Sylvia Goldmanis is eating and, quite literally, sleeping the business right now.
Suffice to say, Goldmanis’ every waking hour is revolving around the kennel she took over at the foot of No. 3 Road earlier this year.
And she had her work cut out for her as well, wiping away the cloud that hung over the former BC Canine name to replace it with her own Richmond Dog Boarding and Play.
BC Canine and its former ownership was the focus of a BC SPCA investigation in the spring, with potential charges of animal cruelty being assessed by Crown Counsel.
However, it all pre-dates Goldmanis and she is battling hard to win back old customers and, with a bit of luck, find a regular bed to sleep in.
“I’m sleeping on the floor in the building until I can arrange more permanent accommodation out the back,” said Goldmanis, who only worked for the previous regime for two weeks and spent the previous 10 years as a nurse.
“I’ve not had one day off since I took over and I love it.
“I grew up on acreage, surrounded by dogs and other animals, so you could say I’m very much an animal-lover.”
Goldmanis signed a long-term lease on the property — close to Dyke Road — after buying the business from the previous owner.
“None of the previous staff are here now; it’s just myself, my daughter and another kennel hand,” she added.
“The number one change from the last business is that this is very much hands-on ownership and there is certainly no laziness in here.
“It’s a completely different atmosphere and the dogs are outside playing all day. There are pools and shade everywhere. It’s a totally new operation.
“Old customers are starting to filter back, word is slowly getting around. The old business is dead and buried. It’s gone.”
The Richmond News reported last week how the BC SPCA sent a report and recommendation of charges against BC Canine to Crown Counsel in June.
