Providing a lifeline for pets and their families

My name is Becca and I am the founder of Riley’s Retreat. While the accounting world has taken up most of my time for the last ten years, my obvious love for dogs has never faded. I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, for rescue, and for giving them a voice. My family has always called me the dog whisperer.

I always knew that’s where my heart was, but through life experiences I knew that I didn’t want to become a veterinarian or a veterinary technician. My heart is too soft. So, college comes, and I pursue accounting and finance and life goes on. Fast forward to 2017, I purchased my first house and decided I need a dog. Along comes Riley. Riley was a neglected, overbred, skinny, mammary tumor covered, blue tick hound dog that no one wanted. The theory is she couldn’t get pregnant anymore and was tossed out. I always knew she was a gorgeous girl! I nursed her back to health, spoiled her to death, and she was living the high life. She very much knew it too, Miss Sassypants, she was definitely mama’s girl, I never had children but if I did Riley was it-she was me in dog form. 2019 comes along and I adopt Ranger who is a 9 year old hound mix, and two months later adopt Cowboy who is a 17 year old hound mix. Both of them were also abused and neglected. Ranger was found as a stray, skinny as could be with what turned out to be fatty tumors on him. Cowboy was my more challenging case, with a skin infection lasting (supposedly)14 years he had very little hair left, his skin was so red and irritated, he stunk to high heavens, he had obviously given up on life and just accepted his fate. I nurse them back to health with lots of vet visits, emergency vet visits, baths, and of course LOVE and they live the high life alongside their sister Riley. They all learned what a soft bed was, warm blankets, and most importantly what real love was. My dogs have always been my children, they’re so much more than just dogs. They’ve always been allowed on the bed, on the furniture, anywhere in the house, my schedule has always revolved around them-I’ve always joked and said my house is really theirs, I just happened to pay the bills. Riley unfortunately passed away from cancer Sept 2021, and Cowboy follows April 2022 also passing from cancer. A month prior to Cowboy’s passing I was still working, the same 9-5 accounting job, same firm but my old boss retired and along comes a new one. Myself and my new boss didn’t get along, and one day I had enough, I told him my last day is April 15th. I had no plan B. So, at 28 years old I decided it was time to do something I loved, life’s too short and it was time to take that leap of faith. Riley’s Retreat needed to become a reality. For the last couple of years I have been babysitting puppers, spoiling and loving each and every one of course, and we’ve been planning, adjusting, and making changes to building plans. Along with that unfortunately, have been some hiccups and delays. Changing contractors included. Thankfully, we are now back on track and to say I couldn’t be happier is an understatement. I’m blessed! I look forward to the grand opening of Riley’s Retreat later this year, I have big plans and am very excited for what’s to come. I’ve met the best dog parents and doggos I could ever meet and I look forward to expanding and meeting everyone soon!