Kortney Sheldon-Zorad & Steve Zorad
Owner & Operators

Steve and Kortney Sheldon-Zorad are the new owners of Hillcrest Paws Only Inn. We both were born and raised right here in Norfolk County and both have come from generations of farming. We have many ties to the community. We are members of the Ag society, and you probably have seen us volunteering at the Norfolk County Fair and other events. Steve’s family has been selling pumpkins on Highway #3 since the 80’s! I was a manager at the Simcoe McDonalds since I was 18! I have over 24 years of customer service experience. I have recently taken a Canine specialist course to learn more about dogs and their behaviours.

We have a son Krue, our Charcoal Labrador Norman and two cats Ziggy and Zippy. We have trusted the staff here at Paws Only Inn with our beloved Norman since he was just a pup and can see the excitement when we would turn down the lane way!

As new owners, we’re committed to honouring the legacy of Hillcrest Paws Only Inn as a trusted, loving and safe place for your beloved dogs. Our goal is to continue the exceptional care your pets have always received. We have a deep passion for animals.

PAWS ONLY INN STAFF

Steve and I are so grateful that this fabulous staff came with our new venture! They are experts at who the dogs are and who they can hangout with! I have learned so much from them! We are a team here at the Inn and they have made this transition flawless. I already trust them completely to steer me and this business in the right direction.

Emma started as a volunteer when she was just starting high school and Sarah had just opened the kennel in 2019. Emma always says the kennel is her Happy Place, often coming in when she isn’t scheduled just to spend more time with the pups. We are lucky to have Emma on our team - so are the dogs that have the privilege of being cared for by her. Emma is away at University but comes back some weekends, holidays and in the summer to work at the kennel. She has been known to fall asleep in the kennel when snuggling a dog during last outs. She loves all the pups so much! I haven’t worked as much with Emma since she has been at school but I can see how dedicated she is to the Inn. She is always willing to show me the “dirty jobs” and how to do them properly! ;)

Lana is all about making sure the dogs have their best day every day they’re at the Inn. Her kindness and obvious affection for your pups. Lana is a hard worker and takes the initiative to get the extra cleaning done around the Inn on top of giving the pups the best care in the business by throwing balls, playing and giving so many super snuggles. Lana has brought a wisdom and a quiet calmness to the Inn that we all appreciate - dogs, coworkers and owners alike. Our good fortune in having Lana on the Paws Only Inn team is passed on to you and your dogs. Warning, some pups become obsessed with Lana, they love her that much! I appreciate the honest feedback I get from Lana when I bring ideas to the table on different ways we could do things. She knows what works and when something doesn't we figure out together how to fix it!

Agatha has studied as a vet tech in Guelph and worked at a kennel while at school there. She is extremely experienced handling pups and making them feel comfortable. Even our most shy and nervous dogs warm up to Agatha quickly - dogs seem to have a sixth sense for people who truly care about them. Agatha does not shy away from hard work and makes sure the kennel is clean and the pups always have what they need, including extra snuggles! She has really helped me personally with all the administrative tasks. She answers all my questions! As a team we continue to fine tune the system that is already in place as well as adding some new ideas to be more efficient. You’ll notice she always has a friendly smile and is happy to be around the dogs. We are lucky to have Agatha on our staff - she’s such a genuine person, she’s the real deal!

We are fortunate to have such fantastic employees, all of whom I trust with my business and more importantly, with your dogs!