More Client Praise
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Pongo
“Sheila and Renee, Thank you so much for all you’ve done for Pongo [an 8 year old cattle dog mix]. I am amazed at his recovery. Looking at him, you’d never know he has bad knees anymore!!! I took him on a 13-mile hike in Idaho, with his backpack on and all. He was awesome! Thank you for all your help.”
Eva Day
Ziggy
I just wanted to thank you for, I think, a lot of things. Primarily your Wellsprings-K9 dog facility, and your wonderful therapists. You all made such a big and important difference in Ziggy’s life and ours as well.
Ziggy adored Emily; so did we. She made his life so much more comfortable and allowed him to do things with more stamina.
Ziggy was a Therapy Dog at Community Care facility on Vashon Island and he passed on much happiness and joy to all he visited with, thanks to Emily’s efforts to improve his quality of life.
It is wonderful work you do, and we really appreciated all you did for us.
I just keep thinking that all Ziggy’s legs work just fine now and he’s keeping up with his angel buddies. Thank you.”
Linda and Ron Leaders
Franklin
“Our boy Franklin is a wonderful black lab approaching his 5th birthday December 2008. On August 10th, 2008, he collapsed while playing ball and the next 3 months became everything Franklin. We have since relocated to Australia and we remain totally committed to giving Frank every advantage and opportunity to continue his recovery because he is
our boy; a huge part of our family…As the neurologist explained, a part of his disc violently exploded into his spinal column and bruised the nerve causing paralysis in his hind legs (most severely in his right quarter). He was released from the hospital after an MRI and 3 nights of observation. We were told there was nothing they could do surgically but strongly suggested we look into hydrotherapy and/or acupuncture and that for the most part, it was going to take time.
The next day, I called Sheila Wells at Wellsprings-K9 and the following day we began 3 months of intensive work to get Franklin stronger and help him gain greater function in his legs. Sheila and her staff worked tirelessly with Franklin; 3 times a week for 3 months. Tammy and I feel such a debt of gratitude for what they did; Sheila, Heather, Emily and Renee genuinely cared for Franklin and were so invested in giving him a part of his life back. Their commitment and love for animals is extraordinary. Since the accident, I’ve felt some moments of sadness. Franklin was an extremely athletic dog and to watch him struggle now is hard; I don’t have the words to explain to him why he can’t do many of the things he used to. But whether he recovers fully or not, it has been a lesson for Tammy and me; Franklin was a wonderful dog August 9th and August 10th and he is STILL a wonderful dog. I’ve come to realize that Franklin touches people because of his tender heart and soul and not how high he can jump or fast he can run.
Sheila, because of you and your staff, Franklin is walking again but more importantly, thanks to you and your staff, I know what a treasure Tammy and I have in our boy, Franklin Chen-Bare.
PS: Franklin loved coming for treatments; he was out of his skin with excitement whenever we got close!
Gracie Ellen
“Gracie Ellen is a rescued red Doberman, adopted at 2 years of age. When Gracie was 4 she experienced a Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) tear, which forced her to stop competing at flyball tournaments and to stop attending daycare every day. TPLO surgery was performed in November, followed by months of rest and progressive rehabilitation. After completing a course of underwater treadmill therapy, she began swimming and massage therapy at Wellsprings-K9.
Not an eager swimmer, Gracie became more comfortable in the water as a result of Sheila and her staff’s gentle and reassuring approach. Wellsprings-K9’s staff’s professional skill helped Gracie’s tight, over-compensating muscles to relax, and helped her atrophied muscles to increase in mass and strength. Gracie has started back to daycare and flyball practice and is on track to return to flyball competition at the end of June.”
Kodiebear
My 3-1/2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog, was first diagnosed with wobbler syndrome back in May 2006. The doctor who took the MRI told me there was only one treatment. Aggressive invasive vertebrae neurosurgery.
I knew Kodiebear would not tolerate the pain of that well & looked for other alternatives. His acupuncturist, Dr. Cindy Geisler DVM, recommended Kodiebear losing weight, and she suggested Wellspring-K9’s hydrotherapy for the low impact exercise and massage they provide. I had huge reservations as Kodiebear does not like to go in the water. To my surprise, Sheila got him in the pool & fetching toys the first session, now he even gets in by himself (a major miracle).
His muscles have become less tight, and he’s developed back leg muscles that he hasn’t had in a long time. He recently even walked down a flight of stairs he had not walked down in over one year. His mental outlook has improved 1000%. Sometime ago I thought he had outgrown playing with toys, but no, I just think he hurt too bad to play. Not anymore! Boy, are those dead toys getting a daily workout!
Thank you Wellsprings-K9 therapists, so much, for bringing back the puppy in Kodiebear and developing him into one buff, happy, mobile boy!
Barbara and Kodiebear
Lakota Hall
I have an angel dog of thirteen years by the name of Lakota. His is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/mix. Lakota had problems running and playing due to arthritis and leg surgery. Lakota wanted to come to Wellsprings-K9 after seeing Sheila on Evening Magazine. Sheila took Lakota in the pool and massaged his achy muscles and stiff joints. He is in love with Sheila and the massages she gives him. Lakota is building muscle to help support his weight on his back two legs by using resistance exercise in the pool. Now he is a true water dog! The therapy time in the pool has helped Lakota become stronger and to enjoy some of his old activities again.
Each week Lakota looks forward to his swim at the pool and yes, the treats aren’t bad either! Yum!
I have been so impressed with Wellsprings-K9 and all the people that make it such a warm and comfortable experience for owners and pets alike! I have recommended Wellsprings-K9 to other pet owners and will continue to do so because I know it is an answer to a prayer for me and will be the same for others. My pet is part of my family and I know that I want to take care of him in the best way I can so that he can have the best life possible. Thank you Wellsprings-K9!
Kodi
“Kodi is our 13 year old husky female that has developed spondylosis and arthritis in her back. All the years we’ve had her she has been healthy and active, with us walking her twice a day. But old age has crept in and even though we have taken good care of her she still developed these conditions that have caused a lot of pain and had begun to limit her movement.
Although her age says she’s an old lady, her mind is still very young and insists on going for those walks twice a day to check out those territories she has so carefully patrolled over the years!
We took her to our vet and got the necessary medications to control the pain, swelling and slow the progression of her condition. But since there also had been some atrophy developing in her hips and rear leg muscles, she needed more than just drugs and our twice-daily walks. We brought Kodi to Wellsprings-K9 on the advise of our vet to help build those muscles back up and reduce her discomfort.
Kodi is not a swimmer per se, and would only swim when necessary when we are out with her so she was a bit tentative about going in the pool. But with Sheila and Heather’s gentle guidance Kodi learned to enjoy and relax (almost sleeping at times during the message part of the session) being in the pool. The warm water helps to sooth her aches and pains and the swimming helped build those muscles up. She also is very invigorated when we get home from the sessions since she feels better and has had a lot of fun!
On our walks she has some of that spring back in her step and moves with better ease and comfort. It has made such a difference for her and us in the quality of her life and will recommend Wellsprings-K9 to everyone!”
Daisy
Our Chihuahua Daisy has hip dysphasia, luxating patellas and arthritis. She has been swimming at Wellsprings-K9 for 6 months. She can now raise herself up on her hind legs, roll over and scratch her back and walk short distances without pain. We have cut her arthritis meds by half and she is doing well. She has gained muscle in her back legs and nearly propels herself out of the water while swimming. She has also lost more than two pounds and is more active since coming to Wellsprings-K9.
Denali
I have a loving ten-year-old Rottweiler/Retriever mix named Denali. She became less able to run and play as she got older. I was ready to chalk
it up to old age, when a vet suggested I try animal massage and swim exercise. I took Denali to this wonderful woman Sheila, who rubbed my dog’s achy muscles and stiff joints and threw tennis balls for her in this warm pool, using jets to create resistance to increase Denali’s workout, so she build muscle. It is amazing how non-weight-bearing exercise and therapeutic massage done by a trained professional gave me back my playful pal. Denali is thinner, stronger and acts years younger. She is no longer limited by her arthritis. I highly recommend Wellsprings-K9 to all pet lovers seeking a better quality of life for their “family members”.
To Sheila, the world’s greatest animal massage therapist! Thanks for taking FANTASTIC care of my Denali.
Diana Thompson LMP
Sonia
I got up and turned on the hall light and Sonia was sitting at the bottom of the stairs and was crying. I called to her but she didn’t move. I walked down stairs and lifted her to give her a hug then I put her down and she immediately sat down. I walked a few steps away from her and called to her and my worst fears overcame me. Sonia dragged her hindquarters as she clumsily came to my side.
To this day we are not sure of how the accident happened but she may have jumped off something or stumbled and fell injuring her back. April 9th 2002 was beginning to be a wide-awake nightmare for my husband and me.
My husband drove Sonia to our family vet. He performed some pain sensitivity tests that Sonia failed. Our vet told my husband to go to veterinarian surgeon in Kirkland. I decided that I needed to pray that my little dog would get better and that we would do everything possible to ensure that she had a chance to walk again.
When Sonia came home three days later from the surgery my friend Candy accompanied me and she brought her large steel cage so that I could keep Sonia in a level contained environment. I moved the kitchen table and put the cage in its place. This would be Sonia’s living quarters for the next three months.
We had heard of a Veterinarian in Renton that did acupuncture. I made an appointment with Dr. Susumi at Renton West Animal Clinic in July 2002. I gave her a copy of the surgeon’s operative report and she requested previous medical history charts from our previous vet. She examined Sonia and surmised that she could help our little doxie but the
treatment would be over a long period of time. She started weekly acupuncture treatments. She asked us to fill the bathtub and let Sonia swim. This became hard to do since the bathtub is only five feet long. She then gave us a referral to Sheila Wells, a swim therapist in West Seattle.
In early September I took Sonia to see Sheila of Wellsprings-K9 Dog Massage and Swim Therapy in West Seattle. She put Sonia in a dog life vest and took her in the pool and amazingly Sonia began swimming and paddling with her hind legs! I was so surprised I almost cried. I could hardly wait to get home to tell my husband of the optimistic news. My husband was elated that Sonia was swimming and using her hind legs.
Sonia is not a water dog. When I gave her baths she would indignantly sit in the kitchen sink as I washed her. She could hardly wait to get out of the sink. So going to swim therapy was not Sonia’s idea of a fun time. Sonia tolerates the sessions fine and does enjoy the massages. She would just rather be curled up at home on the bed in a warm blanket with my husband and her toys.
We began noticing that Sonia was beginning to take a few steps when she was at home. She would still cross her hind legs at times and of course trip over herself, but with acupuncture and swim therapy Sonia was making real progress.
As Sonia was slowly getting stronger my husband noticed that she was outside and the neighbors’ four Doxies started barking at the back gate between the two properties Sonia 
would actually clumsily run to the gate to bark back. Of course her back legs would trip her up but she would get up and start to run again. Now there was another reason for going to the back gate. Sonia had a crush on Scooter. Scooter is a male brown short hair Doxie who loved to run like Sonia and they both would run together around our large back yard before the accident. Of course Scooter could have been a small motivating factor for Sonia to help her regain her movement skills.
Soon we will get a harness device that will assist Sonia in walking. As spring approaches and the weather gets warmer Sonia will be out in the backyard with my husband doing gardening. She will be barking at birds, neighbors and Scooter. This will be her duty. Our duty is to take care of her and love her for this will be our duty.
UPDATE SUMMER 2005: Sonia continues to do very well. She gets around well with her rear legs. She still goes for water therapy and massage regularly at Wellsprings-K9 to maintain the strong muscles she has gotten from swimming which allow her to use her rear legs. She is a very happy and contented little girl, especially when out in the backyard gardening with my husband for hours and barking at the world, doing her duty.
Lily
HISTORY: I first heard about Wellsprings-K9 when our 9-1/2 year old lab, Lily, had a hip replacement 3 years ago. The orthopedic surgeon who replaced her hip, Dr Sinibaldi, 
recommended Sheila for massage and swimming to enhance her recovery. We did not visit Sheila at that time, but I remembered her when Lily started having trouble walking. As a matter of fact, she could put very little weight on her real hip and the leg involved was losing muscle and giving out. She was x-rayed once again. Lily has severe arthritis in her back, hip and knee. I was stricken to learn that surgery really wasn’t an option. The thought of Lily on steroids long term was more than I could bear. I decided to give Wellsprings-K9 a try.
THERAPY: I would not have believed what was possible. After just one visit Lily was noticeably better. Lily visited Wellsprings-K9 every week for about 2 months. I then decreased my visits and started taking her swimming at home. After 3 months we are÷ down to once a month visits. The swim therapy has been a fountain of youth. She has regained muscle in her leg and the leg no longer gives out. You would never guess when she walks how horribly she walked 3 months ago. Her whole demeanor has become youthful and happy. I truly believe there are many dogs who would find huge success with Sheila and her team. Your dog is a member of your family. I love Lily more than you can imagine. It is as if Wellsprings-K9 enabled Lily to walk freely again. How does one say thank you?
UPDATE SPRING 2005: Lily underwent spinal surgery for a ruptured disc this past winter and again Dr. Sinibaldi recommended massage and swim therapy to enhance her recovery. I am pleased to report that Lily is doing awesome and is running around again like a happy and healthy young dog. I myself have even gotten in the pool and sat against the jets when my back has been sore. I just can’t say enough positive things about Sheila and her team at Wellsprings-K9. Thank you and I know Lily thanks you!!!
Lynne Hall
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