Debbie Gross Saunders

Debbie began her physical therapy career with a Bachelor's of Science degree in physical therapy from Boston University. It was actually during her physical therapy education that she began to think about combining her love for animals with the principles of physical therapy. However, it was not until she continued on in the ‘human' field of physical therapy that she seriously followed through with the combination of animals and physical therapy.

She holds a Master of Science degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut in Orthopedic Physical Therapy with distinction and became board certified in orthopedic physical therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She will also be pursuing her doctorate degree within the next year.

Debbie has been working with small animals for over fourteen years. During the past seven years, she has become passionate about the recognition and treatment of injuries in athletic dogs. She currently runs a facility on her 23 acre farm that can accommodate lengthy stays for the rehabilitation of dogs, and in particular athletic dogs.

Debbie enjoys speaking all over the country as well as abroad. She has been teaching continuing education courses in the field for over eight years. She is one of the founders of the first and only university based program in canine rehabilitation – University of Tennessee's Certificate Program in Canine Physical Rehabilitation. She remains intricately involved in this program and teaches throughout the year.

Debbie also speaks to agility groups and athletic groups on a regular basis. She is commonly called in to evaluate dogs for pre-athletic exams and evaluates show dogs for conformation and movement. She has spoken at the Second and Third International Symposiums for Veterinarians and Physical Therapists in 2002 and 2004. She was also invited and spoke at Brian Mulligans' First International Symposium on her treatment and evaluation of joint dysfunction in dogs. She has also taught labs and spoken on Peripheral Joint Mobilization at the ACVS (Annual College of Veterinary Surgeons) Annual Meeting.

Debbie held the office of President of the Animal Physical Therapist Special Interest Group within the Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. She has been a member of this group for eight years.

She is the founder and editor of an international canine physical therapy journal, “Wizard of Paws Journal "' and has written a book, Canine Physical Therapy, dedicated to the manual evaluation and treatment of the canine patient. Currently, additional titles are in the works. She has recently published a chapter in the Veterinary Clinic of North America Journal on Joint Mobilization.

She is a regular contributor to the monthly agility magazine, Clean Run, as well as other performance magazines. She has been quoted in variety of magazines including Bark, Parade, AAHA's Trend Magazine, Veterinary Technician and newspapers across the country. You may have seen her on Good Morning America and heard her on Ask Martha's Vet with Marty Goldstein. In conjunction with Clean Run Productions, she has produced three DVD's: Stretching the Performance Dog, Strengthening the Performance Dog, and Get on the Ball. She has two books and other projects currently in the works.

Debbie and her family can be regularly found at local agility, breed and performance shows throughout the Northeast offering evaluations and treatments as well as at training facilities. Debbie's husband Rhom is an integral part of Wizard of Paws and assists with many aspects of the business. Either are always happy to answer any questions.

Her love for animals has driven her to continuously strive to treat animals with rehabilitation techniques to a higher level. Her dedication has been a labor of love and will continue to be so.

Debbie lives with her husband Rhom, two daughters, dogs Forrest, Luca, Myles and Ticket, two miniature horses, two miniature donkeys, two miniature Scottish highland cows, a miniature pot bellied pig, ducks, barn cats and various other animals!