I love working with special needs dogs of all kinds. Last month, I had the privilege of working with two very special puppies at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary – Kit and Caboodle.
These puppies, Siberian Husky crosses, are brother and sister and were abandoned at the age of 8 weeks in Missouri. They found their way to Utah to be cared for and rehabilitated. Their kennel is lined with layers of pillows and blankets because both dogs struggle to stand up, although they are getting stronger every day thanks to caregivers and volunteers who work with them on a regular basis. They even have purpose-built mobility carts to help them!
These kids are approaching their first birthday and have puppy levels of energy and are interested in all that is going on around them; the veterinary team has managed their conditions through medications for nausea and nerve pain….
During my session, we filmed a number of videos with two of the volunteers observing what I was doing with the dogs – so they could replicate some of my actions.
With both dogs, I was interested in calming their central nervous system, relaxation, and lots and lots of stretching since their limbs are working very hard. Despite their neurological status, both dogs had trigger points just like ‘normal’ dogs do.
I am very grateful for the staff who organized my work schedule so I could offer my skills to 10 dogs at the sanctuary.
And I watch with interest on the progress reports about my neurological babies.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 