Gwendilin Boers founded Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services Inc. (BHRR Inc.) in the spring of 1996 when she began assisting in the effort to close down a puppy mill in Quebec, Canada. Along with her husband’s Sean’s support, she is part of the love and effort of BHRR Inc. along with their volunteers, assistance from other Rescues plus their Vets, sponsors, family, neighbours and friends.

Gwendilin‘s mantra is “Together we are all the ‘links’ making strong what I call the ‘chain of success’.” In the spring of 1999, she had the wonderful privilege of connecting with Krys Pritchard from Trinity of Hope Dog Rescue(THDR) and at that same time; Gwendilin and her husband Sean became a foster failure to one of THDR’s NewfX’s, Kona; who turned 11 in April of 2010.

In 1996; Gwendilin also founded the BHRR Inc. Therapy Dog program; thus creating the now very popular concept of ‘corporate’ therapy. In 2001; BHRR Inc. began to expand into assisting with Equine Rescue plus Rehabilitation.

In the fall of 2006; Gwendilin entered the world of dog showing and in June of 2007, she finished her very first show dog in just 7 months; a natural eared Harlequin Great Dane, Dyce. They accomplished something very special(research reveals that they are the first in Canada to do this); as Gwendilin was a first-time show dog owner/handler with a natural eared Harlequin dog and he was exclusively owner/handled to his CH. title. Her second show Great Dane; a Blue, Bronson; entered the ring at the end of 2007 and became a Champion in May of 2008 in just 5 months of showing. Her third show dog, TAIN; a 100% European bred blue Great Dane is also a proven Champion having finished his first championship title at 14 months of age in October of 2009. Gwendilin strongly believes that as someone dedicated to animal welfare; she can do her part in assisting plus working together with reputable/quality Breeders to ‘preserve’ the Great Dane Breed standard by showing/handling/competing with the dogs to various titles and thereby also gaining added confirmation of true temperament plus conformation of Breed Standards.

Gwendilin has been doing positive method animal behavoural modification/rehabilitation plus training for over 24 years. She has been the behavoural ‘expert’ in numerous cruelty and court cases plus for a vast number of organizations plus groups. She has travelled all across North America to present on Giant Breed health, nutrition, exercise, training plus other animal welfare topics including doing talks in areas such as BHRR Inc.’s ’second’ to none success rate. Additionally, in 2009; Gwendilin was requested to be a guest speaker in Dublin, Ireland. She has been a frequent invitee on television programs such as RTV 22’s Rogers Ottawa Daytime and CBC’s Living in Ottawa. Currently; Gwendilin is contributing to several books and her own ‘In The Trenches’ is to be published in 2011. Yes, Gwen says that as she currently resides in Canada and that they have ‘u’s in their words like colours, neighbours and flavour so she calls herself a behavouralist, not a behavorist!

Gwendilin’s focus has been in the educational awareness, protection and love of Giant Breeds plus Equines.

Gwendilin’s extensive educational plus experiential background includes yet is not limited to:
Honours in Criminology plus in Psychology and a MA in Psychology with Specializations in Animal plus Child Development / Behavour. Gwendilin also has a Minor in European History and has started her Doctorate in Psychology. In addition, she possesses a strong medical background as she was a Paramedic until the early 90s and also was an essential key member of Nortel Networks Emergency and Medical Response teams up until November of 2001. As of April 2004; she also began to work part-time for several Animal Hospitals in various capacities including consulting. Gwen left her full-time Managerial Career in the fall of 2002 and for almost 1.5 years, devoted herself to her family, BHRR and own animals. When the time came to re-enter the workforce, she accepted a Career opportunity that began in February of 2004. Then, in the Spring of 2006; she had to make the difficult decision to resign from her Executive Career Position and since then; she has been working on finding that right balance again between her BHRR roles, Family plus her career work for several Animal Hospitals. In addition to being the Rescue and Behavour Advisor for the Ottawa Great Dane Board; Gwendilin is a very active member of reputable/quality organizations such as:

AKC, CKC, HABAC, OEF, IABCA, CFC, THDR, RDOC, CMC & GDC of NY

Gwendilin lives in Eastern Ontario on her dream property located on 148 acres. She has been blessed to be owned over the years by 2 children, 4 Equines, 1 Doberman/CollieX, 12 Great Danes, one English Mastiff, two Golden Retrievers, two Newfs, two NewfMixes, one German Shepherd and one German Shepherd/Husky/Lab X. 17 of her dogs became CGC certified, 4 are CGN/CGC and 17 have gone on to become BHRR Therapy qualified dogs. Two are Canadian CH’s, one is CKC pointed including being a CFC CH; one in addition to being a CAN CH. is also an International CH. and now AKC pointed. Her hobbies include competing with her horses, training for her first marathon, hiking with her dogs, dog showing, teaching animal first aid, travel, reading and scuba diving.

Gwen mentions that her husband Sean is extremely supportive and almost ALWAYS wants to keep the animals that pass through their doors! Gwen believes that Sean has to be credited with a lot of BHRR Inc’s successes. Sean has assisted in driving to and from the airports or meeting the Volunteer ground transports; driving animals to their vet appointments and new homes; socialization; bathing; assisting with fundraising, nail trims, feeding; administering meds and giving LOTS of cuddle time. Sean actually plays ‘tag’ with the horses. WITHOUT Sean, Gwendilin states that she wouldn’t be where she is today, doing what she loves; helping animals in need and being the voice for them.