Our Story
Riley founded Pawsentials with his incredible pup Smudge, who shared a love for exploring the outdoors together - especially long hikes at our local regional parks. We wanted to make these adventures available for other dogs and began our journey to give great dogs even better walks. Our vision is to provide family-focused services with authenticity, dedication, and honesty.
Our pack has grown since Riley and Smudge trekked the trail, and we now have an awesome team of local, passionate, dog-loving people with very high standards. With a couple of leashes and a positive attitude, we strive to provide a simple solution to adjust socialized pet activity into your busy schedule. We are committed to enhancing dog-friendly communities, encouraging successful interactions, inspiring good behaviours, and positively impacting your dog’s life in any way possible. At Pawsentials, we ask the important questions and take the time to build trust and learn about each dog’s unique personality and needs. We work our tails off to provide the very best care and adventure experience for your pet pal and continue to grow with you and your pup’s needs in mind.
Our focus is on our clients and our team and we work tirelessly to provide you with the best experience: full transparency, peace of mind, and reliability. We have a zero-tolerance policy on aggressive behaviours to allow you to focus on your day.
Want to get to know us more? Meet Riley or one of our dog walkers today.
Meet Riley
Owner, Passionate Dog Enthusiast, and Entrepreneur
Hi, I'm Riley! I'm a Victoria local with a big heart. It simply overflows when I'm around animals. I'm the loud, enthusiastic friend who spends most of his time keeping physically active - running, hiking, or playing hockey. I have an extensive background in neuroscience and a passion for learning. With an admiration of animals and a scientific mind, I thought creating a pet service business would keep me entertained and driven.
Meet Megan, Operations Manager
Hi there, I'm Megan!
Raised on the east-coast in Halifax, Nova Scotia most of my life I've cared for animals. With family animals and dog-sitting for neighbours, I'm very familiar with pups! I fostered dogs, puppies, and kittens while completing my Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition.
After graduation, I went on to work in the Vet Industry as a Veterinary Assistant and Nutrition Advocate for companion animals. I then briefly worked in Health & Whole Food Sales before returning to the Vet Industry again.
I recently moved to Victoria with my two dogs - Bruce my senior Rottweiler/Lab Mix and Remi my young Rottweiler. I mainly moved to Vancouver Island for the scenery and adventuring possibilities.
Living a healthy lifestyle full of adventure with animals has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I have vast experiences working with a variety of breeds, temperaments, exercise requirements, training techniques, medical concerns, etc. Working with animals and being able to help owners is very rewarding work for me. I'm happy to be here!
Meet Sophie, Pack Hike Leader
Hey! I'm Sophie!
I was born into a family of animal lovers, and my childhood was filled with the joy of having dogs around. Growing up around family farms, I learned to care for horses, fowl, cats, and of course, our beloved dogs. Those early experiences instilled in me a deep passion for nature and the outdoors.
As I got older, my fascination with the ocean grew stronger, and I made the decision to pursue my post-secondary education on the stunning west coast, focusing on biology and earth and ocean science. The beauty of the coast and the mysteries of marine life captivated me.
Throughout it all, my love for dogs remained constant. I adore dogs of all shapes and sizes, and I bring heaps of enthusiasm and love to my job as a pack hiker. Being able to combine my passion for animals with my love for the outdoors is a dream come true for me.
Meet Sofia, Pack Hike Leader
Hello!
I'm Sofia, a Portugal emigrant with a love for the outdoors and all our sweet animal pals.
I have a diverse background from shoe-making to web development, but I have the best time when I am outside in the fresh air on any kind of adventure!
I am all about exploring, whether that is wandering through forests, cruising on my bike or climbing some mountains, and to get to be out there with our pups is the greatest treat of all!
Meet Smudge, Manager of Little Sticks
Smudge is our office Pomeranian who enjoys long walks on the beach and writing poetry. She packs a punch weighing in at 5lbs 2oz. Though small in size, she has many responsibilities here at Pawsentials. Smudge regularly tests treats, ensures quality control of all sticks/toys, and marks the calendar of all the pups’ birthdays. It can be tough work, so you can find her sometimes taking a nap on the job - but we wouldn't want any other pup as our Chief Dog Officer.
Meet Kennedy, Visionary Consultant
Kennedy was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She has a strong passion for global sustainability, being climate-smart, and better business practices. While she's a Marine Biologist who saves baby seals by day, she envisions Pawsentials Pet Services as a leader in the animal care industry. Kennedy has been in aquaculture for over 6 years and loves to care for animals - from octopuses to eels and even jellyfish. She loves her two family Aussies (Julep and Jasper) and is ready to tackle some of Pawsentials' biggest projects.
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