This 'pet project' is all about alternative therapies

Oskar, a boxer, relishes a rub during the local conference on animal massage. More than 60 people attended. ( THE BLADE/DON SIMMONS )

By ERICA BLAKE
blade staff writer

Tyson sat in the back of the room quietly, his joints tender from the arthritis that plagued his body.

In front of him, Oskar was having his pressure points rubbed gently, one-by-one. There was the top of the spine, and behind the thigh, and the webbed potion of his dew claw.

Dew claw?

"I know how it affects me when I get a massage. It has to affect my dog," said Cheryl Moyer, before she watched the demonstration.

Ms. Moyer traveled to Toledo from Lake Orion, Mich., with friend Bridget Pochmara and her dog, Tyson, to participate in the first educational conference of the International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork.

More than 60 people from across the country participated in the workshop.

"People are starting to open up a lot more to this sort of therapy," Ms. Moyer said. "Pets are taking a bigger part of our lives," she said.

The weekend conference - which organizers believe is the first of its kind, certainly at least for northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan - featured experts in everything from pet massage techniques and animal CPR to animal communicators and aroma therapy for animals.

And while many of the conference's participants admitted that not everybody quite understands what they do, for them it's simple.

They're learning to knead sore muscles, rub achy joints, and spray aromatic mists into the faces of their clients - their four-legged clients.

"This is all complimentary health care, not alternative," said Jonathan Rudinger, owner of PetMassage Training and Research Institute in Toledo and founder of the International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork.

"People who want to take the best care of their animals learn these techniques," Mr. Rudinger said.

Mr. Rudinger, who teaches pet massage and offered up his boxer, Oskar, for the demonstrations, said he founded the association in January, 2003, because he saw a need for like-minded people to come together.

Although not new, the world of animal massage and pet therapy is still not mainstream, and Mr. Rudinger said he wanted to encourage education, networking, and professionalism in the fields of animal massage and bodywork.

Kenna Graunke of Medford, Ore., said she first learned of Mr. Rudinger when she took his pet massage class nearly three years ago.

The educational coordinator at the Southern Oregon Humane Society, Ms. Graunke said she returned from Mr. Rundinger's class and opened a pet massage clinic.

Ms. Graunke went to the conference this weekend to learn more.

"I just wanted to learn more so that I could take whatever I can back home to help the animals at the humane society and help pass on to other people, because I think it really makes a difference," she said.

Barbara Rennert of the Monroe County chapter of the American Red Cross went to the conference to teach techniques of first-aid for animals.

Mrs. Rennert's class learned techniques on how to handle hypothermia as well as how to stop bleeding with a tourniquet.

With a carrying case of dog and cat dummies, Mrs. Rennert also led her class in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cats and dogs.

She said learning CPR for animals is similar to having the life-saving skills needed for humans.

"Sure it's new, and you've got those people who think it's the sickest thing to do," she said.

"It's new out there now," Mrs. Rennert said, "but I think in 20 years, it's going to be second hat."

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-724-6076.