About Kelly
Hi there, my name is Kelly, Im 33, and Ive loved animals ever since I was little. I grew up with many dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, rats, gerbils and reptiles. I’m a born and raised Basildonian and currently live in Vange. I have 2 dogs of my own - Elsa a jack russell and Victor, a staffie crossbreed. I’m also owned by a super-fluffy ginger Siberian cat called Dexter as well as own a living room full of geckos and invertebrates. My passion for reptiles started when I was 15 when my Dad brought home a leopard gecko from a family who wanted to rehome her. Ever since meeting Treacle the gecko I was hooked by reptiles, amphibians and anything exotic.
For 3 years I worked in a pet shop called Aquatic&Pet Shop in Basildon town caring for fish and all types of common rodent pets. I’ve volunteered at a retired greyhound kennel at Dry Street, Langdon Hills eventually adopting two of the long legged darlings.
From 2020 until late 2022 I ran a business called The Cheeky Mantis as one of the largest praying mantis breeders in the UK. I’m now a small-scale breeder of crested geckos with 13 individuals plus a blue tongued skink, royal python, tree frogs, leopard geckos, african fat tailed gecko and a few other gecko species. Reptiles, as well as my love for dogs in my blood.
I have experience as a dog walker having run my own company back in 2010 which I sadly had to disband due to my business partner moving to Devon. We had some amazing clients and met some incredible dogs and looking forward to starting the journey all over again. I routinely cat sit through a website called “Cat in a Flat” with return clients whose cats I just adore!
I’m canine First Aid trained. I carry a clean DBS and fully insured. I’m reliable, trustworthy and experienced with animals.
I have a dream to one day become a dog trainer and further on a behaviourist. I want to do something life changing and to help people and their problem pooches to live happily and harmoniously together. Either that... or train bomb detection dogs. I haven't decided yet but for now a career as a dog walker and animal sitter for the next few years would be amazing!