Meet the Crew
The Woofability crew is here to take care of your furry friend and provide peace of mind for you while they’re in our care. Find out more about our crew members below!
Meet April & Tim - Owners
April started her career as a support worker in the United Kingdom, where she obtained a diverse background in working with people with autism and special needs. April relocated to Canada in 2014 where she expanded her knowledge and took the opportunity to follow her true passion. She has always had a love for dogs, and has combined her diverse skills in working with people and her love of animals by pursuing a career in training dogs. With over 12 years of experience in working with challenging needs and complex communication difficulties, as well as additional training in leadership and management, April is a huge asset to the Woofability crew!
April attained her certification in dog training in 2016, quickly following with Dog First Aid to further expand the skills provided to her clients. She loves the challenge of working with each dog and is dedicated to providing a fun and fulfilling life for every dog she meets. April soon developed her passion for working with dogs and those who need them to develop independence when managing an illness or disability, April furthered her training and now provides training to owners wanting to train their own service dogs. April has trained two of her own service dogs Nymera (blue tick coon hound) who has now retired and Buttons (English Lab) who has taken on the position of her current service dog.
April further expanded upon her passion by developing a fun living environment for dogs to have their own holidays and become part of her family. She would love nothing more than to spend time making you feel at ease by caring for your beloved family member while you are away.
Tim began his working life as teacher and tutor for individuals with learning difficulties in the United Kingdom. After several years, he redirected his career towards providing care for people in group homes. Tim has been working with individuals with challenging needs for over a decade.
When Tim relocated to Canada in 2014, he followed his desire to help those that are unable to communicate effectively for themselves. He continued to work with people that had communication challenges. Finding the work rewarding and wanting to find other ways to use his skills, Tim expanded into working with animals. In 2017, Tim and April opened Woofability.
Tim started studying the art of Reiki in 2010 and has been practicing at a Master's level for the last four years. On top of that, he is also certified in Animal Reiki and Dog First Aid, and he enjoys knowing that he brings peace and healing to the animals in his care. Tim has continued his education in an IAABC accredited course in Canine Social Behaviour and the Canine Behaviour Consultant Diploma.
Meet Joelle - Manager
Joelle first came to us as a customer six years ago with her two dogs. Although her childhood dream was to become a veterinarian, life took her on a different path. However, her love for animals only grew stronger over the years. Joelle is the proud mother of two adult children, Kanika and Tristan, who share her passion for animals. She has always ensured that animals were a central part of her family life, even at one point having 11 pets!
Joelle’s love for dogs, particularly those with fear or insecurity issues, has led her to rescue and rehabilitate numerous dogs over the years. Each dog she has adopted has left a lasting mark on her heart—and her leg, where she has a tattoo of a paw for each one.
With over 35 years of experience in customer relations, Joelle brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to communication and understanding. During her 22 years as a school secretary, she introduced a zootherapy program that provided support to students and parents alike through the presence of a therapy dog. Joelle believes that clear communication is key to resolving conflicts, whether in the human or animal world.
Meet Sandra - Admin Assistant
Sandra is from England, where she worked for a bus company and the local council doing clerical work. She relocated to Canada with April’s dad in 2019 to be closer to family. Sandra works two days a week supporting the Woofability crew with administration. You will normally chat to Sandra on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday!
Sandra likes to spend her breaks getting to know all the dogs, and even ended up adopting one of the fosters we had staying with us, who you will see in the many pictures we post. Sandra is always happy to help with any enquires you have and always looks forward to chatting to you all.
Meet Kyla - Hike and Pawsitive Steps Leader
Kyla joined the Woofability team in January 2022. Kyla has many years of experience working with dogs, from several years of kennel attending to a short stint in grooming. Growing up Kyla always had a love of all animals despite her parents “no pet policy”. She’s now the proud dog mom to Rupert, a Mexican rescue dog that loves to hike and learn tricks. Kyla has a love of hiking, music, camping, arts, and photography. Kyla has her certificate in veterinary assisting and currently leads the Woofability pack hikes.
Meet Alexis - Enrichment Counsellor
Alexis comes to us from the United States where she grew up with 3 family dogs that she cared for and helped train. She moved to Canada to be with her partner and later found her place here at Woofability as an Enrichment Councillor and more recently working with Woofability Service Dog Training.
Alexis realized her passion for dogs attending training courses with her mother which led to her dog-sitting for friends and family. She began her career in the pet industry working alongside her mother in an animal hospital doing kennel work while also assisting with medical administration and grooming.
Outside of work, Alexis enjoys art, video games, and the gym. She likes to stay active and creative physically and mentally even when it’s time to head home for the day. When not at Woofability, Alexis can be found in the weight room at the gym or a computer desk!
Meet Erica - Enrichment Counsellor
Erica was born and raised in Burnaby and moved to Victoria in 2022. This past summer, she married her husband Ryan and together they share a beautiful Belgian Malinois named Jinx who they adopted from Mexico in December of 2022. Jinx loves going for runs with Erica and learning new tricks and skills in not only English, but in French and German too!
Erica is an animal enthusiast and began her career in the pet industry working at a dog daycare in 2018. She grew up living with many different animals, from cats and dogs, to birds, rabbits, rodents, and fish – and to this day Erica is a huge Fish Hobbyist! She also loves to be outside and keeps an active lifestyle with her family and friends camping, hiking, paddleboarding, and off-roading. Erica is a woman of many skills and also enjoys weight training, track and field, and will take any opportunity to get her camera out to capture her many adventures!