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le-chenil - about the owners
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About us

We understand only too well that we will be taking care of something very precious. It is therefore perfectly natural that you will want to know who we are, what we’re about, and that we are properly qualified to take care of your canine and feline family members. So, here goes!

Meet the family

Annette and husband John used to work in the civil aviation industry, she as an air traffic controller, he as a pilot. They joke that from the outset, he has been used to her telling him what to do – nothing has changed!

Annette has worked at Gatwick, Biggin Hill, Lydd, Alderney and Guernsey Airports, whilst John’s career spanned Skyways, Air UK, British Air Ferries, holiday firm Novair International and then Virgin Atlantic, where he flew 747s.

They have lived most of the last twenty years in the Channel Islands, but have owned a holiday home in Normandie for much of that time. Occasionally, during the long summer holidays when their dogs accompanied them to France, they would have need of kenneling, and came to know what was then trading as Greenfield Kennels, established in 2003 by another English couple.

When that couple stated that they wished to retire, Annette & John reached an agreement to buy the business and have since invested considerably not just expanding the facilities, but also improving them so they now achieve the very highest contemporary standard. The family took the plunge to completely re-locate to France where they are now settled into the French community in lower Normandie, as well as taking care of what thay view as their four legged foster family & visiting friends at Le Chenil!

The couple have two daughters, now both in their twenties. Annette & John travelled to the People’s Republic of China, twice, to adopt them then aged 14-months and 2-years respectively. Sacha is currently doing a Phd in mathematics with a view to teaching in higher education, whilst Corey works in tourism.