Canine Massage Therapy, Rehabilitation and Swim Therapy
LESLIE'S BACKGROUND
I am California native, growing up on a farm in the San Joaquin Valley. I had a large assortment of dogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, sheep, horses, lizards… pretty much anything I could bring home that wouldn't cause my mother to scream. My parents put their respective feet down when I begged for a pig because pigs "get too big". Very disappointing.
I earned my degree in International Relations at Scripps College and am currently pursuing another degree in Veterinary Technology. The IR degree served me well as I worked for over a decade as the Director of International Affairs for a foreign-based media mogul. When 
he died he left behind an aging German Shepherd and I added her to the always growing collection of animals at home. Months later a groomer dropped the shepherd in the tub and broke her back which left her paralyzed, and thus began my second career. I was very surprised to find that there were absolutely no facilities in Los Angeles to help disabled animals. And quickly learned that if your dog is not a candidate for surgery, and drugs don't help - well then you are out of luck. Since I couldn't find anyone in Los Angeles to help me rehabilitate a paralyzed dog, I decided to start my own business helping other people, so that they would have more resources and help than I did.
I became certified as a human massage therapist at the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing, so that I would qualify to enter a canine massage therapy school. Concurrently I volunteered for three years as a Veterinary Technician in the hospital of a board certified surgeon. Then I was certified as a canine massage therapist at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy and soon started taking every class I could on canine anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, first aid, etc. I then got certified in Canine Rehabilitation at the Animal Rehab Institute in Florida. I am always in the pursuit of more knowledge about this growing field and attend every class and seminar offered in canine rehabilitation. I regularly lecture to clubs, groups, veterinary hospitals and schools about the benefits of canine rehabilitation.
I now have a wonderful, caring staff made up of veterinarians, physical therapists, veterinary technicians and massage therapists trained in canine rehabilitation.
