I got my first dog when I was 10 years old; he was a Bichon Frise named Joey. Joey was my absolute best friend and he taught me so many life lessons. One of those lessons was patience and understanding. When Joey was around 12 years old, he developed Canine Cognitive Dysfunction- also known as Doggy Dementia. He taught me how to love unconditionally, even when you are frustrated and overwhelmed. Although I discovered my love of Canine Rehabilitation when I was around 15 years old, Joey really showed me how much love I had for senior dogs. He also made me realize how many people feel guilt when they need a break or vacation, but don’t feel comfortable leaving their senior or special needs’ dogs with a regular dog sitter or boarding kennels. I very quickly realized I wanted to do something to help those people take a vacation or go away and feel comfortable and happy with that decision. I noticed that so many people love puppies and young dogs and that much of the pet care industry is not geared towards senior and special needs’ dogs. Here is where my vision for Joey’s Legacy was born. Joey passed away in 2019 at the age of 15.5 years old, taking a piece of my heart with him. What he left was a deep desire for me to help as many geriatric and special needs’ dogs as possible, as well as their caregivers. Not only do I offer boarding services for this special group of dogs, but I also offer rehab services for dogs of any age who are recovering from surgery, an injury, or just need some extra help with pain management.
I currently spend my time with my fiancé, Andrew, our dogs, Zorra and Lennon, and our 9 year old Cockatiel, Draco. Zorra is a 10 year old pug/schnauzer/shih-tzu mix and Lennon is a 3 year old Saluki. In the last 2.5 years, we lost 4 senior dogs- Joey, Charlie, Winnie and Garrett. Winnie was our palliative foster dog who we fostered through TEAM dog rescue. The things I learned from them are what push me to continue my journey with dogs today. I graduated from Georgian College’s Veterinary Technician program in 2017 and became registered shortly after. In 2018, I received my certification to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee. I am also a Certified Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Technician, as well as a Certified Canine Massage Therapist. Additionally, I volunteer with TEAM dog rescue as a medical coordinator with the palliative foster program.
Emily Vitorio, RVT, CCRP, CHPT, CCMT
Joey's Legacy: Dog Boarding& Canine Rehab Services
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