About Us

dogger is a friendly and professional doggie daycare, dog walking and cat sitting service head-quartered in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

It was founded in 2015 by Ian Burgess and Basia Burgess, who decided to leave their corporate careers for something more meaningful. Ian, who is originally from Canada and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, worked in the financial industry for over 20 years. Basia was born in Poland, grew up in NJ, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked in Data Analytics for companies such as JP Morgan, Barnes&Noble.com, and Ralph Lauren.

Ian and Basia live in Park Slope with their pack of 6 kids and 2 dogs. The dogger Daycare and Dog Boarding Service is run out of their privately-owned townhouse on 13th street and 7th Avenue.

For the dog walking and cat sitting services, we use GPS-based technology and provide the most on-time, friendly, and reliable services for your pets.

All of our dog walkers and caregivers are vetted, bonded, insured and certified in Pet First Aid & CPR.

Management Team

Ian Burgess - Co-Founder/Owner

Hailing from Canada, where he was raised on ice chips, pine needles, and hockey, Ian has been a lifelong dog and cat owner. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario, he came to NYC and had a 20-year career in the financial industry. In addition, Ian was a trained and certified foster parent to injured, newborn, and difficult dogs and cats for the NYC ASPCA for over 10 years. In this capacity, he specialized in preparing and rehabilitating dogs and cats for adoption. The idea for a top-notch dog walking business was always in the back of his mind throughout these years and is now finally being brought to fruition.

Ian lives in Park Slope with his wife and Dogger co-founder, Basia Fabian. All Dogger daycare and boarding takes place at their privately owned townhouse on 13th Street. They have six children, all born and raised in Brooklyn, the eldest of whom help out with the family business. They also have two dogs, Trotsky and Becca, whom they inherited from previous clients who could no longer keep them. He loves games and grizzly bears.

Basia Burgess - Co-Founder/Owner

Basia is originally from Poland but grew up in New Jersey. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania a hundred years ago, she spent 20 years doing what she thought was right—corporate jobs for large companies such as Barnes & Noble and Ralph Lauren. (Her career was in Business Intelligence and Customer Analytics.) But there was never enough time to spend with her rescue dogs, Chita, Coco, or Lisa (or her children, for that matter). And thus, a year after her husband, Ian, started Dogger, she happily jumped right in! She is now happier than she has ever been (and fitter, too).

A resident of Park Slope since 2002, all Dogger daycare and boarding takes place at the privately owned townhouse she shares with her husband, Ian. They have six children, all born and raised in Brooklyn, the eldest of whom helps out with the family business. They also have two dogs, Trotsky and Becca, whom they inherited from previous clients who could no longer keep them. In her spare time, Basia is working on a novel.

She is also the dogger in-house Pet First Aid and CPR instructor, certified to teach by PET TECH.

Isaiah Knight - Operations Manager

Hello! My name is Isaiah Knight, and I am a graphic designer and artist living in Bushwick, originally from Queens. I am a big fan of comic books, movies, music, and video games. I have had a dog as a pet for pretty much my whole life, which makes working with dogs a bit easier. Currently, one of my roommates has a dog named Cage, who is the homie.

Here are some random facts about me: I used to compete in and commentate video game tournaments, a passion that has taken me to Japan. I have flown an airplane before. I am a huge fan of drum and bass and frequently attend shows around New York. I am very excited to be a part of the Dogger team.

Riley Hammett - Senior Manager

Hello! Riley is a recent graduate who is new to the city! Some of her interests include videography and dancing. She has a cat of her own and grew up helping her mom at a cat sanctuary!

Riley is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Madison Smith - Social Media Marketing and Operations Manager

Hi! My name is Madison. Hailing from a large company in Manhattan, I recently joined the Dogger team and am so excited to be here! I moved from Burlington, Vermont, to the big city almost four years ago. In my free time, I love to write, paint, read, and am a fan of all things film-oriented. I am currently learning piano and loving it so far! I also love to run and have been slowly working up my mileage over these past two years. I am an avid concert-goer and love music of all genres. I am looking forward to connecting with all your great pets :)))

Staff

Trudi Rosenblum

A true New York City native, Trudi has been with Dogger since 2016 and has been a professional dog walker for 17 years! Think of how many miles she must have walked by now. People pay good money to get that kind of exercise, but for her, it's an awesome lifestyle. Her building doesn't allow dogs, and she really misses having one—that's why she LOVES spending time with all of our clients' dogs!

In a prior life, Trudi was a magazine journalist, but after having kids (Jeremy and Caroline, who are both in college now), she decided she was happiest being out and about, having fun with dogs and cats. She currently lives in Windsor Terrace with her husband, Marty, and a fat cat named Jojo.

We couldn't run Dogger without her. She's a true pet professional, knows the layout of the confusing streets better than anyone, and we're so lucky to have her!

Trudi is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Miles Toth

Tommie Morgan

Tommie is a musician, a singer, and a totally awesome dude. He always makes us laugh and has the coolest smooth jazz vibes. (Which is also what he often listens to because, honestly, don't we all need to listen to more smooth jazz these days rather than, say, murder podcasts or the news?)

Originally from Dallas, Tommie moved to New York in '89 and now lives in South Slope, where he focuses on recording his sophomore solo album, Copasetic (Pancake Studios), as well as vocal coaching, editing books, and, of course, part-time dog walking.

Over the years, he's done a myriad of interesting things besides producing and performing music, including modeling for Ralph Lauren, performing in theater and podcasts, working for the NYS Board of Elections, and working at a Versace boutique, among other things.

He says the best part of the dog-walking gig is: "My four-legged buddies let me run songs by them, and they don't howl, run, or hide."

We're so happy he's part of the Dogger pack!

Tommie is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Jordan Edwards

Jordan is a writer, comedian, and George Costanza cosplayer. Originally from Florida (not his fault, but he's apologetic regardless), he studied screenwriting in Boston before moving to NYC a few years back with nothing but dreams and student debt. He loves the energy and opportunities New York has to offer and has decided he never wants to leave! A lifelong pet owner, Jordan has lived with dogs, cats, fish, and even a ferret.

Dogger was a perfect fit, balancing his desire to be surrounded by an abundance of fuzzy friends for at least half of his waking life with time for his other work: dungeon mastering for kids. When he isn't walking dogs or pet-sitting, he can usually be found playing D&D, taking comedy classes, or feeling a sense of accomplishment after rewriting the same comedy sketch for the 40th time.

Jordan is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Erin Smyth

Originally from Illinois, Erin moved to NYC to pursue a career in film and animation. Though she grew up with cats and no dogs, she's absolutely thrilled to spend every day surrounded by cute pups.

She's been with Dogger since the spring of 2020 and was our Operations Manager. This role entailed managing our Doggie Daycare, liaising with management and staff to ensure all appointments ran smoothly, and generally being a dog whisperer. (She's still the only one who can walk our three most dangerous Chihuahuas, who shall remain nameless.)

When she's not with dogs or working on her art, she loves watching the ducks in Prospect Park or playing Dungeons & Dragons with her friends.

Erin is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Elizabeth Ward

Raised in Vermont around lots of dogs, cats, horses, and chickens, Elizabeth has always loved animals and has three cats of her own. She has spent many years dog walking and pet sitting around the world, caring for pets while their people travel. After a full-time career in costume design for opera and theater, which often took her far afield, Elizabeth is thrilled to now be based in NYC, where she enjoys spending her time with wonderful dogs and cats while writing a book on the evolution of armor.

Elizabeth is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Rowdy Tidwell

Rowdy grew up on a rural farm outside of Houston, Texas, where they lived with all sorts of animals. At age 30, they moved to New York to explore new career opportunities after earning a B.A. in Theater Directing. In college, they were awarded the "Dr. Dolittle Award" from the Delta Psi Omega Honor Society for their animal impersonations, a talent they've put to good use as a professional animal caretaker for several years.

Rowdy's love of theater and media is now guiding them on an exciting quest to combine their artistic talents with video game design, promising a future filled with creativity and innovation.

Rowdy is Pet First Aid & CPR certified.

Calvin Graham

Molly

Molly is a lifelong dog lover and owner, originally from the Washington, D.C. area. She is an actor by trade but spends as much free time as she can walking and hanging out with the Dogger dogs. She’s an artist and book lover, and is always knitting something (when she’s not busy untangling dog leashes). She is experienced with dogs of all ages, sizes, and needs, and loves to give each dog the attention and care they deserve. If you see her on a walk, feel free to stop and chat—she’ll always have a new audiobook or album to recommend! See you out there!

Julia Gay

Julia is a classically trained musician from New Jersey who began studying violin at Carnegie Hall at the age of 3½. She is a music teacher for children and adults of all ages and is also an active performer around NYC. When she isn’t performing or teaching, you can find her walking and taking pictures of her favorite dogs around Park Slope or in Prospect Park. An animal lover at heart, she grew up with cats and dogs and currently lives in Brooklyn with a weenie dog and a terrier mix. She enjoys spending time in nature with her canine companions and loves to run with the Dogger pack!

Max Bauernebel

Hi! My name is Max, and I’ve officially been working with animals for a few months now. I have had a dog of my own for five years and two guinea pigs since I was a kid! I’m a New Yorker born and raised, having grown up in Battery Park City. Over these past few months, I’ve had a blast getting to know the furry friends around the city and love each and every one of them. My favorite thing about Dogger NYC has to be all of the pets I’ve met and the extra love I can give them.

Vanessa Cetin

Vanessa Cetin has worked as a dog daycare attendant in the past and is delighted to join the fabulous dog walking and daycare team at Dogger. Originally from Germany, she grew up in the "Mini Apple" (Minneapolis) but relocated to NYC as soon as she came of age, attending Brooklyn College and receiving her bachelor's degree in music in 2000. After a 20-year music career in Germany, she relocated back to New York City, her home of choice since the '90s, and is happy to be back with the dogs once again!

Bir Pellenkoft

Bir is a lifelong animal lover who grew up surrounded by pets, which naturally led her to work as a dog walker. A jewelry designer by trade, she made the switch to dog walking and hasn’t looked back. Originally from the Netherlands, Bir has called NYC home for over 18 years. When she’s not out walking dogs, she enjoys running—with 10 marathons under her belt and counting—and staying busy as a mom of one. Whether she’s exploring the park with her four-legged clients or pounding the pavement on a run, Bir loves being outdoors and embracing the energy of the city.

Yuni

Sawyer Petrick

Becca - The Boss

Trotsky - Thinker, Barker, Legend

Trotsky used to be a client dog, but was adopted in 2023 by Ian and Basia after her original owners had to move.

As dogger's official Thinker, Trotsky spends most of her day in deep philosophical contemplation. As Barker, she provides essential security services, alerting the household to grave threats such as the doorbell. And as Legend, she has simply been around long enough, and made enough of an impression, that the title was less an honor and more an inevitability.

She does not walk other dogs. She does not manage schedules. But she is, without question, staff.

Trotsky is not Pet First Aid & CPR certified. (Not yet, anyway)

EMAIL:     DOGGER@DOGGERNYC.COM

HQ:            382 13th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215