Our Story
Paws and Claws was created in 2009 by founder Nicole Rice. Nicole had spent the majority of her early career volunteering and helping shelter animals during her free time. Finding a passion with animal care, Nicole resigned her corporate job to create Paws and Claws. Working from the ground up, the company began with only a few clients in the Madison and surrounding area. Nicole and her sister, Corinne, were the Paws and Claws team at that point. Paws and Claws quickly grew to the point additional team members had to be brought on to help with the new demands. Today, the company runs strong with many happy clients and over ten employees. Corinne, a Marine veteran, now owns the company as Nicole focuses exclusively on boarding. Corinne is committed to continuing the excellent care and communication that the Paws and Claws team has provided for the past decade. Paws and Claws strives to make sure the animals and clients we care for are the happiest they can be.
Hi, I'm Corinne!
I own Paws and Claws (dream job!). I've always been obsessed with animals - ask my parents about my favorite book as a child! They'll say "The New Encyclopedia of the Dog" by Bruce Fogle. I read it constantly, learning about not only dog breeds but also how to properly care for and train dogs. When I was 10 years old, I made a speech stating why I wanted a dog and how I would care for them. That's when we got Mandy, my childhood dog. She was my best friend for years until she passed.
When I was a teen, my family fostered animals before they were able to be adopted out. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and we were able to provide a loving and safe home for many animals, including a momma dog and her litter of fluffy, happy pups.
When my sister started Paws and Claws, I worked for her. I walked dogs and cared for kitties and LOVED my job. I was and am so proud of my sister for following her dreams and starting this amazing company doing what we both love.
I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and spent 4 years on active duty before relocating to Knoxville, Tennessee. I attended college at the University of Tennessee, adopted a rescue dog, and recently came back to Wisconsin.
I'm so excited I had the opportunity in 2019 to take over the family business. I absolutely love what I do. I understand that pets are family and my goal is to always make sure that while you are at work or on vacation, your pets get the family treatment!