About Us

Welcome to Escape to the Country!

Hi, I'm Emma Godley and I own Escape to the Country Dog & Cat Kennels. Established in 2011, I work full time with my partner Tony and the 'Escape Team'!

We are all animal lovers and wanted a place that we would ‘leave our own furry kids’. Like many people, we worry about our family members too! The dogs and cats in our care become part of our family. The dog kennels and cattery are an extension of our home as we live onsite, which means we are always available to your pets!

Your dogs and cats are able to feel relaxed and comfortable in the peaceful surroundings. This is a true country retreat for your loved ones! It's also extremely accessible being only 12 minutes West of Okotoks and 30 minutes SW of Calgary.

From puppies and kittens to seniors, pedigree or rescues, special diets, medication or nurturing nervous guests, we always go the extra mile to make them feel at home! Both you and your pet can have a worry free vacation. Our aim is to ensure your loved ones have a better holiday than their owners! You can even see how they are doing with our Facebook video and picture updates!

Tony & Emma – Pet Retreat Owners

Hi, we’re Emma & Tony, Owners of Escape to the Country Pet Retreat. Since opening in August of 2011, we have grown significantly and are completing our new Pet Retreat expansion! We are super excited to look after your pets, as we treat them like our own!

Emma has always had dogs, cats and horses in her life having grown up on a horse farm. She has a love of travel and learning. To combine the two, she’s always staying on top of the pet care industry standards and continuing education. When she’s not on the property running the Pet Retreat, you will find her taking educational courses and certifications across Europe, USA and Canada.

Tony is the property handyman! He’s actually a motorcycle mechanic by trade and maintains all the equipment around the property. When he’s not being pulled in one direction or another with the kennel maintenance, he’s repairing motorcycles.

 Ann – Pet Care Manager & Kennel Custodian

My name is Ann and I’ve been working in the pet industry for over ten years and absolutely love it! I have been a groomer, kennel assistant, kennel manager, pack walker and pretty much everything else in between.
I have enjoyed working at Escape to the Country since July, 2022. Our team is fantastic and we treat each and every pet as if they are our own. I am proud to be apart of this wonderful pack of people and pets!
Outside of work my family and I spend a lot of time in nature with our three dogs camping, finding swim spots and just adventuring!

When Emma and Tony are travelling, my family and I move in to keep the pet retreat running smoothing along side our amazing team!

Katie – Pet Care Technician & Social Media Supervisor

Hi, I’m Katie! I’ve been working at Escape to the Country since March 2022 and have been loving the experience thus far! I’ve always grown up with dogs and currently have 3 myself. My passion has always been the care of animals and I am currently pursuing being a veterinarian as my career. When I’m not studying or working at the kennels, you will most likely find me in the Rocky Mountains hiking and paddle boarding with my dogs! I also do a lot of dog training and have especially been into dog sports such as dock diving, agility, herding, barn hunt, disc etc. I capture most of my adventures with my dogs on Instagram @shepsinthewild – I share my photography, training videos, adventures, and cute moments with my pups!

Courtney – Pet Care Technician

Hi my name is Courtney. I’m a full time university student studying to get my bachelors of science and graduating in April/24.
Animals have always be apart of my life. I have ridden horses for the last 13 years and live on an acreage with my three dogs and five cats.
I have been working at Escape to the Country since June, 2022 and feel it gives me practical experience as my main goal is working to become a veterinarian. Studying takes up most of my time but when I do get some spare time, I love riding horses, going camping or just relaxing and watching movies.

Megan – Pet Care Technician

Hi, I’m Meg! I have been working at Escape to the Country Kennels since November 2022. Animals mean SO much to me, and I’m glad I get to work and care for so many of them. I have my own pet, a one year old tabby cat named Stink. My goal in life is to always be involved with helping animals, from volunteering to having a career with them! When I’m not working you can usually find me playing my guitar, spending time with my friends, or baking my boss cinnamon cake.

Janelle – Pet Care Technician

Hello, my name is Janelle! I have always had a love for animals, I am currently in university to pursue a career as a veterinarian. Despite not owning a pet until last year, I have always found a way to have animals be a part of my life. I have been working at Escape to the Country since November 2023 and have loved the experiences it has given me.  I also work as a Vet Assistant at a veterinary clinic. Aside from animals I have a passion for the outdoors, cars, and music. When I am not working or in classes, I am spending most of my time exploring the Rocky Mountains with my dog Riven. I also love to capture all my adventures with Riven on camera and share them on my Instagram account @riven.the.rescue.

Annelise – Pet Care Technician

My name is Annelies. I am originally from Belgium and have lived in Okotoks for 10 years. I graduated from UofC in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in music, and I am back to school now for Software Development. I have always had animals in my life, and being able to work with them has been a dream come true. I have one dog (Zorro) and two cats (Kenny and Saffron). On my days off I like to go hiking, traveling, play music, and take Zorro out on other adventures. I’ve just recently started with Escape to the Country in February 2024 and looking forward to a busy summer ahead!

Kayla – Pet Care Technician

My name is Kayla and I’m a high school student. I’ve just recently retired from 8 years of competitive cheerleading. I love all animals , as I live on an acreage with my cats, dogs, horses, and alpacas! I’m very excited to join the Escape Team as I’ve just been hired in February 2024 and am looking forward to starting a career in the pet care industry!