Kate's Compassionate Critter Care & Shay’s Rainbow Connection
Drop in Pet & Home Care services (in the pets own personal home environment) as well as, In Hand & Horseback Riding lessons with Kate. Kate
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Kate's Compassionate Critter Care- Kate’s and Shay’s Rainbow Connection Story and Misson Statement:
Hello my name is Kate, I am a local/licensed pet and home care provider in the town of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. I also service the surrounding area such as those on farms and acreages. If you are going on vacation and require your beloved pets and home to be cared for, I'd love to give you that "peace of mind" feeling that you are in good hands. My many years of experience as a pet guardian, as well as in the horse industry and pet food supply industry have made me an asset in this area. I mostly do daily drop in visits to care for pets/homes however, periodically I am available to do overnight care where I stay in your home. If you're requiring someone to stay overnight at your home with your pets, I need a lot of advanced notice as my schedule books up quickly. I am NOT able to offer boarding of pets at my own home. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me via cell phone: 403-818-2512 or Facebook Messenger. I am also an Insured horseback riding instructor here in Canada. I grew up in the East Kootenays in BC, Canada, nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains. Horses have been a great source of joy for me since as early as I can recall. I owe much to horses especially my late gelding Shay who I named Shay’s Rainbow Connection after. Shay and I were partners for 25 glorious years. He passed away on October 11, 2018 at the advanced age of 34. He was my teacher, partner, best friend and heart horse. Shay continues to connect me with people, horses and other animals of all walks of life even in spirit. It’s in his memory that I would like to connect with you and your beloved horses and other animals. I’ve had a number of mentors/instructors over the years. Each has brought forth different experiences to my equestrian journey. I’m honestly grateful to each and every one of them for how they have helped me to transform into the rider and horsewoman I’ve become. Since June of 2016 I’ve been enrolled in the In Hand Therapy Course. This course has been utterly life altering and Shay was the main reason I joined. It’s truly some of the best money I have ever spent. It’s not only taught me so many invaluable things about my dear equine partners, its taught me even more about myself. I’m a forever student of the horse, and strive to give them the best I can ALWAYS. If you’re interested in Dressage as well as learning In Hand work with your horses(s), I may be the instructor you’re looking for. However, I’m very willing and happy to work with western riders as well. My interest lies in equine biomechanics as well as the use of intuition, science and compassion when working with horse and rider. It’s my sincere wish to mentor and work with students who are searching for a more intimate and long term committed relationship with their equine partner(s). I realize and respect that not everyone is in a position to keep their horses for a lifetime, yet it’s my intention to show those who are open to long term committed partnerships with their horses that it is a journey worth embarking on. One thing I’m very willing to do, is work with horses that are having lameness issues. Many of these horses are cast aside because their guardians and caregivers are lost as to what to do with these horses. Not all horses can be brought back to serviceable soundness however, many can. If you have a horse that is unsound and you hold optimism that they may still be able to find soundness again please feel free to reach out. I may possibly be able to assist in helping you to restore some degree of soundness in your equine friend(s) so that they can live a more purposeful and enriching life once again. I have 33 years of riding experience and have owned horses for 32 years. I’m willing to work with horses of all disciplines and breeds as well as riders of all ages and disciplines. For the right candidate(s) I MAY be willing to teach them Dressage as well as In Hand work with my own personal mare Stella. Whether you have your own horse(s) that you’d like to take lessons with, or if you’re interested in working with Stella and I please reach out for more details about what would be required to begin the process. I look forward to assisting you and your equine partners in finding a connection to your heart centers and a deeper meaning to your relationship together. Thank you for visiting Kate's Compassionate Critter Care and Shay’s Rainbow Connection!
11/26/2025
If any of my clients are actually looking for a boarding facility to keep their dogs at, (I do not board animals in my own personal home) please contact this beautiful lady. She is one of my allies! 🙏🏻🤩
Looking for boarding care you can actually feel good about?
Wiggle Butts Day Home offers a calm acreage space where dogs thrive, feel supported, and their humans do too!
Had an experience that didn’t leave you and your pup feeling peaceful? Share it in the comments.
November has flown by! I hope you’re all enjoying this gorgeous fall 🤩🙏🏻🕉️🐎🐈 🐕!
11/22/2025
11/22/2025
Black Turtle Stitchworks makes the most beautiful dog jackets and booties. Katniss loved her jacket and bootees from this amazing little company. I highly recommend them, if you have a difficult to fit dog like a dachshund definitely reach out to this amazing lady. Her prices are reasonable and her quality is impeccable 🤩! 
11/21/2025
I’ve loved cats since some of my earliest memories. When Savvy cat came into our lives two years ago, I never imagined having another house cat. Due to household allergies from years prior, I was not able to welcome a cat into my home. Within three months of Savvy joining our life, I had a bit of an epiphany. I realized that I no longer needed to abide by the “no cats in the house“ rule I once needed to live by. It was an awakening of sorts, it was incredibly healing as well. The first time I actually let Savvy stay inside the house overnight I had an experience I had not had in over 20 years. I had a cat share my bed again . She laid against me and purred. That purring brought me back to a different time in my life. Cats are phenomenal healers and have an intuitive wisdom that goes beyond words. ✨
How have cats helped shape your life? 🤩🐈⬛💗
11/19/2025
This is an AMAZING product. I’ve used it on dogs and cats for 4 years now. I learned about The Adored Beast Apothecary while working for The Paw Shop - Healthy Pet Foods and Supplies. It’s easy to give and people can take it too 🤩.
As we move into the colder months, we enter what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls the "Season of the Kidney".
The kidneys are really important. They:
Filter waste
Help regulate blood pressure
Maintain hydration
Balance minerals
Support healthy bones and red blood cell production
In other words, when the kidneys are happy, the whole body runs smoothly.
❄️ But... when temperatures drop and days get shorter, animals can experience more stress on their kidneys - making this the perfect time to give your pet’s kidneys a little extra love.
And our favourite way to do that? Liver Tonic!
Yes - don't let the name fool you! The herbs in Liver Tonic are incredible for giving the kidneys some vital support!
Until tomorrow at midnight,
Liver Tonic is 15% off.
11/13/2025
Cutie of the week 💗. Savvy our Bombay Beauty. This beautiful cat 🐈⬛ is a lover of everyone. She brings healing/high-vibrating energy to everyone she meets. A beloved family member of our household 🙏🏻🤗🕉️. 
11/12/2025
I would like to let all of my clientele know that I am completely booked up for pet and home care services for the month of December 2025. If you’re looking for bookings for pet and home care in the new year, please reach out to me for my availability. 🤩🙏🏻 🐕 🐈 🐎 🐓 🦆
Thank you to absolutely everyone for supporting my business. Word-of-mouth recommendations, sharing of my posts and ongoing connections with me directly, are priceless gifts. I am a very grateful woman and I look forward to continuing to serve Rocky Mountain House and surrounding area in 2026. 🤩🙏🏻🕉️✨
11/04/2025
Do you put a price on peace of mind when it comes to pet and home care? 😊🙏🏻
11/01/2025
💭 What If It’s Not a Problem… But a Purpose?
When we talk about “problem behaviours” in dogs, we often start from the idea that something is wrong.
That the dog is sick, unbalanced, too much, or needs fixing.
So we try to suppress.
To quiet.
To stop.
To control.
To prevent them from rehearsing the very behaviours that make them who they are.
But let’s take a step back for a moment.
Dogs were not created to be pets. They were designed to be partners.
Every breed, every type, was intentionally crafted by humans for a purpose — a job that served us.
The herder that gathered the flock.
The terrier that cleared the home of vermin.
The gundog that retrieved our game.
The guardian that protected our homes.
Their instincts, their energy, their passion — all of it was by design.
It wasn’t a flaw to be fixed. It was a purpose to be fulfilled.
But as society evolved, those jobs disappeared — or were replaced.
The flocks that once needed gathering are now moved by quad bike.
Homes that needed guarding are now protected by alarms and cameras.
Vermin that once required a tenacious terrier are now kept in check with chemicals and pest control companies.
The dogs, though… haven’t changed.
They still carry their purpose — in every cell, in every line of their DNA.
Now, imagine this.
Think about the thing that gives you purpose.
The thing that makes you feel alive.
Maybe it’s helping others.
Maybe it’s teaching, creating, caring, running, building, painting, singing.
That thing that fills your heart and gives your life meaning.
Now imagine being told you can never do it again.
You can’t sing.
You can’t paint.
You can’t help.
You can’t move.
You can’t express who you are.
How would that feel?
Frustrating? Empty? Sad?
Would it affect your mental health? Your self-esteem? Your sense of worth?
That’s what it’s like for a dog who’s been bred for a purpose — but has nowhere to put it.
It’s not a behavioural “problem.”
It’s a purpose left unfulfilled.
Our job isn’t to suppress that drive.
It’s to honour it.
To find healthy, meaningful ways to let it shine.
That’s why I talk about the Five E’s — the daily ingredients for a fulfilled dog:
💚 Enrichment – mental challenges that engage their instincts.
💚 Exercise – movement that satisfies their drive and energy.
💚 Entertainment – fun and play that builds connection.
💚 Emotional Stability – safety, predictability, and trust.
💚 Education – learning that gives structure and purpose.
When we invest in these, we’re not “fixing” dogs — we’re allowing them to become who they were meant to be.
We’re not managing a problem.
We’re meeting a purpose.
So maybe the next time you see your dog display that unstoppable drive, that intensity, that passion — instead of asking “How do I stop it?”, try asking…
“How can I fulfil it?”
Because when we meet dogs where they are — not where we wish they’d be — something magical happens:
Calm.
Confidence.
Connection.
And a life that feels right.
Maybe it’s time we stop seeing behaviour as a symptom to cure…
and start seeing it as a story waiting to be understood. 🐾
💬 Now I’d love to hear from you:
Does your dog have a purpose that’s being fulfilled?
How do you help them live it every day?
Share your ideas below — you might just inspire someone else to see their dog through a whole new lens. 💚
10/31/2025
Happy Halloween from Savvy Cat 🐈⬛ and our household 🤩🎃✨!
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Send a message to Kate's Compassionate Critter Care & Shay’s Rainbow Connection:
Shay’s Rainbow Connection - Kate’s Story and Misson Statement.
Hello, my name is Katrina Duncan however, please call me Kate 😀. I’m an Insured riding instructor through CapriCMW Insurance Services Ltd. here in Canada.
I grew up in Cranbrook BC, Canada, nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains. However, I’ve resided in Alberta with my amazing husband Dave as well as our beloved animals since August of 2000. Horses have been a great source of joy for me since as early as I can recall. Horses have breathed life into my spirit/soul. As a matter of fact they make me feel ALIVE! I owe much to horses especially my late gelding Shay who I named Shay’s Rainbow Connection after. Shay and I were partners for 25 glorious years. He passed away on October 11, 2018 at the advanced age of 34. He was my teacher, partner, best friend and heart horse. Shay continues to connect me with people and horses of all walks of life even in spirit. It’s in his memory that I would like to connect with you and your beloved horses. 🐎💖
I’ve had a number of mentors/instructors over the years. Each has brought forth different experiences to my equestrian journey. I’m honestly grateful to each and every one of them for how they have helped me to transform into the rider and horsewoman I’ve become. Since June of 2016 I’ve been enrolled in the In Hand Therapy Course. This course has been utterly life altering and Shay was the main reason I joined. It’s truly some of the best money I have ever spent. It’s not only taught me so many invaluable things about my dear equine partners, its taught me even more about myself. I’m a forever student of the horse, and strive to give them the best I can ALWAYS 🐎🙏.
If you’re interested in Dressage as well as learning In Hand work with your horses(s), I may be the instructor you’re looking for. However, I’m very willing and happy 😊 to work with western riders as well. My interest lies in equine biomechanics as well as the use of intuition, science and compassion when working with horse and rider. It’s my sincere wish to mentor and work with students who are searching for a more intimate and long term committed relationship with their equine partner(s)🐎🙏. I realize and respect that not everyone is in a position to keep their horses for a lifetime, yet it’s my intention to show those who are open to long term committed partnerships with their horses that it is a journey worth embarking on💞.
One thing I’m very willing to do, is work with horses that are having lameness issues. Many of these horses are cast aside because their guardians and caregivers are lost as to what to do with these horses. Not all horses can be brought back to serviceable soundness however, many can. If you have a horse that is unsound and you hold optimism that they may still be able to find soundness again please feel free to reach out. I may possibly be able to assist in helping you to restore some degree of soundness in your equine friend(s) so that they can live a more purposeful and enriching life once again✨ .
With the current Covid-19 pandemic, I am teaching most of my students via Video Analysis Lessons. The benefit to this is that you can still gain support and guidance while being able to safely socially isolate from your instructor. Please see my services for more details or else reach out to me directly🐎😊.
I have 29 years of riding experience and have owned horses for 28 years. I’m willing to work with horses of all disciplines and breeds as well as riders of all ages and disciplines. For the right candidate(s) I MAY be willing to teach them Dressage as well as In Hand work with my own personal mare Stella. Whether you have your own horse(s) that you’d like to take lessons with, or if you’re interested in working with Stella and I please reach out for more details about what would be required to begin the process.
I’m located near the hamlet of Madden, Alberta approximately 25 km west of the town of Crossfield Alberta, Canada.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me via cell phone: 403-818-2512, email: shaysrainbowconnection@yahoo.com or Facebook Messenger.
Thank you for visiting Shay’s Rainbow Connection! I look forward to assisting you and your equine partners in finding a connection to your hearts and a deeper meaning to your relationship together. 💞🧍♀️🐎🧍♂️🐎💞
Many blessings to you and yours. May joy and abundance bless your lives! 💗🐴🙏🌈😀
