We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kurchi Basu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kurchi, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Hello! I’m Kurchi (she/her/hers), and I’d love to share how my journey with rescue dogs and weddings led to the creation of Pawsitive Moments, LLC. When I first met my (now) husband in 2013, we had only been dating six months, but had already secretly started fostering a few dogs from a local rescue. When we found a wonderful pair of littermates, there was one that I loved and one that he loved. I was nervous to commit in case we broke up, but was convinced that if each of us were responsible for one dog, “Chewie” could be his, and I could keep “Louie”.

We kept them, and continued fostering momma dogs and puppies for Rescued Pets Movement (RPM), a non-profit organization in Houston that has helped save over 80,000 dogs off the euthanasia list at Houston City Shelter (BARC), transporting them to fosters and rescues in other states. This further fueled my dedication to animal welfare, and once we bought a house, we went on to foster over fifty dogs and puppies (to date!). This helped me become adept at reading dogs’ body language and staying attuned to their needs; my specialty is potty-training a puppy in about 72 hours! This hands-on experience, coupled with my passion for pets, earned me recognition as a dedicated dog enthusiast (or “dog whisperer”) within my circle.

Fast forward 7 years to when we were about to get married at the height of the global pandemic. I wanted to include my well-behaved rescue dogs in my wedding, but a close friend (who was also our officiant) wisely requested that we avoid an epic squirrel chase during the outdoor ceremony. As I asked around, I heard countless stories about unaccompanied pups wreaking havoc at events. For instance, a Great Dane was once spooked by fireworks and ran frantically around the venue, diverting all the guests’ attention. Once when an Aussie Doodle left to its own devices, pooped on the dance floor, causing the venue to stop allowing pets. These stories made me realize how many people hesitate to involve their pets in events due to concerns about logistical headaches and added responsibilities.

In 2021, I began accompanying friends’ dogs to their weddings, engagements, and even family photo shoots. Wanting to turn my passion into a professional venture, I participated in University of Houston’s SURE small business Program to better understand how to make my dream a reality and I officially became an LLC in Houston, TX earlier this year. As many of my clients are not necessarily in the rescue dog community, I was determined to reconcile my larger mission with my personal values, so the concept of being a mission-driven business resonated deeply with me.

At Pawsitive Moments, our mission goes beyond providing exceptional pet care and ensuring pets are seamlessly included into events. Once we reach our break-even point, any additional income earned will be donated to supporting animal rescues in the Houston area. This commitment ensures that our work not only brings joy to pet owners but also, makes a meaningful impact on the lives of animals in need. By choosing Pawsitive Moments, clients are not just ensuring a seamless, stress-free inclusion of their pet in their special event; they are also contributing to a cause that helps save and improve the lives of countless animals.

Kurchi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kurchi (she/her/hers), owner of Pawsitive Moments, LLC. and we believe your best day should include your best friend! In fact, it all started when I wanted to include my well-behaved dogs in my wedding, but our close friend/wedding officiant wisely pointed out the potential challenges (imagine an epic squirrel chase during the ceremony!). This got me thinking about how many people hesitate to involve their pets in events due to concerns about who will take care of the animal, the logistical headaches, added responsibilities, as something always has to give.

However, I see things differently. Pets have a remarkable way of grounding us and helping us appreciate the moment amidst the chaos of a special event. Each dog has its own unique personality and needs—some are high energy, while others are quiet and calm. By reading their body language and staying attuned to their needs, I’ve come to be recognized as a dedicated dog enthusiast, and I genuinely believe that including a pet can bring immense joy to any event.

In 2021, I started accompanying friends’ dogs to their weddings, drawing on my extensive experience of fostering over fifty dogs. Earlier this year, I became an official LLC in the State of Texas, working with University of Houston’s Law Clinic to create clear service agreements alongside insurance to prioritize peace of mind.

Pets are family, and every professionally photographed event is special enough to include them. Including a furry companion in the celebration, with the help of a professional “day-of” coordinator, who handles all pet-related logistics, can be a meaningful expression of love and care. Along with day-of care and transportation, we’ll create the pet’s timeline, coordinate with vendors, handling all the small details.

Lastly, we are mission-driven; once we reach our break-even analysis point, any additional income earned will be allocated towards supporting animal rescues in the Houston area. With Pawsitive Moments, clients can rest assured that all aspects of their pet’s involvement will be expertly managed. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, anniversary, or family photoshoot, we really love to facilitate the inclusion of pets in a way that creates lasting “pawsitive” memories to cherish.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

By taking part in the University of Houston SURE Business Program, I learned various strategies for securing initial seed funding without going into debt or being entirely bootstrapped. The program emphasized the importance of having a strong Minimum Viable Business Product (MVBP) to present to potential investors and funders (mine is about 16 pages). With this foundation, I participated in several local pitch competitions, where I successfully showcased my business concept and vision. Winning these competitions provided me with some of the initial funding needed to start Pawsitive Moments.

My recommendation for aspiring entrepreneurs is to look for (free!) local small business programs. These programs can help grow your network and provide a better grasp of targeted funding opportunities. Additionally, creating a business account early on is crucial to keep finances separate, making bookkeeping much easier. This combination of education, preparation, and competition success allowed me to launch my business on solid financial footing.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I’m a fan of referrals and word of mouth. In the wedding industry, the key to success is ensuring that venues know about you, include you on their vendor list, and have seen you in action so they can vouch for your reliability. We offer discounts for referrals and are actively working to be added to every venue’s “vendor recommendation” list in Houston.

Another excellent source of new clients has been photographers. I know several photographers in Houston, and once they see me in action, they recognize that I am the real deal. I always love working with photographers who appreciate that we’re there to assist with the dogs, allowing them to focus on capturing beautiful moments. Being recommended by photographers who value our support has been incredibly beneficial, as they often refer us to their clients looking for a seamless way to include their pets in their special events. This combination of venue endorsements and photographer recommendations has been the best source of new clients for Pawsitive Moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pawsmoments.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsitivemomentshtx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pawsitivemomentshtx/

Image Credits

Christine, Swish & Click Photography
Rachel Lynn Photography
Boulevard (BLVD) Photography