Her odyssey began last July with a chance encounter in New York's La Guardia Airport with Lorne Abony, a high school friend from Toronto.

FORBES: Dog fight

During a five-hour delay, Abony, a lawyer who had recently quit his job, tried to convince her to join the on-line pet company he had just founded.

FORBES: Dog fight

Abony, vice president in charge of negotiating deals.

FORBES: Dog fight