Who is Pet Ventures?
Tracey Everist (Van Luven), owner and operator of Pet Ventures has always had a love of animals and a passion to work with them since she was young. Growing up, the family dog, Charlie was always a source of laughter and entertainment. Charlie was a standard poodle who loved to ride on Tracey's snowmobile and 3 wheeler. He lived happily for 15 years.
When Tracey moved to Calgary after attending Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, she was unaware that her first dog would be the beginning of her rescue efforts. Brittney, was a two year old pitbull that had been shuffled between four different homes. She needed a forever home and she found it. For the next several years Brittney was an amazing, loving, gentle dog who was raised with children and lived to age 10.
After many years of subcontracting and working in adminstrative roles Tracey finally began doing what she had always dreamed of doing which was working with pets and began Pet Ventures in 2004. At the same time she was volunteering with a trainer. That was until she learned of the Hurricane Katrina puppies that needed fostering, along with countless others. Fostering these dogs took alot of time and energy. The three puppies were all very ill and sadly there was only one survivor - Angel who is now one of her five dogs. She fostered others after this, took a break and is now fostering once again.
She is part of a volunteer program with the Calgary Humane Society. She recently attended a seminar, "How Animals Learn" with many upcoming courses scheduled including "Tellington Touch" which is a hands-on approach to healing animals with various emotional/behavioural issues.
She is currently mentoring under Nancy Johansen with Mind your Manners Dog Training. Nancy is a member of the IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals). Nancy has many years of training and hands on experience working closely with other highly respected trainers such as Martin Deeley & Pat Trichter (Florida Dog Trainers) and Marc Goldberg, "Home of the ForceFree Method - It's all about Pack Drive."
Nancy's years of experience gives her a great deal of knowledge and understanding of dogs and what they require to be balanced and happy. "Dogs and their owners live in the real world and need a real world training methodology if they are ever going to share the real world. This can only come through balanced training. At Mind Your Manners that is precisely the philosophy we embrace and as a result we are able to truly reconnect owners with their dogs." http://www.calgarydogtrainer.com
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Today, Tracey lives with her five dogs: Cassie, a 10 year old heeler cross from The Calgary Humane Society; Pumba, a 5 year old mystery mix who had an unruly hairdo as a puppy and was 'marked down' because no one wanted to adopt her; Angel, a 4 year old southern belle basenji cross; Lexy, a 1 year old pitbull whose owner was unable to meet her high energy needs and away from home for long hours of the day; and Petey, a lab cross who was a foster dog (Tracey recently adopted him) from Montana. Also sharing in the fun is a 1 year old bunny named Bun Bun and a 7 year old ferret named Sierra.
Working with a Nancy and incorporating leadership and training skills with both her own dogs and her daily groups has been invaluable. She is finally doing what she has always dreamed of - being with the dogs she loves and teaching each of them to be well behaved and happy within their group as well as having the opportunity to be outdoors year round.
For more information or to arrange a consultation please call Tracey
A tired dog is a happy dog!
To our beloved boys who crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
We will always hold a very special place in our hearts for you both.
