Angel Lane Pet Boarding, nestled in the heart of rolling hills and woodland near Rimbey is the accumulation of long hours of hard work, coupled with the determination to see a dream finally become a reality.
For Sharon Rennecke it is heart work she has, with the help of friends and loved ones, managed to turn into a reality.
Ever since she was a child, Rennecke has felt a special bond with four-footed creatures.
She loved and cared for strays unconditionally, and, always did her very best to keep them out of harm’s way.
When she became an adult, her compassion and love for animals never changed.
When she moved to Slave Lake several years ago she was horrified to discover a kitten left to die at the dump in a burning bag.
She saved the little kitten from certain death and later adopted her.
For Rennecke it was a natural thing to do.
Even as she recalls the horrific rescue, which happened several years ago, her eyes fill up with tears which she furiously blinks away.
The story went public, she recalled, and a contest was held to name the kitten.
“She became Angel, and also, a part of my family for two sweet years before I lost her to feline leukemia,” she said sadly.
It was a sad time in Rennecke’s life, but also a time when she made the decision that if she ever realized her dream of opening a boarding kennel it would be named Angel Lane after the little kitten she had rescued.
About 16 years ago, Rennecke and her then husband bought an acreage north west of Rimbey. She held onto her dream of opening a boarding kennel on the acreage, but that dream wasn’t about to become a reality for some time.
So for more than a decade, the dream of an opening a boarding kennel stayed nothing more than a dream and Rennecke simply kept on, keeping on.
And John Lennon’s famous quote, “life is what happens when you make other plans,” happened to Rennecke as it does to all of us.
In 2017 Rennecke lost another beloved pet, a black lab named Moe.
Once again, Rennecke went through the shock and sadness of losing an animal that she loved dearly. It was a difficult time for her, but once again she forced herself to find a way to channel her grief into something positive.
The loss of Moe happened at the same time Canadians were reeling from the horrific tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos, she recalled.
“As I watched the Red Cross Compassion dogs walk the packed funeral services an idea was born to create ‘Moe’s Angels’, a foundation that will support compassion dogs trained to work with trauma victims, particularly women and children of domestic violence.”
This dream has not yet come to fruition, but one can be sure it will happen when the time is right.
“How it will come to life, I don’t know yet, but I have faith it will all come together in one amazing compassionate movement,” said Rennecke.
However, Angel Lane Pet Boarding has most certainly come to life and the beautiful acreage has turned into a safe haven offering compassionate care and boarding for family pets.
Several individuals and businesses have sponsored kennels in memory of beloved pets.
“These are people that understand the loss of a beloved pet and want to support me in my vision.”
Angel Lane Pet Boarding is living proof that dreams can become reality and also a reminder that some angels choose fur instead of wings.
