Meet our dependable team
A business is only as good as the people who work there. Barks ‘n’ Purrs is blessed with wonderful team members whose passion and energy are only surpassed by their maturity and commitment to excellence. And, they have as much fun as their clients.
About the Owner, Rebecca
Rebecca grew up with a passion for animals. Her first word was “dog”!
As she puts it: “I just love dogs; it’s a simple as that. I can’t remember when I didn’t have a dog or cat around me. I love being around them. I love the way they greet you when you come through the door, the way they roll around on the grass, the way they just want to please you, and even the way they give you that look when they know they’ve been bad. I can’t image doing anything else.”
After a great time with another Toronto dog walking business, she knew she wanted to keep on doing this kind of work. She truly liked being outside and playing with canine friends. So in 2007 she started Barks ‘n’ Purrs with the help of trusted dog, Ella.
Rebecca takes pride in how Barks ‘N’ Purrs has grown since then. She’s helped her pack of dog-loving staff expand service areas across downtown Toronto. She is completely involved in scheduling and day-to-day details, and meets with her staff on a regular basis. She also works very closely with client owners to ensure their needs are met. This means she looks after most of the boarding while her team does the dog walking, cat care, and puppy visits. And her special dog trainers help make man’s best friend easier to live with.
Aubyn
Aubyn has lived in Toronto now for number of years, and was originally from Kitchener, Ontario. He loves animals, especially his best buddy, Peej! As a kid, he spent summers with his grandparents in the country where he took care of the family dog.
Aubyn loves dog walking because the dogs are so happy to see him when he walks through the door. Plus, he likes the connection he gets with each dog.
Rachel
Rachel loves being outdoors and has a passion for animals, so Barks ‘n’ Purrs has been a great fit. She grew up in a house that always welcomed pets of all shapes and sizes. This means she’s felt more at home in this new city while being able to walk and care for dogs and other pets every day.
She feels privileged to have the opportunity to spend her days with such wonderful animals. She cares for two rescued bunnies in her own home. And, she’s an avid runner.
Michelle
Michelle is a lifelong dog lover and owner and has been walking dogs and visiting kitties for Barks ‘n’ Purrs for almost two years. She is also a dog trainer, and owns Downtown Dog Training, a dog training business specializing in the urban canine.
In her spare time, she enjoys agility training with her Miniature Australian Shepherd, Suki, and hanging out downtown with her two cats, Miso and Kaji.
Sian
Sian has worked in doggy day-care for the last two years, and is now happy to be on board with Barks ‘n’ Purrs where she understands that each dog has a unique personality and deserves a consistent and loving environment in which to thrive!
She also is a dog trainer and behavioural consultant. Sian is Pet First Aid certified and plans to continue her education in animal behaviour, training and therapy. She lives in the Beach with her 11-year-old pug, Maggie, her 11-year-old schnauzer foster dog, Percy, and their brand new kitten, Kaycee.
