Testimonials

Casper

Our boy, Casper, is a special needs dog.  We enlisted in Vonni's therapy program the summer of 2009 when he was just 18 months old. He had lost some weight and wasn't fond of the water. Because of Vonni's caring and loving personality, it was only after a couple sessions that he anxiously looked forward swimming with her.  As each session passed, muscle tone was rebuilt and range of motion improved gaining his confidence in water. Working stays has been an additional benefit of his time with Vonni as she plays a game of retrieving using the stay command and a toy. We can see such improvement in agility and his obedience training. The frosting on the cake was when the vet gave him a good grade on his weight and physical condition being so fit. Thanks Vonni for all your help.

  -  Donna Luper

Jade

This is hard to recap 8 months of therapy into a few paragraphs, but I'll try.  I am a foster parent for a local rescue organization and offered to take Jade in after she had been surrendered.  When I met her, she couldn't step over a curb without assistance.  Her disability stems from a birth defect and the result of a botched surgery to her hind legs, leaving them in a permanent position as if she were doing job #2.  Vonni worked with Jade once a week in hydrotherapy for a few months then every other week as my schedule changed.  She had to totally teach this dog to swim, as the dog was aware of her limitations and would not put herself in any situation she couldn't get out of.

Jade started swimming by herself, and was extending her hind legs to paddle.  This was huge to her rehabilitation as the tendons had shrunk up so much from lack of use.  Due to the continuous stretching exercises by Vonni and teaching me how to help Jade, by 2 months she surprised us and jumped up a few steps into the house.  Not long after that she was able to hop up 1/2 a flight of steps to the landing and take a break, then complete the mission.

The joy she found in her new freedom is priceless.  To be able to follow us around the house, in and outside, up and down is a new life for this 5 year old.  Her stamina, muscle tone and confidence have all been drastically heightened due to the method water therapy is able to tone specific areas without pressure. Vonni also encouraged me to get in the water with the dog and learn how to help her myself, as some pools are available on an individual basis.

Jade has now been adopted out.  Without Vonni's help in strengthening Jade’s legs, she may not have had a new life.

 – Lenore Riensche (Langley, WA)

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