09/23/2026
Not the news we had been hoping to share...
I’m disappointed to let you know that the offer we submitted last week to lease a potential new home for All About Dogs was rejected. We were told the property owners had changed their minds about leasing to a dog business, despite having previously confirmed that our use of the space was approved.
After numerous visits over the past two months and consultations with lawyers and contractors to develop plans for the space, this news came as a real shock. We had invested considerable time, energy and hope in this possibility, and having it fall through so abruptly is discouraging.
It has taken some time to process this set back, but we have regrouped and are back to looking at other options this week. Our determination to find a new home for All About Dogs is ongoing.
Your continued support through all the uncertainty is very much appreciated. Stay tuned, everyone!
Dear All About Dogs community,
First and foremost, I want to say thank you.
When I reached out for help earlier this year, I was facing one of the most difficult and uncertain periods in All About Dogs’ history. The response from this community was truly incredible. Your generous donations helped us through an immediate financial crunch, but just as importantly, the messages, encouragement and heartfelt support reminded me how much All About Dogs means to so many people.
You gave me the encouragement and the courage to keep moving forward.
I had fully expected that we would be spending another five years in our beautiful facility on Gurney Crescent. Instead, in just over a month, we will be saying goodbye to the place we have called home for almost 12 years.
As our classes wind down, we are beginning the enormous job of packing up our agility equipment, fitness equipment, and even our doggy swimming pool. It is still difficult for me to fathom that this is really happening.
I know I haven't provided many updates over the past few months. The truth is, it has been difficult to know what to say when faced with so much uncertainty.
Since the spring, I have been working with my real estate agent to find another home for All About Dogs. Finding commercial space that we can afford, that will accept a dog training business, and—most importantly—that has a large enough unobstructed area for agility has been an enormous challenge. The financial reality of moving and building a new home for All About Dogs has made the process even more daunting, and facing the uncertainty of starting over has been overwhelming.
But I don't feel ready to give up on All About Dogs.
And now, finally, there is a glimmer of hope.
I believe we may have found a space that could work. It is smaller than our current home, but it has something very important: a lovely, large agility hall where our dogs can run, learn and play again.
We are now preparing to put forward an offer to lease.
I won't pretend that taking on another commercial lease after everything that has happened isn't nerve wracking. It is. But before taking this next step, I wanted all of you—the people who helped me get this far—to know where things stand.
Our lease at Gurney Crescent ends October 31st, so we are truly coming down to the wire. If this new lease comes together, there will be a mad dash to finish our move, build our new home and get those agility classes running again.
Your support helped me through an incredibly difficult chapter. More than that, it reminded me that there is a community worth fighting for.
As I take this next rather scary step, it means so much to me to know that so many of you are there—cheering me on.
And hopefully, very soon, I'll be writing again with some really good news.
With heartfelt thanks,
Renée
All About Dogs
