Carly Woodhouse

I have always had a dog; I find that they are the most loyal of companions, never judging, and always loving. As a Registered Massage Therapist, I often asked myself, how I could incorporate all of my training into one. The answer was simple, utilize my skills to help those who are always there for us.

My name is Carly and I am a certified Canine Massage Therapist and Animal + Pet Reiki Practitioner. I am completing my FurTap, Canine Craniosacral Therapy and Canine K-Taping Certifications to give more options for our furry friends! Fully insured and a member in good standing with the International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork, my goal is to cultivate, empower, and educate a community of animal owners to provide complimentary holistic care to your fur babies.

Soulfull Reiki

My name is Nekoda Fonnås and I am a Reiki Master. I received my Level 1 in the Usui System of natural healing in 2012 and recieved my Level 2 the same year. In October 2018, I received my Masters in Red Deer, Alberta, and discovered a beautiful purpose for my life. Since I was raised in a small town in northern Saskatchewan on the family farm, I always had a keen interest in helping all living beings in any way I could. I wanted to be in the thick of things, ready and willing to help, but was always unsure how I could really give back…until my journey brought me to Reiki. I’ve always harboured a deep respect for nature and a child-like curiosity about how everything was connected. Passionate about science and history, I still felt there had to be more to it than equations and the habits of human nature. I was always sensitive to others’ emotions and physical feelings, discovering Reiki was a sense of clarity that defined it as intuition. And defining it that way, practicing it and exercising it, like a muscle, is how I’ve been able to find my true vocation to help other beings…not only with the humankind but also with animals. 

Reiki can be traced back 2500 years to ancient Egypt and even further. The system I was trained in, the Usui system, was founded by Dr. Mikato Usui of Japan. He was a scholar and studied medicine, psychology, history and religion. He defined his practise as “Usui Reiki Ryoho”, which means “Usui spiritual Energy Therapy”. In April 1922, he opened his first school/clinic in Tokyo where he taught and gave treatments. 

He observed that there is a measurable electrical signature going through our bodies at all times. From static electricity, that makes our hair stand on end, to the charges created in the synapses of our brain when we are reminded of something. The reality is that everything around us is created by energy. If any of us remember grade 9 science class, discussing how quickly the atoms are vibrating together to create a solid, liquid or gas…that’s energy! Reiki is energy healing, the ability to channel energy into another being or thing, in a focused way, so as to charge it and creating space, or a “boost” if you will, for healing and the alignment of our body’s processes. The most obvious and noticeable outcome of a session is relaxation. 

My life’s purpose has become  to help and create a safe space for healing. I’ve experienced working with animals that suffer from behavioural complaints to physical ailments and I am always learning more about myself, through this process of helping others.

Welfare for Animals

Ruby Leslie founded Welfare for Animals (WFA) in 2012 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China where she offered consultancy to shelters. In 2015, she expanded this to an animal welfare & dog training business where she trained professionals and guardians one-on-one and consulted with shelters.

In January 2019, due to severe pain from endometriosis, she flew home to Calgary to rebuild WFA and for surgery. Since moving back to YYC, she’s rebuilt WFA to offer one-on-one training in person, or online, focusing on rescue dogs, behaviour modification and life skills. WFA also offers Sniffari walks. In her spare time, Ruby helps with international and Canadian rescues.

Laura and Dogs YYC 

Laura & Dogs, bonded and insured, has been serving Calgary dog families since 2008. She offers safe and fun adventure and nature walks daily, on and off leash. Certified as a PACE dog handler and trained in pet first aid, Laura along with her fuzzy co-pilots, rescue dogs Morley and Chili, are experienced in handling all dogs from puppies to seniors. Check our reviews on Facebook and Instagram. 

Coconut Collars

My name is Jennifer Keat and I am the proud owner of Coconut Collars. I am a HUGE animal lover, currently with two beautiful fur babies of my own, Matilda & Megan, and one fur angel, Lucifer, who passed…(RIP my sweet boy).

I started this journey because of my love for animals and my fascination with fabric/colours. I also wanted to give back to the rescue community. Ultimately, life is too short to not do what you love. DREAM BIG my friends!!

If you get to know me, you’ll probably wonder why I name our collars. At first it was to make it easier in communicating with my customers which collar they would like.  So instead of saying, “I would like to order the blue collar with the pepperoni pizza on it” – it’s much easier to say “I would like to order the Pepper! All our collars are made from high quality hardware including heavy-duty nylon webbing, heavy nickel plated welded D-Rings, contoured side release buckles, and fashion forward cotton fabrics.

Rocky Mountain Closet

I started my business with the intention of helping others at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reusable fabric face masks were the first products in my store. I found a passion for creating products that allow people to be in the presence of their loved ones and to be safe during these tough times. With these masks, I have helped thousands of people stay safe and aided in the protection of the community.

I concluded long ago  that dogs are one of the best companions that humans can have and bring the most joy to people’s homes. In my shop, I custom make collars and beds for owners  to give their pets exactly what they need. Not only do I love being an online platform for pet products to ensure the safety of those who do not wish to go out but I love customizing products for people’s furry best friends.

Please feel free to check out my Etsy page and send me any inquiries you might have about a product that might suit your needs. We love doing custom orders and seeing the joy they bring to you!

Furever Reflections

Q&A

Why did you start your business?

I started photographing my own pets because growing up, the best images I had of my dogs were the ones where they were in the background with little red eyes. Nothing captured who they really were! As I became more comfortable with my camera, I loved capturing memories of my own pets. I ventured out into the world of pet-photography to help others capture the perfect photographic memories that they will treasure forever.

Are you part of any organizations or efforts to give back to your local community? Tell us about it!

I started out by volunteering for a number of local rescues in the first years of my photography journey. A great picture can make all the difference when a pup is waiting for its Fureverhome. I continue to make myself available for any adoption profile requests that come my way! It’s my way of supporting the rescue effort. In truth, I’m terrible at fostering since I’ve kept every single dog I tried to foster. We also run a number of super mini events during the year, typically at Doodle Dogs or Pet Valu Shawnessy, where a portion of our proceeds are donated to a rescue.

Tell us about your dogs and how they impact your business.

I have four dogs, three of which are rescues. They are my “why”and inspire me to ensure that I have fabulous photographs of each of them. Sadly, I made the mistake of not getting good photos of two of my previous dogs who passed away last year and I regret it. So my little dogs get to be my little models and I use them to test new backgrounds or ideas. I get fabulous photos to keep, and I have a great way to show off the next themed event!

Bears Blossoms

Hi! My name is Ciana. I have 3 dogs named Maple, Ranger and Grizzly. Maple was the inspiration behind opening the shop. All I really wanted was a flower crown for her in a picture! We had so much fun, I decided to open up a shop. Each crown is handmade by me, in a small town in southern Alberta, Canada.

Poooh Busters

Poooh Busters began as a one man team over 16 years ago and has grown to be Calgary’s #1 pet waste removal company! We are committed to providing reliable weekly and one time services and developing relationships with our clients and their pups. Our team of amazing service rep’s make your furry family members their priority. From a quick game of fetch and a good belly rub to checking weekly waste to ensure your dog’s health, Poooh Busters has you covered.

Pipster & Co.

Hello everyPAWdy, I’m Jenessa, the creator of Pipster & Co. by day and a registered nurse by night. I am a proud dog mom (or should I say dog momager!) of an energetic havapookie named Pippa and the ultimate animal lover.

How did we get the name Pipster & Co. you may ask? Pipster is one of Pippa’s many nicknames and she is actually the inspiration behind the entire company. I am the sole creator of every handcrafted product. However, if you asked Pippa, she would tell you that she is the CEO, the Star Ambassadog-Promotional Model and the Supervising Manager of Productions!

Every bandana and accessory is handmade with love by yours truly with the hope that we can add a little extra colour into your life!

xoxo,

Jenessa & Pippa

Pipser & Co.