Puppy Fades: Where Dogs Get Groomed and Lives Get Changed.
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Puppy Fades is a new dog grooming salon in Pasadena, CA that is doing more than just caring for pets. It is changing lives by giving people who were once in jail a second chance. Puppy Fades was opened by Homeboy Industries, a famous organization from East Los Angeles that helps former gang members and people who have been incarcerated rebuild their lives.
Before working at Puppy Fades, the employees had to complete an 18-month training program where they learned important skills to heal and start fresh. The team includes two managers and four professional dog groomers who were trained at the West Coast Grooming Academy.
One of the dog groomers, Richard Orea, shared that he spent many years in and out of jail. Now, he is proud to have a normal job and be part of society again. Another groomer, Evelyn Sanchez, was once jailed for drug crimes but is now six years sober. She says that working at Puppy Fades has given her a new purpose and better people around her.
Homeboy Industries has been doing this work for over 30 years. It is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. It began in 1988 to help former gang members in East Los Angeles. Today, it is a model for more than 250 organizations around the world, including places like Alabama, Guatemala, and Scotland.
In 2014, Homeboy Industries launched the Global Homeboy Network (GHN) to expand their work internationally. Since then, over 400 organizations have visited their campus in Los Angeles to learn from their programs. GHN’s goal is to help other communities build safe spaces and offer job training and free programs to people who need a second chance.
Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries, believes that no one should be judged by their past. He helped start the idea that gang members and people who made mistakes could still live happy, successful lives if given the right support.
At Puppy Fades, the mission is clear: not just to groom dogs, but also to show what can happen when we invest in people instead of punishing them forever. Father Boyle reminded everyone at the grand opening that society often treats poor people, immigrants, and former gang members unfairly, but real change comes from offering them hope and respect.
Even though Puppy Fades just opened, it already has a five-star rating, and the team is excited to keep growing. The salon is not just a business; it is a place of healing, community, and new beginnings..
Puppy Fades, like all of Homeboy Industries' businesses, proves that second chances work. They show that investing in people leads to stronger communities and brighter futures for everyone.
