Meet the Team | A Pets Life

DES GROOME

PROFILE

ELLEN

PROFILE

KATE

PROFILE

LEIGHANNE

PROFILE

ELLA

PROFILE

CHANTAL

PROFILE

JACQUI

PROFILE

AINE

PROFILE

MOLLY

PROFILE

AMY

PROFILE

CASEY

PROFILE

AMBER

PROFILE

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

Des Groome MVB, MBS, MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

My name is Des Groome.I think 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. 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. In 2019 I developed the GymDog services 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.

“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.”

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.”

Chantal Weldon

Animal Care Assistant

Hi my name is Chantal. I am an animal care assistant. I have a QQI level 5 in animal care. I enjoy working with all animals but dogs particularly have my heart. I have four dogs of my own, a mix of Labs , terriers and a lurcher. I love a dog that has good ball drive and plays a good game of fetch.

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

Kate Barcoe, RVN BSc (Hons)

Veterinary Nursing

Katie hails from county Carlow and has been with the practice since April 2022. Katie moved to London in 2013 to study Veterinary Nursing at Middlesex University. On completion of her degree she worked in the UK for several years before returning home to Ireland. Katie enjoys all aspects of nursing but particularly likes nursing sick and injured animals

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

Leighanne

Practice Manager

Qualification-QQI Level 5 Pet Grooming and Animal Care and Veterinary Assistant Course.

I have worked in the Veterinary sector for the past 10 years. I am currently Practice Manager at Groome Vets/GymDog. I enjoy my role here as each day brings something new. I enjoy helping care for all our clients pets as each pet that comes through our gates are treated with love and care as if they were one of our own. I have a keen interest in both large and small animals alike. I live on a farm along with my partner and our 3 dogs Roxy,Pip and Blaze and enjoy helping on the farm outside of work. I thoroughly believe Groome Vets/GymDog cater for all your pets needs.

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

Jaqcui Murphy

Animal Care Assistant

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.”

Ella Heary

Animal Care Assistant

Hi , I’m Ella also known as “the tall girl”. I have a QQI Level 5 in Animal Care and QQI Level 6 in Animal Health and Science. I started off at Gymdog doing work experience and have been part of the furniture ever since! My love for dogs came from a young age and has grown since working here. I enjoy working at Gymdog as we have such a variety of dogs who come to us for boarding and daycare. I have a soft spot for the sight hounds and a grey face melts my heart! After a days work I get to go home to my own rescue dog , Sandi the Saluki.

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

Casey

Vet student

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Amber

Receptonist/Marketing

Hi I’m Amber, I am a Digital Marketing student in TUS Athlone and I’m in my final year. I am a receptionist and marketer here at Gym Dog. I have 3 dogs named Joey, Missy and Archie who are all lab mixes. I also have a cat named Lucky.