Protecting the Underdog: Animal Rescue at Dog Tales, Through the Eyes of Their Lead Kennel Manager

Hey future vets! Emily here. 

I’ve got a really exciting piece lined up for you this month; Cassandra is amazing, and her story is so inspiring. I cannot wait for you to read it, but first, I wanted to talk about something really important to me. I hope you’ll read my little note:

When I read all of the interviews with veterinarians on the Omnis Animalis in my first year, I was in a very different place. Yes, I wanted to pursue veterinary medicine - but I was also super scared for the future. If you’ve ever felt that way - excited because you get to follow your passion, but scared that things may take other paths that you haven’t prepared for - know that you are NOT alone. Many of your fellow undergrads have felt exactly what you’re feeling right now (I’m in my fourth year, and I still feel it from time to time!) and we are all behind you. I remember wanting to think about other possible careers for myself, outside of vet med. For a while, I felt like I was betraying myself or my dream of becoming a veterinarian by doing so - I thought that coming up with backup plans meant that I subconsciously believed I would never become a vet.

If you are thinking that right now, stop, and breathe. 

You aren’t doing anything horrifyingly blasphemous by thinking about other job pathways - in fact, it’s very smart and responsible of you to map out all of your options for your future! I’d like to encourage you to open your mind and explore ALL of the possibilities for your work life ahead. I know, it’s a little odd for a blog focused on veterinary news to be telling you that, but please remember this: no matter where you find yourself after your education (whether it’s in vet school or starting an exciting new path!), you will still be an extremely smart, well-educated, great person who wants to help animals - and absolutely will. That said, congratulations from all of us here at the FVC: you are already the amazing person you want to become.

Until now, it has been a bit uncommon for the Omnis to publish interviews with anyone who isn’t in the field of veterinary medicine. I think it’s time to turn a new leaf. There are tons of wonderful experiences for future vets to consider for themselves and their futures; I am so excited for you to read about this one. Enjoy :)

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When it comes to helping animals, there are several avenues other than veterinary medicine that can be pursued to make an equally lasting impact. One of these pursuits include volunteering your time to an animal rescue or sanctuary, just as Cassandra Ferrante did. I was lucky enough to speak with her about her job and everything that got her to where she is today.

Ever since she was a child, Cassandra was known for her love of dogs:
“If there was a dog at someone’s house, or a dog on vacation on the street, I was with that dog,” she reminisces. “It was kind of an obsession from when I was a kid for sure.”
Cassandra sought every opportunity to surround herself with animals as soon as she was out of high school. Having worked at a vet clinic, a groomer, and a boarding kennel, she was content but admitted that she craved a change. She wanted to give her time and attention to a facility that was less money-focused, and thus she applied at Dog Tales.

Dog Tales is a dog rescue and farm animal sanctuary in King City, founded by Rob and Danielle Eden-Scheinberg in 2014. Rob and Danielle are a couple who have always loved rescuing animals, and decided to open their own rescue in an effort to help as many as possible. Cassandra loved everything the sanctuary stood for, and was elated to have found her purpose as a dog handler there in 2016. Her passion for helping animals and her love for the rescue blossomed from then on - and seven years later, she is now the lead kennel manager and trainer for the sanctuary!
“I’m working in the kennels with the dogs every single day,” she remarked on her duties. “I also manage the team, just making sure everything is flowing well.”
Cassandra acts as a lead, answering questions and making decisions for the betterment of the rescue day-in and day-out. You can typically find her spending one-on-one time with the dogs, conducting anything from surrender assessments to training sessions! On the farm side of things, the sanctuary boasts many wonderful animals: horses, cows, pigs, a rooster, three sheep, and a few donkeys. They have all been rescued from unfortunate situations and now enjoy sanctuary life, roaming wide open pastures and receiving daily love, care, and attention from employees and volunteers.

Large animals are taken in on a case-by-case basis, and when it comes to rescuing dogs, Dog Tales makes sure to cover all fronts: the dogs they accept could be local surrenders, or sent in from far distances overseas. Prioritizing the underdog above all else is what’s extremely important to them: 
“We really try to take on the overlooked, so dogs with medical needs, older dogs––just harder cases.”
Canine surrender and rescue requests come in through phone calls, emails, and social media messages to the sanctuary almost daily. After paperwork is reviewed, the dog is brought in for an assessment and gets taken in by the sanctuary. After removing the dogs from their sub-optimal situations, they are quarantined, medically cleared, rehabbed, trained, and prepared for adoption. 
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Despite the fast-paced busywork that comes from employment at an animal rescue, when it comes to the biggest challenge Cassandra faces as the kennel manager and trainer at Dog Tales, she attributes it all to the emotional side of her career. She lets us in on what she struggles with the most:
“I love Dog Tales as a whole, and what Rob and Danielle stand for; I think that’s super important… [B]ut working with animals, there’s always that emotional toll,” she reflects on her time at the rescue. “We’re never empty, you know? The job is never done, there’s always dogs that need to be rescued.”
Although it is impossible to save them all, Rob, Danielle, Cassandra, and their team certainly try their best to help as many animals as they possibly can. 
“Every year that I’ve worked here, every day, you just hear of animals that you unfortunately aren’t able to help… that’s the hardest thing.”
No experience comes without its hardships, but what matters is remembering why you’ll stay strong and persevere anyway. Cassandra has found her passion in animal rescue and sanctuary work, and can't imagine doing anything else. When it comes to advice she can offer to students who want to pursue something similar, she encourages them to remember why they want to do it:
“Continue being passionate and compassionate. That will help you in the long run. It’s a very hard job. If you look at the bigger picture, you can't save them all, but you can see how many you helped––even if it’s just one or two.”
She emphasizes the fact that whether you’re saving hundreds of dogs, or even a few donkeys, you are still making a big difference in the lives of animals. Maintaining passion and drive in this line of work (even when it's emotionally taxing!) will take you far in your pursuit to help them. 

What’s next for Dog Tales? Providing the best healthcare available for their rescues will continue to be their top priority. They keep two full-time registered veterinary technicians around at all times, and schedule weekly veterinarian visits to the sanctuary for checkups, vaccines, and intake assessments. For farm animals, a vet will come in for routine check ups, dental work and other procedures. Looking toward the future, Cassandra notes that founders Rob and Danielle have just executed their plans to build a brand new small animal and equine hospital right next door. King Animal Hospital aims to bring a team of veterinarians together to lead technology, treatment and rehabilitation to new frontiers… all under one roof! All avenues of animal welfare - medical, rescue, rehabilitation, grooming, training, adoption and more - joined together in one place where people who are passionate about helping animals can devote their time and attention to doing so.
If you’re interested in following a similar path to Cassandra, look into ways of getting involved in your local rescues and animal sanctuaries. Dog Tales is always accepting new volunteers as well, and open houses are held every Sunday for visitors to attend and learn more about what the sanctuary is doing for the animals there, and how you can get involved.


A story like Cassandra’s is endlessly inspirational. Allowing yourself to pursue the things that excite you can take you to wonderful places, and she is the perfect example of that. It’s so important to view all aspects of animal care, because helping animals is an act done through so many avenues, each one as crucial as the last. Where do you think your path will take you? Are there other avenues that you’d like to consider for yourself? What are some ways you will push the boundaries as a veterinarian, and explore further within your practice?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, your stories, and anything else you’ve got on your mind after reading. Feel free to message us on Instagram (@fvcguelph) to chat. If you’ve got requests for content you’d like to see more of on the blog, please let us know!
Thank you Cassandra Ferrante and the Dog Tales team for letting me share your story!

Yours Truly,
Emily Camarda, Senior Editor