy Paws sells breeds such as bully pit (bulldog and pit-bull mix), Pit-bulls, German Shepherd, Rottweilers, Staffordshire, Boerboels, Chihuahua and others. 

Mr Modisane said the puppies are sold when they are between six and 12 weeks old at prices ranging between P1 500 and P3 500. 

He said that the money sustains him and that he has currently achieved a lot, revealing that he helps his mother pay for his Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply course at Gaborone University College of Law. 

He said he markets his business through social media, walking with the dogs and going from door to door marketing his business. 

He said he experiences a number of challenges like any business, among them expensive dog feeds and puppy mortality. 

Mr Modisane said he also spends money on medication as every puppy gets an injection worth about P150 at six weeks. 

He expressed gratitude that the business was doing well and that customers love his puppies, pricing and the terms of payment. 

He advised other youth in businesses and those willing to venture into business to do what they love, take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. ENDS