Fresh Fades & Fresh Starts: The Story of Homeboy Industries' Puppy Fades Dog Grooming

In the heart of Pasadena, Puppy Fades Dog Grooming is doing more than trimming coats and filing nails—they’re nurturing new beginnings. Opened in February 2025, Puppy Fades is the latest social enterprise from Homeboy Industries, employing and empowering formerly incarcerated individuals with meaningful career paths.

David Duran, now a certified dog groomer and full-time team member at Puppy Fades, began as a trainee in May of 2023.

“I have worked at many of Homeboy's social enterprises, and when I heard about the dog grooming program starting up, I could really see myself enjoying it," David said. "I saw how going through the program would leave me with a life-long skill that will help secure me financially.”

David completed his grooming certification in Fall 2024 and joined the Puppy Fades team just in time for its grand opening. 

Creating a Safe Haven for Every Pup

Today, David is one of six employees at the Pasadena salon, where the team provides full-service grooming focused on creating a compassionate, calm environment for dogs, groomers, and pet parents alike.

As featured in the Los Angeles Times, Homeboy Puppy Fades is unique in its mission and methods. Groomers are trained to build trust and offer individualized care to pets, often using techniques grounded in empathy and patience. David exemplifies this approach every day.

“My favorite aspect of dog grooming is working with animals and finding ways to make them feel more comfortable during the process. I spend the time I need talking to them and approaching them gently to try and gain their trust. I use positive reinforcement, and I find that when the dogs I am working on are calm and content, the rest of the grooming process comes naturally,” he said.

Using Gingr's Dog Grooming Software to Support Salon Success

Puppy Fades chose Gingr as its pet business software partner to support the salon's growing operation and ensure a seamless client experience.

“We went with Gingr because it is the most in-depth platform on the market," David said. "We really wanted to have a system that will be able to grow with us as we build more locations. We loved the customer support that Gingr provides as well as the in-depth capabilities within reporting."

In addition to reporting, David and the team rely on several additional Gingr features to keep their busy days running smoothly day to day. 

“My favorite feature in Gingr is the dashboard and facility calendar. It is seamless and easy to use. Extremely helpful during our busiest day," David said. "I love the function of putting icons on the pet profiles that help us know about their personalities! I like looking at pet profile and notes as well as the report cards."

As David builds his client base, Gingr has become essential to supporting his success.

“The platform is so robust and allows my clients to rebook me personally. I am working to build my client base and appreciate how they have that option," he said.

At Homeboy Puppy Fades, every snip and scrub is part of something bigger: a story of transformation, trust, and a second chance. Gingr is proud to play a small but meaningful role in their journey.

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