Meet our founder

Julia Brekel is a certified Animal-Assisted Therapy professional and trained veterinary assistant with a lifelong passion for helping both people and animals. She believes in the healing power of the human-animal bond and is dedicated to creating meaningful connections that bring comfort, hope, and joy. Julia's compassionate approach is matched only by her love for her family and the animals that inspire her work every day.

Together with her team, she helps individuals, families and groups with Animal-Assisted Therapy, pet visits, field trips, animal interactions and education.

Why Huckleberry Hollow?

Long before Huckleberry Hollow became a business, it was a tribute to someone very special. Our founder, Julia Brekel, named Huckleberry Hollow after her father, whose childhood nickname is "Huck." He fostered Julia's lifelong love of animals and taught her to appreciate the comfort, companionship, and quiet lessons they offer.

His influence can be seen in everything we do today. Every animal interaction, every visit, and every smile shared reflects the values he helped instill—kindness, compassion, and a deep respect for the bond between people and animals. Huckleberry Hollow is more than a name; it's a celebration of the family, values, and love of animals that continue to inspire our mission of creating meaningful moments for others.

Today, every time someone asks, "Why Huckleberry Hollow?" Julia gets to share the story of the father who first taught her that some of life's greatest lessons come from the animals we love.