ALL ABOUT ME
Aside from my beloved family and friends, there are a few things that I love more than anything: the ocean, dogs, fuchsia gerbera daisies, and unicorns.
I am a former BCSPCA dog socializer, which means I was able to spend time in the kennels with the dogs. This was a blessing and a curse because more times than not, it was heartbreaking to see how scared, nervous, and sad the dogs were. However, as a socializer, I was able to give the love and attention that many of the dogs so desperately wanted and needed. Through the BCSPCA I also made many friends who I still keep in contact with to this day. Prior to COVID, there would be many times that we would get together to catch up and reminisce about the dogs that stole our hearts. As a matter of fact, I am still in contact with one of the rescues (Daisy) and get to see her from time to time.
I am a lover of all animals (cats & furry ones included), but I particularly love horses & dogs. Over the years my family and I have had dogs which included mixed breeds, a Shih Tzu, and a few pugs. My favorite breeds of dog are Pugs, French bulldogs, and Bully breeds. This does not mean that I don't like all dog breeds, I am just fond of a few special ones.
My last dog was an 80 lb husky, lab & shepherd mix, named AJ. I was originally AJ's dog sitter but with all of the travelling his family did one summer, he and I bonded. His family also had a baby that was starting to crawl, and although AJ adored the baby, he was getting nervous whenever she would be on the move. AJ was also older and suffered with arthritis so moving around at times was a challenge especially on laminate flooring. Asking if I would be willing to adopt AJ was not an easy decision for his family but knowing that AJ and I had a special bond and that I would continue taking him on adventures, helped ease their sadness.
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to AJ in January 2020 and although the time I had with AJ was short, we had many fun times together. If we weren't walking around our neighborhood discovering new secret pathways or beach access, we would be going for car rides which was one of AJ's favorite things to do because he knew it meant a new adventure. AJ's last day was not planned but he had a major leg injury that prevented him from walking which was what he loved to do. It was a bittersweet moment having to say goodbye but his original mom and I were both able to be with him which was a special moment that I will remember forever. He will forever be in my heart.
Why did I start the Dogs of Vancouver Island (DOVI) social media account and now pet & home sitting business? Well, a few years ago a friend and I launched Vancouver Islands one and only dog resource magazine & website. The dream was to be able to provide a one-stop-shop for dog lovers & owners with resources for all over Vancouver Island which included dog friendly hotels, rules for parks and trails, listing of vets & emergency clinics, and so much more. Our initial launch was so well received we couldn’t believe the amazing feedback we got. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, my partner was not able meet many of the obligations which resulted in the magazine failing so I had to walk away from the project.
From The Ashes Rises A Phoenix – Starting over on my own has been a scary concept that I have thought about since the rise & fall of the magazine & website. However, since January 2022 I have felt the strong calling to bring many aspects of the resource to life again. My vision for DOVI is much the same as the previous resource that I was a part of but with a few more added elements such as the Pet & House-Sitting services that I launched in March 2022. Over the next months and year, my goal is to build onto this website and have the greatly sought-after resources that many pet owners on Vancouver Island, and frankly all over Canada, are looking for. It is with the help of the DOVI fans that I know my website will be a big success.
KERI
