Keith sets up new kennels venture

It’s not surprising that Keith Powell in Kilcullen has a love of animals, as his whole family have been involved in one way or another with them for generations.

Keith’s father was the late Anthony Powell, himself son of Paddy Powell, the famous National Hunt Jockey over several decades, and his Aunt Stella spent 17 years working as a veterinary nurse. Paddy himself was also Master of the Kildare Harriers, and looked after that club's pack of hounds.

Keith has always loved dogs, and in recent years has been breeding and showing rottweilers at international shows. (He is pictured here with his daughter Elisha, family pet Holly, and Keith's own show rottweiler Storm.)

So a new venture, Kilnott Kennels, is a natural progression. A state of the art operation, Keith has set up the enterprise in partnership with his aunt, and can provide top notch accommodation for up to 15 dogs.

A plasterer by trade, Keith has taken the opportunity of the downturn in the building industry to take up full time what he had been spending many hours at anyhow.

“With my own dogs, I’d be taking up about four hours after work every day, and I was making a few pounds from the breeding and showing, so I decided I might as well do something like this fulltime.”

With the help of some friends who were also in the building trade, Keith has built a custom premises accessible from the Athy Road.

It includes individual kennel units for dogs of various sizes, with underfloor heating, and proper separated individual exercise runs. It is as good as a quarantine area, so there’s no risk of any difficulties such as infection spread from one dog to another. There are also sand runs and a paddock for more extended exercise sessions.

Keith’s own experience in travelling with show dogs -- he does it for other owners as well as his own animals -- provides a sound underpinning for the venture. Looking after dogs on the show circuit and making sure they are in top notch condition at the shows themselves, takes a considerable level of expertise and commitment.

“Setting up the kennels as a full time occupation also means I also get more time to spend with my own dogs, and get paid to do what I love doing every day,” Keith says with a grin. “It’s almost like a professional footballer, maybe?”

Maybe. But with a lot less glamour, and consequently a lot less hassle?

Further information is available from Keith at 086 2896569, or Stella at 086 66038000.

Brian Byrne.