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» Angels with attitude

Where it all began

Julie Thompson
Julie grew up on a mixed farming property in Port Pirie, South Australia. Julie has a natural gift and has loved all animals (especially horses) since she could walk. In 1987 Julie moved to Bunbury, Western Australia where she became involved in breeding and successfully showing the Akita Inu dog. In 1993, she bought the Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery; with a lot of passion and hard work she has developed it into a first class boarding accommodation facility, which provides top quality care for pets.

Ray and Jean
Ray and Jean are retired farmers from Port Pirie, South Australia. Farmers have the ability of always knowing how to "fix" things!!! Ray has proven this with his continuous care and maintenance when required at the kennels.

Jean's passion, like her daughter's has always been animals. Her other passion is gardening, which can be seen by her development and care of the beautiful gardens at the Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery.

For any business to be successful, Julie believes that the working environment must be happy and fulfilling. The staff at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery are very, carefully selected. Emphasis is not only put on employee’s qualifications and experience in pet boarding facilities, but also, very importantly, their caring attitude towards each other and their obvious passion towards their work and the animals placed in their care. There must also be a strong desire to work happily as a team member.

Abby
Abby has always been a huge animal lover, starting at the age of 10, when she got her first horse and began riding and competing in many Pony Club events, and even representing her zone at the Prince Phillip Games.

Since then, Abby has opened her home to rescuing and training deaf dogs, before finding them Forever Loving Homes. This took a lot of time and effort and was very heart breaking when it came time to re-homing, that's when Abby started working at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels & Cattery in 2009.

Abby has since thoroughly enjoyed her time working with us and has given Mayhem the Malamute and Shelley the cat a wonderful home after they were surrendered at our kennel when their owners had to move to different locations.

Abby still loves her horses and has much pride taking care of Julie's beloved Appaloosa, Mac.

Blaki
Blaki comes from a vast background of animal rearing and pet owning. He has worked in a dog grooming salon, pampering all kinds of furry friends. He is a hands on kind of guy and has been nick-named 'The Dog and Cat Whisperer by Julie for his gentle manner and quick rapport with the guests settling in to a stay at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery.

At home his pride and joy is an Italian Greyhound, called Clyde, Budda the cat and Chloe the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.

Claire
I was lucky enough to spend the last year working with animals in a rescue shelter. It taught me to love all creatures great and small, and also taught me the skills I now use in my job here at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery. I'm surrounded by amazing animals both at work and home - together with my husband, we have two Jack Russells, a cat, two Guinea pigs (all rescues), and an Axolotl.

I love that I get to start my day seeing lots of fuzzy faces who are always happy to see you, no matter what life (or the weather!) may bring. In the future I hope to extend my four-legged family (possibly with a two-legged member or two!), and continue my career with animals.

Hayley
At home and work I love being surrounded by a myriad of creatures. Who couldn't enjoy a day at work when greeted by so many wagging tails and friendly faces, all vying for your attention? And while all of our guests are truly wonderful, I get the most out of the interactions with our older and less able animals.

At home I live by the motto "Mutts do it best" - all my animals come from a rescue background, and the hoard at home ranges from (among others) a 47kg Rottweiler-Mastiff to a 12week old kitten still being weighed in grams.

Tara
They say you can take a girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl. Hailing from a wheat and sheep farm near Geraldton, Tara has created her own farm in the suburbs, sharing her home with dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, a 30 year old parrot and a Mexican walking fish.

Working at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery is Tara's first animal care role. She especially loves getting to know your pet's own personality and quirks by spending time having a chat and cuddle with the big and small alike.

Olivia
Animals have always been a huge part of my life, and growing up on a sheep stud I have been rearing orphan lambs since I could read and write. When I was a teenager, my family included 4 Alpacas, 2 favourite sheep, a Great Dane, a Poodle, a Weiro, a cat and several ducks and chooks relocated to Margaret River. The menagerie has now grown, including a pair of black cockatoos and an orphaned goat.

Last year I relocated to Perth with my partner, with the dream of getting into Vet Science at Murdoch University. I now spend my days working at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery, meeting and getting to know so many beautiful pets every day, and at home with my partner, teaching our Staffy x puppy, Chester, the ways of the world. I am always the happiest when I'm surrounded by furry friends.

Jenna
I believe that one of the most rewarding things a person can do is take care of an animal. I often wonder how I got to be so lucky that I get to do that almost every day working at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery. I have a love of all animals which I channel into my studies to become a Vet. I have special interests in animal nutrition and behaviour, which means that I spend much of my spare time trying to teach my cats to do dog tricks.