Manoir Kanisha

Specialties

As a breeder of conformation German Shepherd Dogs since 1970, I was often torn apart between my professional life as a university professor and my dog breeding program. In 1990, I decided to «go to the dogs». It was imposssible to construct a boarding facilities on the island of Montréal. As one can imagine, a pet boarding facilities with outside exercice and playtime areas, must be located far away from any residential areas.

I presented a project to Transport Canada to lease a large piece of land on the Montréal International Airport grounds. After 29 months of difficult negociations (Jan 1988 — May 1990), the project was finally approved. We signed our first «land lease» on June 1, 1999 and started to build. At that time, our first building measured 30’x30’ for a total of 900 square feet. Today, the Manoir Kanisha’s indoor facilities measure more than 45,000 square feet and is constructed on three levels. Visit the RESOURCES section of our website, under sub-​menu «Our Buildings».

History

Established in 1990.

To open a pet boarding facility with outside exercise and playtime areas, one has to find a location situated far away from residential areas. In Montréal, QC, Canada, it was impossible to obtain a permit to build a pet boarding facility.

I presented a project to Transport Canada to lease a large piece of land located on the ground of the Montréal Int’l Airport in Dorval. After 29 months (⁰¹⁄₁₉₈₈ — ⁰⁵⁄₁₉₉₀) of difficult negociations, the project was approved. I sign our first «land lease» on June 1^st, 1990. I started with a very small building (30′ x 30′ = 900 square feet). Today, 22 years later, the Manoir Kanisha indoor buildings measure more than 45,000 square feet, it represents 50 times it’s original size.

At first, I did everything myself: feed, clean and exercise all the animals, answer the phone, groom the client’s pets, construct, paint, etc. Today, we hire between 15 and 22 employees. The first few years were very difficult. Today we have a very loyal established clientele.

Meet the Business Owner

Nicole M.

Business Owner

I come from a very poor background. Born in a family of five children, I was very lucky when my father transmitted to me his passion for all animals, from spiders to horses. As a young girl my life was spent between caring for my animals and competing in various sports such as figure skating and artistic gymnastics. After graduating from High School, I completed a B.Sc. at the Université de Montréal and travelled to USA to completed an M.Sc. in Biomechanics at Penn State University. Later, after teaching at Universté de Montréal, I did my Ph. D. studies at McGill University, in Business Administration.

Beside my professional activities as a university professor, I breed German Shepherd Dogs (1970 – 2012, under the name TESSALTO) and, in 1972, I founded a gymnastic club (The Montréal GYMNIX). This year we are celebrating it’s 40^th anniversary. In the mid 80’s I returned to my childhood’s first love and decided to «go to the dogs». This is how the Manoir Kanisha was born.