Reality TV star’s agency is putting pet supermodels in the spotlight
THE FORMER model and reality TV star Layla Flaherty has established an agency for the supermodels of the pet world.
Five years ago, tired of the party lifestyle, she decided to combine the three things she knew and loved best – modelling, TV and animals – to launch her own business.
A spokesman said: “Urban Paws UK is now the go-to animal agency for luxury brands and leading high street names wanting to add anything from cats to camels to their campaigns.”
Retailers including John Lewis, IKEA and Aldi have all featured Urban Paws animals in commercials.
Her pet supermodels have ‘walked’ for high fashion labels like Tom Ford, Burberry, Gucci and Stella McCartney.
They have also appeared in videos for chart megastars Rihanna and Little Mix.
And they have featured in theatre and films where, apparently, they are given their own chill-out green rooms to relax in between takes.
Leeds-based Ms Flaherty also has a roster of social media influencers who can command five-figure sums to post a photo of themselves posing with the latest product.
She said: “I spent a year training and creating a business plan before I launched Urban Paws.
“I thought it would be small and local at first.
“But after year one it just took off and we went international straight away.”
After starting off using mostly friends’ cats and dogs for photographic work,
Urban Paws now has a wide range of models on its books, including dogs which the agency claims are considered to be the Kate Moss and the Cara Delevingne of the canine world.
Urban Paws has a range of animals available for bookings, including birds, snakes, rabbits, pigs, hedgehogs and camels.
One of Ms Flaherty’s most sought-after chickens appeared in a Gucci campaign alongside Harry Styles.
Urban Paws UK is now the go-to animal agency for luxury brands. A spokesman for Urban Paws UK, founded by Leeds-based Layla Flaherty.