Meet the Team
The Dorset Dogs core team is made up of 4 people, plus seasonal members of the team who help with our work on specific projects and at key times.
Volunteers, the support of many dog and countryside colleagues and the goodwill of responsible dog owners are essential to the work we do. Our office is on the edge of Upton Heath at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill Lane, Corfe Mullen, Dorset BH21 3RX
Anneke
Dorset Dogs Senior Project Officer
Anneke has always loved dogs and loved nature, during school she worked at a rescue centre at weekends and holidays; before going on to study for a degree in Zoology focusing on animal behaviour. She has an MSC in Wildlife Biology and Conservation specialising in heathland conservation. Before joining Dorset Dogs, Anneke was part of the management team of a busy outdoor environmental education centre just outside of London and worked as a professional dog walker. She has been studying dog training and behaviour for the last 7 years. Having always had a love for the outdoors, wildlife and of course dogs working at Dorset Dogs is the perfect role.
eri
Chief Walk Tester
After losing her best friend Harry, a series of unexpected events led Anneke to meet Eri and her wonderful family. Eri is a 5 month old Springer Spaniel who loves walking (well bouncing and springing), paddling in streams and the sea and learning new tricks. She has a keen nose which Anneke hopes they will put to good use in the future.
Mollie
Dorset Dogs Hengistbury Head Project Officer
Mollie has always loved all animals – from working with horses from a very young age, led to her studying animal management at college which in turn, led to a degree in Animal Behaviour at university. Whilst volunteering at Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve she completed her MSc in Biodiversity Conservation. Mollie then went on to work with the Hengistbury Head team for 3 years before starting her role as the Dorset Dogs Project Officer for the Hengistbury Head project! Combining her love of animals, nature and dogs at one of her favourite places.
Bodhi
Chief Product Tester
Mollie and Bodhi met after she lost her two previous best friends Ozzie and Alfie. Bodhi is 4 years old. He enjoys his nature walks, chasing the frisbee and trying all the games and treats before we share these with your best friends. He loves seeing nature on our walks and is learning how to be the best companion for our wildlife friendly walks.
Kyri
Dorset Dogs Area Project Officer
Kyri has always had a passion for wildlife and the outdoors and growing up in a house full of rescue animals, from greyhounds to green iguanas, she has always enjoyed being in the presence of animals. Prior to joining the Dorset Dogs team, Kyri completed her countryside worker level 2 apprenticeship while working for the Ranger Service at Avon Heath Country Park. She has just spent the summer as a seasonal warden for the Dorset Heaths Partnership, engaging with the public and sharing her love and knowledge of the heaths. She loves a good chat (especially if people have a dog with them) so is looking forward to meeting lots of people and dogs who enjoy our local landscape.
Teazle and rumba
Head of Meet and Greet (East)
Teazle is an 8 year old rescue Lurcher who loves to lounge around at home on her own personal sofa all day, with the occasional break to bark at the TV or play with a ball. She loves meeting new people, and can often be found asking for a bum scratch or a tummy rub! Teazle unfortunately lost her leg at 1 year old due to an accident, but still lives her life to the fullest! She can’t walk for a very long time, but she enjoys a good sniff around the paths on her local heathland.
Rumba is a 3 year old Red Labrador who is adventurous and playful. He loves nothing more than a ball, and will happily play without getting bored. Like your typical labrador, he loves swimming and playing in muddy water!
Dawn
Dorset Dogs Area Project Officer
Dawn has always loved dogs and wildlife. She spent her childhood exploring the countryside around her home always accompanied by ‘Tiny’ her Cavalier King Charles spaniel. She studied for a degree in Zoology in Aberystwyth and has been worked in a variety of countryside management roles, predominantly on heathland sites around the UK from mid-Wales to Essex. She has been working as part of the New Forest National Park Ranger team since 2015 where she has specialised in working with visitors with dogs to help protect the rare habitats and wildlife.
She has been growing her knowledge of dog training and behaviour throughout this time through training and assisting with classes, from puppy basics through to scent work. The opportunity to combine her experience, her passion for countryside and of course her loves of dogs, made the role at Dorset Dogs the perfect fit.
Hobbs
Head of Meet and Greet (West)
Hobbs is a three-year-old cocker spaniel and a total mummies boy! He broke his leg at only 7 months old and was confined to crate for 8 weeks recovery – so Dawn had to become and expert over-night at brain games and ways of wearing a spaniel out without exercise.
Hobbs still loves scent work and is always at his sleepiest after scent class. He is happy to chill out in the office and especially enjoys visiting desks for chin rubs and the odd treat. Of course what he really loves, is getting out and about exploring alongside his mum.
In Memory
Alfie
harry
Harry joined Dorset Dogs with Anneke in 2017 and since then regularly featured on our social media channels and our website as well as being ‘Chief Walk Tester’ exploring new places to share – a role he took very seriously. In 2014, when Anneke met Harry it was love at first sight. Anneke credits Harry with inspiring her to return to studying canine science, dog training and behaviour. “Harry and I found each other by accident, sometimes a dog will come into your life and change everything. I’m so grateful for everything he has taught me, my world has been a better place since he came along.” Harry liked paddling and swimming, exploring new places, learning new things and his family.
