The Dog Walks team

Karen Kiernan

I am the Owner of the company and if you read Baggy's story, you will know why I created Dog Walks. I, as each of my team members, become attached to every single pet that comes through us. A good day for me is when an owner says they worry less about the separation because of us. I have always owned labradors and grew up training them for field trials. Before Dog Walks, I worked for 14 years for a UK based energy major as a part of their management team.

In Sydney:

Sue

Sue is our Supervisor in Sydney. Her experience with animals surpasses anything I could write. She has many qualifications ranging from dog handling and animal nutrition to pet grooming. Sue continues to study and is currently taking her Cert IV in Animal Studies. Her extensive work experience includes working at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station as an Animal Attendant. She has been an Ambulance Driver with the RSPCA for the past 10 years.

Here she is pictured with Hugo, Shadow, Hugz and Kisses

Maryann

Maryann is a trained veterinary nurse and has worked in this field for the past 10 years. She is highly qualified in Animal Studies as well as 4 certificates in Animal Care 2 and Veterinary Nursing. She has 5 labradors ranging in age from 1 to 13. This is her with Doogie, a gorgeous dog, who was just a little bit nervous and off his food until we began walking and visiting him.

Michelle

As well as working with Dog Walks, Michelle has also worked (and volunteered) with the RSPCA since 2003. She has more qualifications in Animal Studies than I can list here and, after completing the law degree she is studying for, aims to use these skills to raise awareness of animal welfare issues. Michelle also owns 6 cats and 5 dogs. Oh, and she has two children to keep her busy too.

Di

Di has also worked in Eastern Creek Quarantine Station as an Animal Attendant. She started her own business there 4 years ago as a professional dog walker and animal handler. In 2010, Di merged her business with ours and we now all operate under the Dog Walks' umbrella. Di is a practising veterinary nurse and has worked in this field for the past 20 years. Di has qualifications in Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing; Animal Studies in Breeding and Genetics; Dog and Cat Handling and Animal Nutrition and Pet Grooming. Di does animal rescue for dogs, cats and horses. She is a Registered Breeder of Russian Blue cats and has been showing cats for 15 years. She is on the Management Committee and an Accredited Steward with the New South Wales Cat Fanciers' Association. Together with her husband, Di owns many beautiful Russian Blues, 7 Cockatiel, 2 Budgies, 1 Lory and 2 Cattle Dogs plus many fish.

In Perth:

Jane

Jane says this is the best job she has ever had! Not because of Dog Walks specifically but because spending time with these lovely dogs is so much fun. Both her and her family (Jane has two children) are huge dog lovers and, when possible, her children adore visiting quarantine too to see what we do and play with the pups. This is Jane with her 3 dogs, Zoe, Gus (both rescued from animal shelters) and Bosley.

Linda

When Linda got her collie x (now 13) from a rescue centre, he came with a few behavioural problems. Linda took him to one of the biggest dog training clubs in the UK. She then joined the team of trainers and spent 5 years there. She says she also gained a good insight into human behaviour as well as dogs'! Linda has first hand experience of Byford quarantine as, she too, brought her own dog through. She also does voluntary dog walking for the Animal Protection Society.

Margaret

Margaret is currently Secretary for the Dog Judges Training Committee for Western Australia and has 30 years' experience with Dogs West (formerly Canine Association of WA) showing and stewarding dog shows. Margaret can only be described as a total animal lover having owned a variety of dogs, sheeps, goats and cats throughout her entire life.

In Melbourne:

Sue

Sue, a passionate animal lover, lives in Williamstown with her two dogs, a Pug and a Bichon Frise. Sue has extensive experience caring for injured and fragile animals, having personally cared for her Bichon Frise after a traumatic road accident, which resulted in a severely broken pelvis. Sue also offers "Bed and Breakfast" at her home for dogs in the Melbourne area, in addition to working part-time at the Hawthorn Football Club in Customer Relations.