Our Story
Established back in 2014 following Cecilia’s time spent in a range of companion animal care environments, including as an after-hours emergency vet nurse at the Animal Emergency Centre and later in the homes of high-need dog owners directly, while they took well-needed breaks away, The Doggery was founded to provide intimate home-based care, in a bespoke canine centred premises, which could also house founder Cecilia and her own beloved dogs.
The Doggery’s services have been designed to fulfil the needs of puppies, dogs, and senior canines who may not fare well in more traditional, non-specialised facilities. The most common conditions we cater to include:
- Separation Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Geriatric (Elder) care needs, including administration of medications
- Post-surgical nursing requirements and rehabilitation
- Medical conditions such as Epilepsy, Diabetes, Cushing’s / Addisonians Disease, Cardiac, Renal and Other Endocrine Diseases
- Palliative Care
- Puppy Care - 10 weeks to 1 1/2 years of age.
5 key benefits of joining our pack
Small numbers
Guest numbers are capped at 8 dogs at a time. This ensures that every dog receives the high level of tailored care and attention they deserve.
24/7 monitoring
‘Round-the-clock monitoring and administration of medications is available onsite, along with
24/7 access to nearby emergency veterinary care.
Purpose-built facilities and environments
Being built with the full spectrum of canine needs in mind, The Doggery’s setup ensures that all levels of care, including geriatric, recumbency and post-operative are comfortably catered
to.
Personalised needs-based routines
We appreciate that every guest is unique and set up daily routines and environments that best meet their needs and temperament.
Transport collection and drop off service
Transport collection and drop off service to and from home, veterinary clinics and specialist appointments available. Fees apply.
Our Team
Cecilia Hurly
The Doggery is the vision of owner/operator and qualified veterinary nurse, Cecilia Hurly. While always destined to be a caregiver, Cecilia's move to a New Zealand lifestyle block at the beginning of lambing season in 2002 awakened her true calling for 'special animals' which came into play quickly and naturally with some orphaned lambs.
Following this epiphany, Cecilia swapped her hospitality and young childcare hat for further study into the field of animals and their care; gaining a diploma in Veterinary Nursing before becoming a Veterinary Nurse at Aucklands first after-hours emergency clinic, the Animal Emergency Centre in Mt Albert.
Cecilia worked alongside the then VSG Specialists and continues to work together with all the emergency and specialist services e.g. VSA, ARC and VIMS.
Eventually she decided that providing intimate home-based care for special animals in their own homes was not working for her own homelife. Cecilia then set about building a purpose-built premises that could house not only her human family, and own beloved dogs, but also provide a special home away from home for special high-need canine companions.
Fellow carers at The Doggery include Mikayla (Canine Behaviour Assistant), Annelie (B.Sc Zoology, Botany, Wildlife Management) and Rebecca (Qualified Diploma of Veterinary Nursing) .
Rebecca
Carter-Hobson
Rebecca has worked at The Doggery since August 2022. Her favourite part of working here is helping the dogs in their recovery journey from surgery, and nursing other medical cases. Rebecca also likes working with the fantastic team that work at The Doggery.
Rebecca started her career working in a boarding kennel at age 16. She then went on to train as a Veterinary Nurse, gaining a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2007 (alongside Cecilia Hurly as her class mate).
Roles in Rebecca’s career include Surgical Nurse, Head Nurse, Practice Manager and Emergency Nurse.
Raised in a small township of Waitakere, Rebecca grew up on a 10 acre lifestyle block with all kinds of animals and always a minimum of three dogs.
Her hobbies include reading, baking, walking and adventuring (when she has the time) as she has a young child.
Annelie Van Niekerk
Annelie has been with The Doggery since December 2022 and brings with her a wealth of skills and experience. Having grown up on farms, Annelie had all kinds of animals and has also nursed many of them back to health.
Originally from South Africa, Annelie has travelled to several countries for work and to live and has enjoyed the travel bug wanderlust. Experience overseas includes: managing a game lodge and cattle farm in South Africa, Grooming and Assistant Trainer at a Stud Farm in the United Kingdom, Canine Unit Manager in Uganda, Dairy Farm Assistant in NZ, Yearling Grooming in NZ.
Skills up Annelie’s sleeve are a B.Sc in Zoology & Botany and a B.Sc Honors in Wildlife Management. What Annelie enjoys most about working at The Doggery is being able to see the progress that the patients are making daily, weekly and ultimately their return home.
Going out for walks on a daily basis and watching the fur kids and their funny antics are her favourite parts; seeing a dog just be a dog... expelling energy on a walk and then falling asleep, content with their day.
Mikayla Martin
Mikayla has been in the animal industry for seven years, since she was 17; volunteering at various pet stores, the Green Bay Veterinary Clinic, and later at the SPCA.
Straight out of high school, Mikayla went on to study Animal Management for Companion Animals, where she got her first job working in a doggy daycare for a few years. Skills and Training that Mikayla has added to her portfolio include courses Knowing Dogs 101 and Knowing Dogs 201. Mikayla also shadowed Dog Trainers which led to Mikayla running the same course for a year before landing the job at The Doggery.
Mikayla enjoys learning all the new things that The Doggery has to offer, from post-op care to physiotherapy, and seeing the lovely four-legged friends have a blast on the Wellbeing Days Out! She is looking to further her skills by doing a Dog Grooming course in 2023.
Growing up in West Auckland she has a heart for adventure; sailing, hikes and trails with her little dog, friends or partner, searching for hidden gems such as amazing views and bonus waterfalls!
Care services
The Doggery offers a wide range of care services to cater to a variety of needs.
Specialised Care
Here at The Doggery we have experience with a wide range of medical and post-surgical conditions.
Our facilities
The Doggery has indoor and outdoor areas suitable for all types of dogs and needs.