It started with a simple
question at a kennel gate.
Built in Ireland by a small team who believe kennel owners deserve software that actually works for them.
From Kilkenny fields to kennel software
John Costello grew up in rural Kilkenny, around animals from the very beginning — following the Kilmogany Harriers, riding ponies in local competitions, and spending most of his time outdoors. That connection to animals never really leaves you.
His career, though, took a different path.
For the past 20 years, John has worked in software with companies like SAP, HubSpot, and Zendesk — building products used by thousands of businesses. More recently, as Head of Product in the veterinary software space, he saw first-hand how much clinics were evolving… and how little support kennels and catteries were getting.
From a Limerick farm to building products
Patrick was born and raised on a farm in Kilmallock, Limerick. Surrounded by animals, he was inseparable as a young boy from his two Alsatians, Romulus and Remus.
Patrick has worked building products for companies like Yahoo! and DAZN. Like John, he was surprised how hard it was to find and book boarding for pets — which led him to explore the domain more deeply.
He is now a proud cat owner.
The idea for The Kennel Manager came about in a very ordinary moment. While dropping his dog Jessie into a kennel, John got chatting with the owner, who asked:
“Do you know any software that could help me run this place better?”
The honest answer was: not really.
There were tools out there, but most were either too complex, too expensive, or simply not built for how smaller kennels actually operate day to day.
That’s when it clicked for the lads.
It wasn’t that nothing existed — it was that nothing quite fit.
Built for the small, busy kennel
There’s no shortage of kennel software on the market today.
But a lot of it is built for larger operations, with pricing and features that don’t always make sense when you’re just trying to run a small, busy kennel.
We kept hearing the same thing:
“I just want something simple that doesn’t cost a fortune to get started.”
That’s why The Kennel Manager begins with a free plan — so you can try it, use it, and see value before ever having to commit.
No pressure. No overcomplication. Just a better way to run your business.
Founded by
Two lads from rural Ireland who ended up in tech — and couldn’t stop thinking about the problem.
John Costello
Founder
Patrick O’Malley
Co-Founder