And the pet lets you know if it wants an hour and a half of massage, or just something brief, deep tissue or superficial touch.” It is a way to communicate care and to let them know that you understand what they are going through at that moment. Once they are accepting, they will come to me. I want them to see that there is a safe space around me. “It is a way to communicate that I know what the animal are going through and I wait until trust is there. In addition to her work with the foundation, Kowalski herself provides a continuum of care for animals needing specialized care. An assistive device was custom 3d printed to help improve mobility. He was born with a congenital condition affecting his front limbs and causing him to walk on his antebrachium. “PokyMan, an English Bulldog mix, is my current foster pup. He is living proof that dogs don’t feel sorry for themselves, they just keep going.” He had a spinal injury resulting in hind-limb paralysis and incontinence, requiring a complexity of care. “Josh, American Staffordshire Terrier mix, is my current pup. Here are two of her dogs and what she told us about them. I have had the honor sometimes of being there to give a final massage before a pet passes.” Do they know when the end of their lives is approaching? Perhaps, since they do experience their bodies so well. For example, if they want a drink of water they go and get it, not putting it off the way humans often do when they think they are too busy. “I have discovered that animals are very attuned to life. “Rabbits really enjoy human touch, once you have gotten their trust,” Kowalski commented. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a ferret once have come into her tender and informed care. She has continued to adopt and foster animals with mobility issues as well as share the knowledge she has acquired with owners. Ten years ago when Brialy came into her life Kowalski researched how these pets were cared for and decided there had to be a better way. He was born with a congenital disorder affecting his ability to use his back legs. Kowalski works out with Atticus, a pit bull mix, a previous foster pup. I felt Brialy had taught me how to give back,” Kowalski said. When Brialy passed I wanted to start a service to help other pets and rescue organizations improve quality of life. At that time I was unsure about my next career step. “I knew that Brialy relied on me, and I relied on her. Wild Hearts, once called the Brialy Wellness Foundation, was founded in her honor. Profits from these services are donated to Wild Hearts NFP, a nonprofit providing financial assistance, equipment, supplies, and resources to the rescue and pet-owning community. “Wild Hearts Pet Care provides a continuum of care to pets with mobility impairments through a full roster of services including pet visits and overnight care, therapeutic modalities including veterinary rehabilitation and small mammal massage therapy, pre and post-operative care for orthopedic and neurologic conditions, educational consultations and demonstrations. Although she had fostered many dogs, it was this dog, whose abusive owner had caused the paralysis, which pointed her down the path and is her inspiration today. It was Brialy, a terrier mix with paralyzed back legs and “much animation” that inspired Erin Kowalski to start the foundation and service business that serves pets with special needs, challenging health concerns, and often old age issues. Their mission is simple, their delivery mighty, and their touch tender for the four-legged creatures lucky to be in their care.īrialy, Erin Kowalski’s first paralyzed pup. Classic Chicago salutes the bravery of pets who have faced grave physical challenges often from abuse, their empathic owners, and Wild Hearts, a Chicago organization devoted to their comprehensive care.
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