Massages, swimming go to the dogs | NiagaraFallsReview.ca - Niagara Falls Review

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Massages, swimming and photos with Santa — these activities weren’t for children or their parents.

They were for four-legged friends during Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre’s an open house, to show people what it does and how it can help animals.

“We do fitness, conditioning, we have also had people come in for swimming — well, not the people, the dogs,” said Barbara Lee, a human physiotherapist certified in canine rehabilitation.

“We also have two certified massage therapists on staff with us as well.”

The St. Catharines centre treats many dogs but also has welcomed a barred owl with an injured wing, goats, rabbits and miniature horses, and Lee has made a house call to help a Highland cow.

Its senior program has proved popular.

“Dogs that are mostly just dealing with arthritis and mobility issues and they do amazing on that program,” said Keri Evers, a veterinarian certified in canine rehab therapy.

It also has a laser to help with pain.


“We use a laser on 18 acupuncture points and any other joints that we find painful and it’s been phenomenal,” said Lee. “We have lots of senior dogs coming in. We give them home exercises to do. Just like people, I’ll ask them to do it three times a day knowing they will get it once.”

Courtney Dick brings her elderly dogs in regularly for laser therapy. She first brought in her senior dog Dewey.

“I saw the impact it was having on him. He could stand up a lot better, he could walk a lot better, he was in less pain so we started bringing Franny also,” said Dick. “They started last month getting massages. I’ve never had a massage, my dogs have all had massages.”

She has noticed improvement in both of her dogs since she has been bringing them to the centre.

“Having seniors, we know we aren’t going to have them for a very long period of time, but I really think that coming here has helped to lengthen their life and bring their quality of life up,” said Dick.

“Franny has such bad arthritis in her back end and she moves really slow. I have found since we have been coming here, she moves a lot better.”

The centre also helps dogs with neurological disorders and prosthetics.

Trooper, a puppy found in the West Lincoln dump missing a paw last spring made an appearance at the centre Saturday.

Adopted by Jeff Collins, president and chief executive officer of K-9 Orthotics & Prosthetics in Nova Scotia, he and Trooper made the trip to St. Catharines for the open house. Trooper has grown immensely and is a rambunctious one-year-old dog.

Collins said the boxer is happy and unaware he only has three paws. His prosthetic allows him to move and play like a puppy with four paws.

Following Trooper’s discovery, the community rallied to raise enough funds to help with his care. So much so, that the extra money was used to create the Specially-Abled Pets Fund at Niagara SPCA.

Said Evers, “I hope I never see another puppy in his situation but other animals coming in with serious injuries, hopefully, we can do more for them than just the amputations or having to put them down.”

Money raised during the open house from a raffle, photos with Santa, massages and swimming goes to the Specially-Abled Pets Fund. A raffle for an orthopedic dog bed continues until Nov. 30. People can make a cash donation and enter the raffle by visiting the centre at 188 Bunting Rd.


For more information on the centre, visit its website, www.canineconditioningcentre.ca.

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