Our Story

Because we understand how much trust it takes to leave your pet behind

FurKids Retreat was established in 2016 and became part of the Kendray family in May 2024 — but our connection to FurKids began long before that.

Before we were the owners, we were customers. Our own dogs stayed here. We knew what it felt like to drop them off, to trust someone else with their care, and to hope they were being treated like family. When the opportunity arose to purchase FurKids Retreat, it felt deeply personal.

Today, FurKids Retreat is proudly owned by the Kendray family and run by Georga, who is actively involved in the day-to-day operations. With a strong focus on structure, wellbeing and continuous improvement, Georga has refined systems, elevated care standards and reimagined the guest experience to ensure every pet receives thoughtful, attentive care.

As local business owners — having operated Stihl Shop Nambour since 2016 — community and integrity are at the heart of everything we do. We live onsite and remain hands-on, because this isn’t just a business to us. It’s a responsibility we take seriously.

FurKids Retreat is not a franchise. It is family-owned, personally led and built on lived experience — created for pet owners who want more than just boarding. They want peace of mind.

Meet The Team

Georga Kendray

Co-owner & Manager

Georga is one of the co-owners of FurKids Retreat, which she purchased alongside her parents and her partner, Nick. Since taking over in March 2025, she has refined procedures, introduced clear policies, and elevated the overall standard of care we provide to our guests.

She works tirelessly to ensure FurKids is a safe haven for every animal who walks through our gates and is incredibly proud of what FurKids has become — and what it continues to evolve into.

Not only does Georga run FurKids Retreat, but she is also mum to her almost two-year-old daughter, River. You might occasionally spot River in the office or dog park, happily giving our guests some extra love and attention.

Nic Morrison

Lead Animal Attendant & Cat Steward

Nic is our Lead Animal Attendant here at FurKids Retreat and is often known as the “mum” of the team. She takes animal welfare incredibly seriously and is exceptionally thorough in everything she does. Her impeccable standards have helped elevate FurKids to the level of care we are so proud of today.

Nic brings a wealth of knowledge in animal care, having previously worked at both Adelaide Zoo and Australia Zoo before discovering her true passion working with cats. She is currently working towards becoming a qualified Cat Steward.

We truly wouldn’t be the FurKids Retreat we are today without Nic’s high standards of hygiene, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to our guests. She is a genuine asset to our team.

Sarah Keppel

Qualified Groomer & Animal Attendant

Sarah is one of our Senior Animal Attendants and a highly valued member of the FurKids team. She completed her Dog Grooming qualification through FurKids Retreat to further develop her skills and expand the services we are able to offer our guests.

Sarah is a deeply dedicated individual with a genuine passion for animal care and wellbeing. She is incredibly intuitive when it comes to reading animal behaviour and has an exceptional ability to pivot under pressure. No matter the situation, she remains cool, calm, and collected — a quality that brings reassurance to both our team and our guests.

Outside of her daily role, Sarah is passionate about giving back and often fundraises for SCARS (Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge). She also adopted her beloved cat, Bear, through FurKids when he needed a new home — a true reflection of her kind and compassionate heart.

Sarah is an absolute asset to our team, and we are so proud to have her as part of the FurKids family.

Mischa Elliman

Animal Attendant & Animal Welfare

Mischa is one of our Animal Attendants and our Head of Animal Welfare here at FurKids Retreat. She is currently completing her Certificate II in Animal Care and a Diploma in Dog Grooming, further strengthening her knowledge and skills within the industry.

Mischa is a highly dedicated team member who cares deeply for every animal in our care. She has a natural ability to think outside the box and loves refining and organising the systems we have in place to ensure we are always improving.

In her role overseeing animal welfare, Mischa conducts routine health checks and weigh-ins for all of our guests, ensuring we maintain the highest standard of care. Her passion, energy, and commitment make FurKids not only an exceptional place for our guests, but also an incredible place to work.

Elisha Alister

Animal Attendant

Elisha is one of our Animal Attendants and originally came to FurKids as a client, bringing her two beloved pugs, Kira and Leia, to stay with us while she was away. It wasn’t long before she became part of the FurKids family.

Elisha made the heartfelt decision to leave her career in childcare to instead care for your furbabies here at FurKids Retreat — a reflection of her deep love for animals and her nurturing nature. She has a genuine, natural warmth that makes every guest feel safe and settled in her care.

She is always thinking of ways to improve what we do and consistently has our guests’ comfort and wellbeing at the forefront of her mind. Her gentle, sensitive approach and strong work ethic make her an incredibly valued member of our team.

Her warmth, dedication, and kind heart make her a very special part of FurKids, and we truly feel so lucky to have her with us.

Heidi Dutschke

Animal Attendant

Heidi is the youngest member of our team and one of our dedicated Animal Attendants. She is currently completing her Certificate II in Animal Care through Greencross Vets, as well as a Diploma in Dog Grooming, showing her strong commitment to building a career in the industry.

Heidi initially started working with us after school, helping with afternoon park sessions before check-out. Since then, she has become an integral part of our team and has even made the brave decision to leave school to pursue her dream of working in animal care part-time.

She is incredibly dedicated, and her willingness and eagerness to learn are exceptional in someone so young. Heidi is always evolving and thinking of ways we can continue to improve our services here at FurKids. She brings excitement, enthusiasm, and a fresh energy to the team, and we feel so lucky to have such an amazing young professional growing with us.

Erin Willows

Animal Attendant

Erin is our newest team member and one of our dedicated Animal Attendants here at FurKids Retreat. She already brings valuable experience from her time in the animal care industry and is currently completing her Certificate in Animal Care as she works towards her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Erin is a beautiful, kind soul who genuinely loves and adores each and every one of our guests. Her calm nature and passion for animals make her a perfect fit for the FurKids family, and we know your furkids are in the best hands when they’re with her.

River Smith

Junior Animal Attendant

River is Georga’s daughter and will be two in July. Having grown up at FurKids, she is completely at home around our guests and already displays incredible care and attention for the animals in our care.

She simply adores our dogs and cats. Whether she’s gently throwing the ball in the park or quietly spying on our feline guests from outside their catios, River brings so much joy and softness to the property.

We feel incredibly lucky to be raising her on such a beautiful property, surrounded by animals, where she can continue to grow her naturally caring and gentle nature. She is a very special part of the FurKids family.