Axle

July 17, 2007 Axle was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident while on duty. A Burglar attempted to flee the scene of a commercial burglary and slammed into the patrol vehicle Axle was responding in.

Axle sustained numerous injuries, the most serious being a severe fracture to his left hind leg. With a careful surgery by Dr. Engen and wonderful care at from Pilchuck Animal hospital staff, Axle was stabilized.

He was in a fixator for two months and was very limited in his function. The atrophy was immense due to the immobility, and it was uncertain whether he would ever be able return to work. This was not a simple case of a dog needing to go for a swim, he needed to be physically rehabilitated.

We were so fortunate to have the professional services of someone like Sheila, whose background (as an R.N. in Rehabilitation, a Vet Tech and a Licensed Massage Therapist for humans as well as a Licensed Small Animal Massage Therapist) crossed over so well, that her ability to rehabilitate animals is just remarkable! She knew exactly how to manage such a grave case of injury, which ultimately resulted in Axle returning to duty.

Many thanks to Sheila and Wellsprings-K9 for Axle’s full recovery and return to duty!

Suzanne Eviston, Police K9 trainer and handler in the State of Washington

And you can read more about Suzanne and Axle at Vongrundheide Shepherds

Barkley

Officer E. Dupleich and canine officer/swat dog Barkley of the Seattle Police Department came to Wellsprings-K9 twice.

Barkley first came to Wellsprings-K9 in 2002 for bilateral knee post-op recovery. He returned again in 2007-2008 to enhance his quality of life due to spinal issues. Barkley’s surgery and recovery was the focus of a KOMO TV News story.

Testimonial from a Sergeant in the Seattle Police department:

“I highly endorse Wellsprings-K9 Dog Massage and Swim Therapy for three main reason: effectiveness, efficiency, and professionalism.

I am the supervising Sergeant for the Police Department’s Canine Unit. My law enforcement canine career began more than 30 yrs ago. In that time I have seen all sorts of therapies and treatment modalities come and go. In my experience none is more effective than hydrotherapy at getting dogs back into working condition after an injury or surgery.

Our Police Canine Unit has used Wellsprings-K9’s services for some years now. I have watched Sheila Wells work with our dogs. She has skills and health care experience FAR beyond that of the typical licensed animal massage practitioner. Her hydrotherapy and massage protocols are the most thorough and individually tailored I have ever seen. Unlike others in which I have been, her Seattle facility was specifically designed and built to facilitate her unique hands-on approach to hydrotherapy/massage for dogs.

Simply put, Wellsprings-K9 Dog Massage and Swim Therapy will ensure that the police dogs who keep all of us safe get the best care, in the best facility, by the best provider.”

(Name withheld in accordance with department policy)

Bosco

Bellevue Officer Dave Sanabria and police dog Bosco, who came to Wellsprings-K9 for help after a spine injury…and then back at work!

Jonah

“Sheila at Wellsprings-K9 was recommended to me by my veterinarians after my police dog, Jonah, underwent back surgery to repair a damaged disc. She explained the benefits of swim therapy and massage, and that it would help him to regain his strength quicker and reduce his healing time without putting unneeded strain on his back.

Jonah did sessions with Sheila twice a week. He was pretty nervous at first getting in the pool with Sheila, but she took it slow and before long he couldn’t wait to get to his sessions with enthusiastic barking and whining. It was exhausting work for him at first but he loved the swimming. Sheila also incorporated massage therapy into his sessions. I could see this had a relaxing affect on him. It didn’t take long to see Jonah’s strength return to his hind legs. Over time I could see that his gait and strength and quality of life improved greatly from what it was before taking him to Wellsprings-K9.

If your pet is recovering from a surgery then I would highly recommend Sheila and Wellsprings-K9 to assist your pet in their healing process.”

Mike Meder, Seattle Police Department