Owners and Staff



Robert Vennik - Owner - Born in the Netherlands in 1960. Studied agricultural science on university level, specialized in animal care. Studied an extra year to become a pet boarding technician / specialist, became fully certified in 1980. After that he became certified as dog obedience trainer and dog behaviour specialist.

Just before moving from the Netherlands, to Innisfail, Alberta, Canada, he became certified by the American Boarding Kennels Association as Pet Care Technician Level I and II. In October 2005 Robert became Certified Kennel Operator (CKO). This is the highest grade of certification in the ABKA educational program. This way he upgraded his knowledge even more and is well up to date on everything that is going on in the pet boarding industry. He owned a farm in Holland from 1979 to 1987, raised pigs, had chickens and milked goats. The milk he used to make Gouda goat cheese, which (with other products) was sold in the farm store. He has been involved in the pet industry for over 25 years and owned a large pet boarding facility in the Netherlands from 1987 until his move to Canada in 2004. During this period he became a certified groomer and has a lot of experience in grooming Terriers. He served as member of the board of the Dutch Boarding Kennels Association (DIBEVO) from 1999 to 2004.

Heleen Eekers - Owner - Born in the Netherlands in 1958. Did agricultural science studies, biology and home economics studies at the Dutch university and is fully certified as teacher. She taught home economics and biology from 1985 until she moved from the Netherlands to Innisfail, Alberta, Canada in 2004. Her students were between 14 and 19 years old.
Besides her busy job as a teacher she always found time to work first at the farm and later in the boarding kennel she owned together with her husband Robert Vennik. Her great knowledge about animals has always been a great asset to the business.

Robert Vennik and Heleen Eekers are married and have three children, Jorieke, Jasper and Anne.




Carissa McCord - Groomer and Advanced Pet Care Technician.

Works as groomer at Innisfail Boarding Kennels since 2000. She is very experienced in all different kind of dog breeds and knows exactly how to groom your pet to perfection.
She is fully certified by the ABKA as an Advanced Pet Care Technician and working towards certified/masters degree. See for more grooming information our GROOMING - WEB PAGE!!

Shalen Harriott Shalen Harriott - Works as a Pet Care Technician at the Innisfail Boarding Kennels since 2005.

She works the store as well as the kennels and is fully trained. She is very experienced and can answer all your questions about items in our store. If you have special requests for products she will be more than happy to order those in for you!
Shalen is ABKA certified as Advanced Pet Care Technician Level II.

Tammy Tammy Kine - Works as a Pet Care Technician at the Innisfail Boarding Kennels since September 2006.

Tammy knows all the " in and outs " of the Innisfail Boarding Kennels and is very capable to help you out with all the questions you might have. She gives a lot of TLC to all our boarded guests and always makes sure that they have a wonderful time at our facility. Hopefully your pet wants to go back home with you...
Tammy is ABKA certified as Pet Care Technician Level I.