About Me

PROUD MEMBER OF NIWA - NATIONAL IRISH WOLFHOUND ASSOCIATION
FOUNDING MEMBER/MODERATOR OF IRISH WOLFHOUND BREEDERS ONLY BREEDING WITH INTEGRITY
MEMBER OF IRISH WOLFHOUND HEALTH GROUP
CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB (CKC) MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING FOR 20 YEARS

I have been working with animals since I was a little girl. We always had rescue dogs as a child and I took my first dog Buffy to obedience classes when I was 8yrs old.

I was a store manager for Petsmart in Markham, Vaughn and in Barrie, ON when they opened their first pilot stores in Canada.

In 1998 I left my management job to follow my dream and opened my first pet store in my home town of Elliot Lake : Luv A Pet.

In 2002 I purchased a 9000' building to expand my dream and opened Best Friends Pet Centre - a full service pet facility. I relocated my pet store and added 32 kennels for dog and cat boarding, a doggy daycare, grooming shop, and dog training centre.

I was a member of the Elliot Lake and Area Kennel Club where I taught obedience classes for many years before opening my own training centre. I was a CKC certified Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator and a member of Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers.
I also worked as a consultant and trainer for the animal shelter as well as doing in-home private consulting for animal behaviour issues.

I served on the board of directors for Society for Animals in Distress (SAD) for 6yrs.

In 2011 I was awarded the Animal Control Contract for the city of Elliot Lake where I provided all impound services for the city. All aspects of which require strict adherance to the Pound Animal Act and as such there are very strict government regulations regarding housing and care, cleanliness, air quality, health and safety etc and receive regular inspections.
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The knowledge I have gained over the last 20 years of working with animals in so many different roles and running a large full service boarding kennel for 13 years as well as the extensive training received from closely following all animal care guidelines set out by Government of Canada, have been invaluable to me in designing and building my beautiful new kennel last year for my Irish Wolfhounds.

Our kennel has been fully inspected by the OSPCA to ensure that we are providing the best quality care for all of our animals.

Over the course of running my pet store and animal control services I have rescued and adopted more than 350 animals into new homes.

In 1998 after many years of owning rescue animals I aquired my first CKC registered dog, a Labrador Retriever named Hunter. I showed her in conformation and earned her championship title. I showed her in obedience and got her Companion Dog title. I participated in agility, Rally, retriever trial and search and rescue courses with her. I started breeding CKC registered Labradors in 2001.

In 2009 after many years of wishing, I got my first Irish Wolhfound and I was hooked! I was a single mother running Best Friends Pet Centre and I decided to make a change. I sold my business to a long time employee, sold my house, and moved to the country to pursue my dream of living with Irish Wolfhounds and Norhunter Irish Wolfhounds was born.

I sometimes get criticized by other breeders because I am not actively showing anymore. I must admit that living in a remote area of northern Ontario raising my two children and caring for all of our animals here at home has to take precedence over travelling around southern Ontario to dog shows at the moment. I am so pleased that several of the owners of my dogs are showing them and participating in competitive events and are doing so well. Hopefully I can get back out there again soon to have fun with my hounds!