Author Biography
David Key is a Consultant in Kennel and Cattery Design and has advised hundreds of potential and existing kennel and cattery owners worldwide - ideas, improvements and planning through to designs, building and technical details. For over 20 years David has also been responsible for The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity animal and staff buildings and property at their cat and dog adoption, companion animal and equine rescue and rehoming centres. During this time David founded an Animal Welfare Charity Design Forum, with the aim of sharing information between leading national animal welfare charities in the UK to prevent costly design, materials or building mistakes. David has been professionally involved with animals for over 30 years. His experience spans companion animals, wildlife and wild animals and he has provided guidance and advice to animal welfare organizations, rescues, boarding, veterinary clinics and animal hospitals, quarantine, architects, police forces, customs and excise, breeding and multi-pet owners. David's interest started by helping out with a friend's show kennels while still at school, and occasionally working with the local RSPCA Inspector. This progressed to working at local boarding kennels and cattery for over 10 years and later at a zoological gardens. This unusual combination of animal work and practical skills developed into an interest in buildings, particularly relating to animal accommodation. In 2000, David and his wife Kay created the Kennel and Cattery Design business www.catterydesign.com to help promote the kennel and cattery design books, help people find resources and suppliers , and provide an international service for people looking for information on how to build and start up a kennels or cattery. Kay runs the business on a day-to-day basis and David provides consultancy and technical building advice, as well as continuing to look at design issues, construction methods and materials that help to improve animal welfare accommodation.
