About Us
THE SALTY DOGS DUO
Catherine and Hugo
Hi, I’m Catherine and I share my home with my 10 year-old Bichon X, called Hugo, in central Ngaio, Wellington.
I have a fair bit of experience looking after dogs. Prior to starting Salty Dogs, I used to work as an Assistant Dog Groomer at Paws in the City and also worked part-time at CareVets in Porirua.
I have completed the Professional Dog Walkers and Trainers course and have a permit.
We are lucky to have a range of walking tracks and parks on our doorstep. I cover the Northern Southern and Western suburbs of Wellington.
Catherine Travers
Founder & Owner
A BRIEF HISTORY
I began my career as a Marketer, then spent eight years teaching both here and abroad- all good preparation for caring for animals since patience & compassion are essential!
My love for animals was born early in life; I grew up with cats, rode horses when I could and have owned a rabbit & a miniature Schnauzer. I have also rescued animals including a stray kitten trapped inside the engine of a car, a tui with a suspected broken leg and a pair of small birds which had become ensnared in tree sap and were being mauled by a cat. I took them to the Bird Sanctuary in West Auckland where we were told they were unlikely to survive. A month later, a call from the centre brought news that the two birds (different species) were not only thriving but had become the best of friends. Made my heart sing!
When living in the UK in my twenties, I volunteered at my local animal rescue centre in Watford, tending to two Vietnamese potbellied pigs and exercising greyhounds that had been abandoned after a life of racing.
After a busy career in teaching, I am now looking to work a more flexible schedule. I believe my greatest strengths in regards to animal care, are: calmness, gentleness and adaptability. Dog sitting allows me to enjoy both caring for dogs and spending time outdoors. What dog doesn’t like to be walked? 🙂