About Us

My name is Katie Matthews and I qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2021 from Dundalk Institute of Technology. From there I went on to work in a large referral hospital in Co. Meath and a general practice in Co. Louth.

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While I was working in these hospitals I was working long hours and became aware of the ever increasing number of dogs being managed with chronic health concerns such as diabetes and epilepsy. While the advances in veterinary medicine have allowed these dogs to live much longer and happier lives, it is not without difficulty for owners, both emotionally and financially. One major difficulty clients in practices told me about was the challenge of finding care for their pets when they were going away on holidays, to weddings etc. Being an owner of a dog with severely reduced mobility I started to see this problem quickly too and thought there must be a solution. And so, Marley's Pals was born. 

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Named after my own 14 year old golden retriever Marley, Marley's Pals aims to create a safe and knowledgable solution to this problem. As a qualified veterinary nurse I am experienced and confident with the care of dogs with serious, chronic health concerns such as epilepsy, heart disease, intravertebral disc disease and many more, and use this knowledge to care for these pets while their owners are away.

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At Marley's Pals, we understand that caring for these dogs can be extraordinarily difficult both financially and emotionally, which is why we don't charge extra for dogs who require much more involved and experienced care. We also pride ourselves in accepting just how emotionally difficult it can be to care for a dog with serious health conditions and therefore NEVER shame or judge owners for needing a break. We welcome dogs even when owners have no holidays or getaways planned and instead need a rest from the intense care their dog requires. 

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At the heart of Marley's Pals is a woman who loves her dog and would do anything for her. We know how hard it is to care for pets with chonic illness, and we know how much harder it is to leave them in the care of someone else, which is why we care for all dogs as we did our own elderly lady, Marley.

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Sadly, Marley won't get to meet all of her pals in person as she passed away following a short illness on the 11th of February 2024, but we know that she will continue to live on through Marley's Pals and through all of the dogs she has helped by inspiring this centre.