Ayella knew Mike was a keeper when she saw how he treated her dogs. They met in their last year of school and it wasn't long before they were living together and adding to the furry family together. Ayella and Mike now live on an 18 acre farm and plan to add other animals to the farm by next summer.
Ayella has a BSc in Psychology, which comes in handy when teaching training classes, understanding the biology of our companion animals or understanding how marketting has effected the dog food industry. It also came in handy when she decided to do her own research about healthy foods for her dogs. She bought piles of books and read research article after research article.
Over a year ago, Ayella was diagnosed with a gluten and lactose intolerance, by a Naturopath - her whole childhood she had suffered with symptoms, but allopathic medicine never helped. Once she started removing those allergins from her system, Ayella began to feel so much better. Suddenly, it occurred to her that this is what the dogs and cats feel like when they are forced to eat something that is not working for them every day. Then their people start to feed them a better food and they feel better. It really was this diagnosis and treatment of her own food allergies, that pushed Ayella and Mike into wanting to be that voice for the dogs and cats.
Mike's background is in construction management, but he learned with Ayella about foods and training. He has always had dogs growing up and remembers how his Cocker Spaniel growing up went blind, had bad hips, constantly runny eyes and ear infections. Now he can look back and say a better diet would have helped, but since he can't go back and help Genisus, he wants to help other dogs not meet Geni's fate.
Mike has a weak spot for the Bully breeds, too. He grew up in a family of Pitbulls and hates the bad reputation they have in Ontario. The Pitbulls he grew up with lived up to their nickname of "The Babysitter Breed" and he wishes people would see, it's the people, not the breed. If Micheal Vick can have a second chance, why are innocent puppies being put down in Ontario because they look a certain way? Why not give them a chance to prove that with the right love, they can be great dogs!
Ayella and Sojo herding sheep.