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Kim Sirett – Nanaimo’s Favourite Dog Walker
Kim’s decision to become an off-leash dog walker goes back to her childhood. She had a special connection with dogs and animals for as long as she can remember. Kim could always be found playing with, training, exercising or teaching a new trick to her childhood Golden Retriever Molly. Kim and Molly became well known in their small hometown for the wide range of unique tricks they could do together and took ‘best in show’ every year in the “Annual Kids’ Dog Show” for their interesting tricks and stunts.
Kim’s career ambition as a youngster was to become a veterinarian or dog trainer, but instead she went on to enjoy an exciting but demanding career in the pet industry and worked with a company for nearly ten years with a final position as National Director of Purchasing and Merchandising. Throughout this career Kim learned a lot about animal behaviour and received additional education in nutrition, animal health care, behaviour and trained hundreds of employees under her tutelage.
After a few life changes Kim has found her way back to pursue a career with canines. She became an off-leash dog walker and Pooch Pack Adventures combines her love of the great outdoors with her passion and love for the pooches.
Kim lost her cherished partner, Abby, early to cancer in Dec. 2017. Abby was the co-founder of Pooch Pack Adventures, the balanced pack leader and she mentored many insecure pooch members over the years. Kim and Abby’s favourite activity to do together was dock diving, whether it was swimming at the lake with a dock or competing in dock diving competitions.
In 2018, Kim added a Golden Retriever puppy to her fur family, Miss Gracie Mae!. Kim and Gracie also partake in dock diving and competitions. They get plenty of practice time in at the Pooch Pool School, Kim’s second business that opened in July 2021.
Now with more than 20 years experience in dog and animal care, and more than 10 years operating Pooch Pack Adventures, Kim is excited about the expansion of her two canine businesses with possibilities of more future growth.
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Kim is currently owned by her rescue Australian Shepherd Dio, her Pomeranian-ish dog Poncho and her newest addition Gracie, the next shining star, a new Golden Retriever puppy!
Meet Kaylea
Kaylea began her doggie journey back in 2011 at Vancouver Island University where she earned her Animal Care Aide certificate. She then joined the team at Island Veterinary Clinic as a client care specialist. Kaylea changed professions after moving to Edmonton in 2013 where she began working in the grooming salon at Petsmart. In 2014 Kaylea spent the next 3 years residing in Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, Kaylea ran a independent doggie daycare from her home specializing with dogs with behavioural issues. In 2017, Kaylea moved back to Vancouver Island with her husband & their 2-year-old bunny named Panda. Kaylea loves all animals & treats them as if they were her own. Her joy comes from the love & affection she gains from getting to know dogs as treasured friends & this has provided the most rewarding work in her life. Kaylea joined the Pooch Pack Adventures team in 2017 and has become an integral part of the operation. She is excellent with the dogs and emulates Kim’s dog handling style, skill and structure. Kaylea is happiest when she is out in the great outdoors leading a team of her furry friends.
Meet Brii
Since a young girl, Brii has had a way with dogs. She understood them and they understood her. At the age of 14 in 2012, Brii would join Kim on as many pack hikes as she could when visiting family in Nanaimo for Spring Breaks and Summer Vacations until she was 16 years old. Brii was also the youngest person to complete her canine first aid at age 14. At age 15, Brii spent every spare moment with her Golden Retriever puppy Kooper and taught him dozens of impressive tricks while he eagerly awaited her next words. Brii’s work experience is kennel management at a boarding kennel and then a year and a half as a play supervisor at a Doggy Daycare. In 2020, Brii was offered a full-time pack leader position and she relocated from Langley to Nanaimo to join the Pooch Pack Adventures Team. Brii brings spark and energy to the team but don’t underestimate this petite young lady…the dogs not only adore her but also respect her immensely and will follow her rules and boundaries she teaches them.
Meet Lia
Lia has an active lifestyle and is an avid outdoor enthusiast that thrives on hiking whenever she can. In 2017, Lia began joining Kim on the pack hikes and was a natural at overseeing the safety and care of all the dogs and quickly made friends with them all. Lia would join Kim on her days off from Vancouver Island Convention Centre where she managed and supervised operations and dozens of staff. In 2019, Lia decided to leave the service industry and take a semi-full-time permanent position with Pooch Pack Adventures.
Lia brings a maternal, loving kindness to her pack of friends and has a keen eye for safety first! Her little 14-year-old Maltese-Poodle Ollie will join her on some of her hikes.
Meet Elayne
Elayne’s passion for animals is prevalent. With a career goal to become a dog trainer of service animals, Elayne started joining Kim on hikes in 2018 as a volunteer. She used this experience to further her knowledge of dog behaviour and body language. Elayne longed for a position with Pooch Pack Adventures so she gained work experience at Doggy Daycare and a Veterinary Clinic. Elayne always found herself returning to pack hikes with Kim in hopes of gaining a permanent position. In 2022, Elayne’s persistence and skill set finally paid off and she now leads packs independently into the back country for PPA. Her leadership with the dogs looks and sounds almost identical to Kim’s and the dogs all love and respect her.
My ‘A-Ha’ Moment!
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I love it when you quietly look up in admiration….make direct eye contact…. gently wag your tail and give me what appears to be a smile. It’s as if you are saying, “You are my leader, I love you and I will go wherever you go”.
This was my ‘A-Ha’ moment. No matter how dirty, tired, wet or cold I get…it is all worth it and I am so happy I have met you and that I chose this career to be your dog walker!