She provides a loving sanctuary for cats and dogs as well as running a petting farm.

CV: Laura set up Poshpaws as a pet grooming salon in 2007, gradually adding a boarding facility for cats and dogs, then an animal sanctuary and a petting farm.

Where it began: Having moved to the UAE to work as cabin crew, Laura rescued (and later rehomed) her first kitten from the side of Sheikh Zayed Road on New Year’s Eve, 2000. “My passion for animals in need and a realisation for what I could do began to grow from there. I rescued countless stray dogs and puppies from building sites and fortunately found them easy to home… I soon had contractors bringing puppies to my door.”

Proud moment: “Opening the animal sanctuary and petting farm is my biggest achievement in life; reading the thank you letters from schools, seeing the offers of help from volunteers, helping animals to better health and finding them new homes.”

Photographed by: Farooq Salik  | Assisted by: Kristina Nabieva