With all the different protocols and theories regarding vaccinations The Spotted Spa Retreat has taken the approach that vaccinations are up to each human’s individual discretion. Keeping that in mind please be aware that we do have some guests that are not fully vaccinated, and there is the possibility that our guests may encounter some wildlife and who knows what they may have. This protocol also includes the use of flea, tick and lice preventative so if there are any concerns please Revolution or Advantage your pup before their arrival.

All Spotted Spa canine executive officers successfully completed the DogSafe Canine First Aid.

We all have a passion for dogs and enjoy getting to know their unique personalities and watching their crazy antics. Please read about all of us individually below so that you can feel more comfortable leaving your fur kid with us for their stay.

Hey there my name is Sheila, I own and operate The Spotted Spa Retreat. I opened my door in the fall of 2003 and have never regretted a minute of it since. Okay, honestly there has been the odd minute here and there...I can’t lie.

I left college in Ontario with a diploma in Architectural Technology and started my career designing engineered floor systems for a structural engineering company in Langley. Shortly after moving to Kelowna I started working for a local veterinary clinic in the hopes of acquiring more hands on experience with dogs “at their worst” and also began construction of the first Spotted Spa. Then, after a one month trip to Europe, I opened the doors to my dream on September 20, 2003.

When I first decided that I wanted to open a dog daycare and eventually expand to a kennel I wanted to incorporate my Dalmatian, Bacardi, in to the name of the business. So needless to say that is how I came up with The Spotted Spa Retreat. In my logo it is actually the side of Bacardi that was used to make the spot pattern. So even though he left me for the Rainbow Bridge in the Spring of 2007 he is always with us at the Spa.

Hiking with dogs and running the business are how I spend the brunt of my days but I do love to stay busy so I am also involved in a few local organizations. So where and when will you find me?

On any given day of the week I may be driving the K9 Shuttle, hiking guests, cleaning the spa, tending to the never-ending yard work or tackling to paperwork for the Spa. Outside of the Spa I am the secretary and hall administrator for the Ellison Parks and Recreation Society, I sit on the discipline board for the Kelowna Women’s Soccer League, play on the division one Surge team and assistant referee within the league. I also train four times per week for powerlifting competing at the provincial level. If you can’t find me doing any of the above and it’s the summer I am likely cruising around on my motorcycle.

Hi my name is Jacquie and I have had the privilege of working at the Spotted Spa since December 2009.

I have grown up with and around many dogs. I was fortunate enough to get my first dog when I was just 12 years old. He was a Golden Retriever puppy, that I named Maxx, from our family’s first litter of Golden Retriever puppies. I decided to show Maxx in conformation shows. To prepare for our first show I spent many hours learning what was involved in showing a dog, from training, to grooming. We attended our first show when Maxx was nine months old, and by the end of the day we had won BEST PUPPY IN SHOW, needless to say I was hooked! Since then I have been, and still am, involved in conformation shows, as well as a little bit of obedience and agility.

Along the way my Mom, and I have continued to breed Golden Retrievers under the kennel name of Nadina Goldens. We have had the joy and the privilege of owning and breeding many great dogs. We have also had the joy of sharing our home with a Leonberger and a Newfoundland, however, my first and probably remaining love is for the Golden Retriever.

When I first started working in Grade 11 I volunteered at a veterinary clinic where I was soon hired on as a weekend student. From there I worked full time during the summers and weekends during the school year. I continued to work in various veterinary clinics across the province, until I decided to give construction a try. I have worked just the one year doing construction during which time I GREATLY missed working with animals, and am very happy to have found the Spotted Spa.

You can usually find me at the Spotted Spa Monday to Fridays, hiking the fur-kids, keeping the Spa clean, doctoring anyone that needs a little extra care, and sometimes driving the bus.

So thank you for letting my play with, love, and care for your “fur-kids,” :)

Hey Everyone! My name is Ashlea. I have been working at the Spotted Spa since April of 2011 and it’s my dream job! Ever since I was little I have had a true love for dogs. They have always been in my family and have been a huge part of my life growing up.

I recently had my dream come true, thanks to the spotted spa and the lovely ladies here; I adopted a wiggly-fun filled dog named Belle! She had been at the kennel up for adoption for a while and every time she would wiggle by me and make an obnoxious squeal (that I love) I just wanted to take her home!

I love working at the Spa and coming to work every day makes my heart smile to see all the happy wagging tails excited to see me. It truly is my happy place! The excitement of coming to the Spa and seeing a new face or puppy makes it all worthwhile. I just can’t wait to hike and get in there and play! Thank you for sharing your furry companion with us, they make everyone’s day brighter!

Hi, my name is Cherie and I am lucky enough to be the newest member of the Spotted Spa family. I started work here May 2011. I have loved animals my whole life and have had almost every pet you could imagine (from birds to reptiles to rodents and... of course... dogs), but dogs have always held a particularly special place in my heart. I have one dog, Zoe. She is a miniature labradoodle and is the light of my life. You can find Zoe and I here at the Spa most weekends and sporadically throughout the week. I love working here, and thoroughly enjoy caring for your furry family members.

Hi, my name is Julie. I've always loved animals, but dogs seem to have a special place in my heart. When my husband and I got married, we got our first dog, Misty. She was our baby for many years before our son was born. A few years ago, an opportunity arose to foster a dog that needed a home which ultimately changed our lives. He quickly became a part of our family, but had to return to his home a few months later and we missed him like crazy. It wasn't long after that he was back in our home for good and he was a permanent part of our family. Sadly, soon after, he became very ill and was diagnosed with a fatal disease. We had to make the extremely tough decision to have him not suffer any longer. It took me a long time to recover from losing him and it became my lifelong goal to help dogs in some way. Then came along our next dog, Blue, who was an energetic pup and now an energetic ruler of our home! After him came, Bob, a handsome, gentle, golden retriever who is the most lovable dog! In 2009, we lost our "first born" dog, Misty at the age of 14 years. I couldn't believe we were going through this again. Although devastating to our family, we were left with wonderful memories. We've opened our home to many dogs needing a place to stay and now I am so happy to be working here at the Spotted Spa. I love every dog that comes and I can assure you that your dog will be very well taken care of while they are here with us! It is really hard for me to call this "work" because it brings me so much joy to be around all these amazing animals!!

Hi everyone!  My name's Michelle and I started working at the Spotted Spa in November 2011 and I absolutely love my job :).  Prior to working at the Spa I ran my own dog walking business in Ontario, but after hearing so much about beautiful Kelowna I couldn't resist the opportunity to move out west!
I currently have two fur kids, a dog and a horse.  My dog, Zazoo, is a Sheltie/dashound/border collie X that I adopted in October 2010.  Zazoo and I love coming to work and meeting lots of new wiggly tailed friends! When I'm not at work you can find me out on the soccer field kicking around or up on a mountain hiking some of the spectacular trails around Kelowna!  I am so glad I made this cross country trip and found my dream job here at the Spa.
Thank you all for giving me and Zazoo the pleasure of hanging out with your goofy, happy, sweet, furry friends!

Hi, my name is Savana & I am a student at RMS. I have just started working at The Spotted Spa this Summer. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can as this is my first job. There has only been 3 days in my life without a dog in it. The dogs that I remember growing up with unfortunately couldnʼt be with us forever. Our home was lonely, so within 3 days we welcomed 2 new dogs, Jackson & Mocha. We have an acreage full of animals, but over all, the dogs are my favorites. When Iʼm not with my doggies I will be on my horse, or hanging out with my friends. Currently, Iʼm learning the inʼs and outʼs about what goes on at The Spotted Spa on a daily basis. I love being around the dogs and the opportunity to share in the life of so many peopleʼs precious friends.

Hi! My name is Tia. I have loved all animals, dogs especially for as long as I can remember. After begging and pleading for years, I finally got my first puppy when I was 7, and have had them ever since. Right now, I have two dogs. “Indi” is our 80 pound lapdog, a Rottweiler cross.  "Bleu", a beautiful bouncy golden retriever, is unlike any other dog I’ve known, who makes the highlight of every day walking in the front door. I love all dogs of any kind so of course when the opportunity to work at a dog spa came up I was all over it. I’ve worked at the Spotted Spa on the school breaks (summer, Christmas, spring etc…) for over a year now and was volunteering before that as much as I could. The Spotted Spa is a very special place for me and I love it there almost as much as the dogs do I think. Hope to see you and your furry friends there soon!

Growing up I have always been very passionate about animals big and small. During my younger years I was always bringing home injured birds or strays I found on the way home from school. After graduating I took a few years off to make some cash. In 2003 I graduated with a certificate in Office Administration. For my practicum I worked in the office of an Animal Hospital where I eventually became a full time employee doing reception work and scheduling the veterinarians’ appointments. It was also there I met Sheila, where worked as co-workers for several years.

After the vet clinic, I went on to become the local Boys and Girls Club’s newest administrative assistant.

It wasn’t long before I missed the animals and decided I was better suited to work with the four legged children of the world then the two legged. Less germs! It was at this time Sheila invited me to join her at the Spotted Spa.

I can be found Monday to Friday, either driving the bus for the early morning pick-ups or at the Spa cleaning kennels and hiking the dogs.