A Business Worth Barking About: Inside Dogwood Lodge Pet Retreat
Situated in South Ohio, Nova Scotia (a short drive down Hardscratch Road from nearby Yarmouth), sits a unique haven for dogs — and the people who love them. Dogwood Lodge Pet Retreat Inc., operated by co-owners Jonathan and Kelsy Lyons, is more than a pet boarding business; it’s a lifestyle built on decades of experience, attention to detail, and – most importantly – a deep love for canine companions.
A Lifelong Calling
Kelsy Lyons has been immersed in the dog world since she was a child. “I got started with dogs when I was about 8 years old and I’ve been going strong ever since,” she says. Her early experience managing a high demand boarding facility on the South Shore for over seven years gave her the skills — and the spark — to launch something of her own. That something became reality in May 2014, when she first started running their family-owned location in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
Jonathan, a former tech professional, joined the venture soon after. “I had a decision to make about whether to stay in the technology field or to move into the dog world,” he says. “And it made sense for me to step in, because things got busy quickly and I love dogs. And I haven’t looked back since.”
A Leap of Faith and a Helping Hand
Their move to Yarmouth County in 2021 was more than a change of scenery. It was a fresh start, prompted by their purchase of a family property in nearby Pleasant Lake. Originally intending to run their operation from their new home, the couple pivoted when a nearby facility, formerly occupied by "It’s a Ruff Life Daycare," serendipitously came up for sale.
“The timing was great, but we never thought we’d get a second mortgage,” Jonathan recalls. “The bank said no. Then the BDC said no. Then our realtor—who we later found out was on the CBDC board—suggested we try the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) in Yarmouth.”
Enter Kristina Nuja, a business advisor at CBDC, who proved pivotal. “She’s probably the most down-to-earth, ‘non-bank’ person you could ask for,” says Jonathan. Kristina helped them overhaul their business plan with realism and precision. “She made us re-do everything, and eventually she said, ‘I think this looks pretty good, and I’m going to present it to the board.’ They approved us almost straight away.”
CBDC not only financed the purchase of the building and 23 acres of land, but they’ve stepped up two more times since — once to fund critical fencing and drainage repairs after winter thaw exposed problems, and most recently for a full air conditioning upgrade. “We pay a little bit extra in interest, but we feel it’s well worth it,” Jonathan emphasizes. “CBDC is the reason we’re here, and without them we wouldn’t exist.”
Building a Reputation — and a Family
Dogwood Lodge isn’t a kennel; it’s a retreat. Inside a spacious dome building that the Lyons have transformed, dogs enjoy private dens in a large air-conditioned boarding room, a thoughtfully designed “Zen Den” filled with calming music and enrichment toys, and even a retail section focused on natural dog-health products.
The clientele speaks for itself. “A lot of our customers still travel to us from Lunenburg (a nearly 500km round trip), and some even come from Halifax,” says Kelsy. “In their words, they don’t want to leave their dogs with anybody else.”
But the work is intense and personal. “It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle,” Kelsy shares. The couple picks up poop, cleans pens, comforts anxious pets, and runs the business hands-on, supported by two full-time groomers and a few part-time staff. “Finding the right people is hard,” Jonathan admits. “Some people think we just play with puppies all day. But it’s sanitation, behavior reading, and making sure the dogs are stress-free.”
Their commitment to care goes beyond the day-to-day. Even though the industry is only loosely regulated, Dogwood Lodge is a long-time member of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA), ensuring high standards through self-regulation and continuous training.
A Community Favourite
Dogwood Lodge's excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, they were named "Rising Star of the Year" by the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce and have been nominated every year since. “That was definitely one of our proudest moments,” says Jonathan. Their clients clearly agree — with one client even making a generous proposal in order to keep them from leaving Lunenburg.
Photos of tail-wagging guests flood their popular Facebook page, and new client shoutouts help customers feel connected, even from afar. “Sometimes people go away on cruises,” says Kelsy, “and they come back and say, ‘Every night we checked for those pictures.’”
Looking Forward
As the pet care industry evolves, so too does Dogwood Lodge. The Lyons are passionate about the growing pet wellness movement, from incorporating enrichment into playtime to curating natural health products. They’re currently planning a grooming expansion, with separate wet and dry rooms, and eventually dream of building a larger facility — or even franchising.
“We’re always looking to stay ahead of trends,” Jonathan shares. “I built a tool with AI to search the Internet every week to come back with what’s new in our industry.”
Their guiding principle remains simple: put the dog’s experience first. “We do it because we love it,” Kelsy says. “You’re looking after someone’s ‘baby.’ It’s a responsibility and a privilege.”
And for the Lyons, that’s more than enough motivation to keep moving forward — tail wags, muddy paws, and all.