Blue Dog Designs and Canine Rehabilitation Institute Partner to Support Veterinary Technicians and Nurses Through The Help ‘Em Out Tuition Assistance Drive
DENVER (PRWEB) May 03, 2018 -- According to studies from the University of Vienna, as of 2017 canine rehabilitation had shown an industry growth rate of 180 percent over the previous three years. Denver-based Blue Dog Designs, makers of the Help ‘Em Up Harness™, in partnership with Florida-based Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), has announced a campaign to help more veterinary technicians and nurses become certified in canine rehabilitation. The national Help ‘Em Out competition was created to encourage veterinary technicians and nurses to pursue education in this rapidly growing field.
Winner Kim Barrier will receive free tuition for Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation, a $2,900 course and one of the three required for certification by Canine Rehabilitation Institute. Barrier from New Braunfels, Texas, is a lead veterinary technician and hospital administrator with Texas Specialty Veterinary Services (TSVS) which serves San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and the south-central Texas region. CRI is the premier provider of education in canine rehabilitation, where students learn state-of-the-art rehabilitation techniques and receive valuable hands-on experience working with dogs in the classroom.
“To be able to provide animals with rehabilitation can mean a world of difference in their lives,” said Kim Barrier. “Being able to rehabilitate them after surgery or having them fitted for a prosthesis or even a wheelchair means they get to be a ‘normal’ animal again. They will have the mobility and the strength to do what they once could not do and their happiness would be my passion.”
“We just can’t certify enough veterinary technicians and nurses to meet the demand right now,” said Dr. Janet Van Dyke, CEO of Canine Rehabilitation Institute. “We know that cost can be a factor, so we are thrilled that a CRI student will benefit from the generosity of Blue Dog Designs.”
The "Help ‘Em Out” contest launched in February, ending March 15, 2018. Entrants were required to meet the prerequisites for CRI’s Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation course and write an essay explaining their interest in canine rehabilitation and what they hoped to accomplish in their career. Barrier will attend the course in September in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Due to the strong response, Blue Dog Designs plans to sponsor the competition again next year. In addition to new applicants, all entries submitted to this year’s Help ‘Em Out Contest will be kept on file for consideration at that time.
“This contest is a way for us to provide support to a veterinary technician or nurse passionate about canine rehabilitation while at the same time calling attention to the need for more certified professionals in this field,” said Cary Zimmerman, co-founder of Blue Dog Designs and creator of the Help ‘Em Up™ Harness, the first full-body lifting device for dogs with impaired mobility and strength.
“We are thrilled for Kim to have this educational opportunity to help launch her career in canine rehabilitation,” said Barrier’s director Justin Harper, DVM, DACVS and mobile surgeon with TSVS, with whom she’ll work side-by-side to create additional opportunities to help patients with rehabilitative needs in the area. “I see Kim helping us to grow the field through outreach, carrying out case specific prescribed rehabilitation programs and educating the practices where we do surgery about the benefits of canine rehabilitation for those patients,” he concluded.
About Canine Rehabilitation Institute
Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) is the premier provider of education in canine rehabilitation. Students learn state-of-the-art rehabilitation techniques and get valuable hands-on experience working with dogs in the classroom. CRI’s internationally recognized faculty members have extensive backgrounds in clinical practice, business management, and higher education. CRI has certified more than 1,000 students since it was founded in 2003, including veterinarians, physical therapists, and veterinary technicians/nurses from over 30 countries. For more information on Canine Rehabilitation Institute visit http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com
About Blue Dog Designs
Blue Dog Designs was launched in 2008 with the invention of the Help ‘Em Up™ Harness, the first full-body lifting device for dogs with impaired mobility and strength. When dogs have difficulty moving because of muscle weakness, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, injuries, or surgical repairs, the Help ‘Em Up™ Harness provides them with the extra help up they need to live active and healthy lives. For more information on Blue Dog Designs and the Help ‘Em Up™ Harness visit http://www.helpemup.com
Meghan Dougherty, Dougherty Relations, +1 720-560-0177, [email protected]
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