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About PawKeen

Honest Pet Advice,
Built for Australia

Independent reviews, vet-informed guides, and real product testing — by a team that puts pets first.

How We Started

It all began when my own pet started struggling with arthritis. I was desperately searching for reliable gear and products that could make life easier — but the more I searched, the more frustrated I became. Most of what I found were vague recommendations, biased lists, or reviews that didn't feel honest or truly tested.

That experience sparked an idea: create a place where pet owners in Australia can find genuinely unbiased, practical, and well-researched product recommendations. No fluff, no hidden agendas — just honest insights based on real experience.

I shared the idea with trusted friends and colleagues, including veterinary professionals who cared just as much about animal welfare. Together, we spent more than eight months researching, planning, testing products, and shaping our vision.

With guidance from veterinary experts and input from dedicated pet owners, we built something we felt was truly needed — and that's how PawKeen was born.

Hazel Russell — Founder of PawKeen

Our Mission

To be Australia's most trusted independent pet platform — giving every pet owner access to honest, vet-informed, and thoroughly tested advice so they can make confident choices that genuinely improve their pets' lives.

Our Goal

Help every Australian pet owner make confident choices — backed by real testing, veterinary expertise, and zero sponsored rankings. We want PawKeen to be the first place you turn when you need advice you can actually trust.

What We Stand For

The principles behind every review, guide, and recommendation.

Independence First

Every product is purchased with our own money. Brands cannot pay for placement, higher scores, or biased coverage. Our reviews are ours alone.

Australian-Made

Every recommendation considers Australian climate, vet costs, product availability, and local regulations. No imported US advice dressed up as local.

Actually Tested

Minimum 2-4 weeks of real-world testing before a single word is published. No spec-sheet rewrites, no guesswork, no "we think this looks good".

Pet Welfare Over Profit

If a product is harmful, overpriced, or misleading, we say so. Our loyalty is to pets and their owners, not advertisers or affiliate partners.

Community-Driven

Built by pet owners, for pet owners. We listen to what Australian families actually need and shape our content around real questions, not keyword volume.

Vet-Informed

Every health claim is reviewed by qualified veterinary professionals. We never publish medical advice without clinical oversight.

Meet the Team

Veterinary professionals, product testers, and pet parents — working together to give you advice worth trusting.

Hazel Russell
Founder

Hazel Russell

Founder & Lead Reviewer

BVSc, Charles Sturt University

Veterinary science graduate turned pet product reviewer. Hazel founded PawKeen to give Australian pet owners honest, independently tested advice they can actually trust.

🐕 Bruno 🐈 Mochi 🐈 Luna
Read Hazel's Full Bio →
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Vet Specialist

Dr. Amelia Thornton

Veterinary Specialist Consultant

BVSc, University of Sydney | Board Certified, Small Animal Medicine

Board-certified in small animal medicine with a residency at the Royal Veterinary College. Dr. Thornton consults on nutrition, chronic disease management, and preventative care across all PawKeen content.

  • Internal medicine
  • Nutrition & preventative care
  • Chronic disease management
Australian Veterinary Association
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Reviewer

Sophie Turner

Product Reviewer & Pet Parent Writer

B. Animal & Veterinary Bioscience, University of Melbourne

Eight years of hands-on pet ownership and product testing. Sophie focuses on enrichment, behavioural wellness, and daily-use products, testing everything with her Border Collie and domestic cat.

  • Enrichment & behavioural wellness
  • Daily-use product testing
  • Cat & dog product reviews
🐕 Border Collie 🐈 Domestic Cat
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Tester

Jack Wilson

Pet Product Tester & Contributor

B. Animal Science, University of Queensland

Practical field tester specialising in outdoor gear and durability equipment. Jack puts large-breed dog products through rigorous long-term wear and tear evaluation in real Australian conditions.

  • Durability testing
  • Outdoor & adventure gear
  • Long-term wear & tear evaluation
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Vet Nurse

Hannah Clarke

Veterinary Nurse & Care Writer

Cert IV Veterinary Nursing, TAFE Queensland

Six years of clinical experience in general practice veterinary clinics. Hannah brings hands-on knowledge of anaesthesia, surgery prep, and recovery care to PawKeen's health and wellness content.

  • Clinical veterinary nursing
  • Surgery prep & recovery care
  • Pet health writing
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Editor

James Sullivan

Managing Editor & SEO Lead

B. Communications (Journalism & Digital Media), RMIT University

Oversees editorial standards, compliance, and search visibility strategy. James ensures every piece of content on PawKeen is accurate, well-sourced, and meets the highest editorial bar.

  • Editorial standards & compliance
  • Search visibility strategy
  • Content accuracy & fact-checking
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PR

Isabella Nguyen

Digital PR & Partnerships

B. Media & Communications, University of New South Wales

Leads digital PR, outreach campaigns, and brand partnerships. Isabella builds relationships with industry publishers and manages media placements to grow PawKeen's reach across Australia.

  • Digital PR & outreach campaigns
  • Brand partnerships & media placements
  • Industry relationship building
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Video

Liam Edwards

Video & Social Media Producer

B. Film & Television, Swinburne University of Technology

Creates pet-focused video content and manages multi-platform production. Liam brings visual storytelling expertise to PawKeen's social channels and product review videos.

  • Visual storytelling
  • Pet-focused videography
  • Multi-platform content production

Have Questions?

Whether you want to suggest a product for review, partner with us, or just say hello — we'd love to hear from you.