Jenn Dahinten, BSc (Hons), CCA, CPACO (expired),

Like so many of us, my family has always included fur people who happened to be dogs, cats, and even hamsters. From the beginning, animals were simply part of life. I remember sharing ice cream with my dog Paddy after long walks into town, and trying to sleep while my cat Samantha came and went throughout the night.

Living on my own in Zimbabwe, I rescued Bill the cat — my best friend and one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever known. Later, in the UK, my staffie Charlie would join me through some of the biggest life changes anyone could imagine. When I met my husband, our blended family soon included Charlie the staffie and Jasper the Dalmatian, and later we all made the move to Canada to start our human family. Charlie was there for all of it. She mourned Jasper’s passing and welcomed a new sibling, Wellington, our St. Bernard cross.

By the time we discovered Royal Pets Hotel, we were proud parents of both human and fur kids. We first came to the hotel as clients — needing care for Maggie the Great Dane, Alf the domestic long-haired cat, and Bradley the black cat (both rescues). Starting as a customer and eventually taking over the business gave me a deep understanding and empathy for our clients. Turning my love of animals into my life’s work has been an absolute honour.

I learned early on that our industry is filled with many well-intentioned and caring people. Some grew up in it, some came from breeding or training backgrounds, and others saw pet care as a business opportunity. I can’t fault any of those paths — but I can say that we do things differently at Royal Pets Hotel & Enrichment.

For me, family comes first — human and fur alike — and everyone who works here becomes part of that family. Next come the pets, all of them: yours, ours, and even the neighbour’s. I genuinely love them all and want the best for every one of them. That’s why we focus so much on education, certification, and professional development, ensuring our team knows how to meet each pet’s individual needs.

And finally, there’s our clients and community. I never forget that I came to this industry as a client myself. My family lives and learns in this community, and I believe our work should always serve the pets and the people who love them first. Profit isn’t a bad word — it’s what allows us to continue doing what we do — but it becomes a very bad word if it ever comes at the expense of the pets in our care.

Today, our home is still filled with fur, laughter, and love. Many of you got to know Steve and Izzie, our Bulldogge and Great Dane. We recently had to say goodbye to them, and to Joey, our tuxedo cat — each one a huge part of our family. But before they left us, they made sure to show their new fur siblings the ropes.

These days, you might meet Gary and Gordon when they very naughtily “check themselves in” at the hotel after running away from home, or perhaps even Obi, our British Shorthair, when he decides to enjoy a quiet stay at the cattery — taking a well-earned break from life with his two boisterous canine brothers. They remind me every single day why this work matters.

My commitment to the future of professional pet care is simple: to keep learning, keep advocating, and keep raising the standards for everyone entrusted with the care of family pets — not just those at Royal Pets Hotel & Enrichment.