DES GROOME
ELLEN
KATE
JACQUI
ELLA
CHANTAL
MOLLY
AMY
CASEY
AMBER
ANNA
SARA
KEELY
TORI

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Des Groome MVB, MBS, MRCVS
My name is Des Groome and I was destined to be a vet. I grew up on a stud farm in Carbury, county Kildare surrounded by all God’s creatures. In my childhood I rode ponies, fed horses and cattle, reared calves, foals, puppies and kittens. As a student I worked with racehorses every holiday, became a jockey and then an assistant horse trainer. I graduated from UCD as a vet in 1993 and gained experience of every species from Camels to Cavaliers while working in the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and the US before moving back to Ireland to establish my own practice in 1998. My interests as a vet are canine nutrition, arthritis, senior care, pain management and preventative medicine. I founded Kildare Vet surgery in 1999 and built an accredited vet hospital here in 2006. My interests in disease prevention and dog lifestyle problems grew and I developed the GymDog services to meet the needs of modern family dogs and Kildare Vet Surgery became Ireland’s first pet resort. The GymDog food, day care, therapy and wellness plans are helping to realise my vision of helping pets live their best lives through wellness, fitness, diet and therapy..

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Des Groome MVB, MBS, MRCVS
My name is Des Groome and I was destined to be a vet. I grew up on a stud farm in Carbury, county Kildare surrounded by all God’s creatures. In my childhood I rode ponies, fed horses and cattle, reared calves, foals, puppies and kittens. As a student I worked with racehorses every holiday, became a jockey and then an assistant horse trainer. I graduated from UCD as a vet in 1993 and gained experience of every species from Camels to Cavaliers while working in the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and the US before moving back to Ireland to establish my own practice in 1998. My interests as a vet are canine nutrition, arthritis, senior care, pain management and preventative medicine. I founded Kildare Vet surgery in 1999 and built an accredited vet hospital here in 2006. My interests in disease prevention and dog lifestyle problems grew and I developed the GymDog services to meet the needs of modern family dogs and Kildare Vet Surgery became Ireland’s first pet resort. The GymDog food, day care, therapy and wellness plans are helping to realise my vision of helping pets live their best lives through wellness, fitness, diet and therapy..

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Tori
Animal Care Assistant
Hi my name is Tori and I am an animal care assistant here at Gym Dog. I have a QQI level 5 and level 6 in animal care. I love animals and I enjoy working with dogs!

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Ellen Austin
Veterinary Surgeon
My name is Ellen, I am from a farming background and live in Co Meath.
I graduated from UCD Veterinary Nursing in 2015. I worked for a year as a vet nurse. Then I continued to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a veterinary surgeon and went back to UCD whilst continuing to work as a nurse. I graduated from Veterinary Medicine in 2022 and worked a few part-time jobs before joining the team here at Groome Vets.
At home I have 16 animals including a dog, a cat, two rabbits, two budgies, three gerbils six hens and a rooster. In my free time I enjoy gardening, horse riding, baking novelty cakes and crocheting.

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Jacqui Murphy
Customer Care Specialist
I moved to Ireland from Italy in December 2020. I love all animals and retrained to become ACA through Learning Cloud Australia. Proud rescue mammy to Stuart the hedgehog!

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Molly
Animal Health Care Assistant
I am passionate about caring for animals since a very young age. I love working with dogs and have 2 labradors Luna and Oreo. I love learning about dogs behaviour and ways to train and encourage good behaviour in all breeds of dogs. I hope to continue and grow in this area for a long time and provide excellent care and support to all the animals in my care

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Ella Heary
Animal Care Assistant Team Leader

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Amber
Marketing/Animal Care Assistant
My name is Amber and I am a digital marketer and animal assistant. I just finished my final year studying Digital Marketing in TUS Athlone. I can’t pass up an opportunity to snap a good photo of all the dogs at Gym Dog!

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Keely
Animal Care Assistant
Hi my name is Keely and I am an animal care assistant. I am beginning a QQI level 5 in animal enterprise this September. I love taking care of all the dogs here at Gym Dog!

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Áine O’Sullivan
Pet Groomer
Hi my name is Áine, I am a pet groomer and an animal care assistant. I have 3 years experience in dog grooming, I have completed a QQI level 5 and QQI level 6. I am passionate about animals and I have a variety of dogs at home.

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Casey
My name is Casey and I’m a Vet student studying in UCD. I’m enjoying my studies and can’t wait to be a practicing Vet come 2025. I love animals and have 2 dogs of my own at home, a boxer and a jrt aswel as a cat and a snake.

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Sara
My name is Sara and I am an animal care assistant at Gym Dog. I love all animals but dogs especially have my heart!

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Amy
Animal Health Care Assistant
My name is Amy O Connor and I am in my final year studying Veterinary Nursing in LYIT. I have a keen interest in surgical nursing and patient care. I have one dog called Ernie.

“We take care of our clients’ pets
by adding value to every aspect
of their daily lives.”
Anna
Animal Care Assistant
My name is Anna and I am an animal care assistant here at Gym Dog. I love dogs and i have a lot of passion for caring for dogs. I began my work here for TY work experience and I love every minute of it!