Kirsty Green

In January 2019 when I first brought my dog Holly for rehab with Dawn and then for underwater treadmill, I had no idea how it would change my life the way it did and land me with the most wonderful job. While Holly was having treadmill, Dawn mentioned that they were looking for a new team member to help with treadmill sessions and without thinking I said how I’d be really interested in chatting about it. After coffee one Saturday morning, I realised that life had just taken a really exciting turn and I have never looked back.

Each day I wake up excited to come to work and make a difference to the lives of so many pawesome dogs. I get to work with the most wonderful group of people who truly are a family to me and I get to be part of the journey of recovery and strength that gives me the greatest satisfaction I could ever dream of. I really do feel so privileged to be able to meet our owners and their furbabies and help them to the best of my ability.

This job has taught me so much not only about rehab but about myself and my strengths (and weaknesses) which I don’t feel I could have learnt doing anything else. It is as therapeutic for the dogs that come through our doors as it is for me each day.

I am fortunate enough to be mom to 2 gorgeous golden retrievers, Holly who is 6 years old, and Drew who is almost 2 years old. Holly loves the APR team as much as I do and has been brought back to life through regular rehabs with Dawn and regular treadmill sessions.

She loves walks on the beach and in the forest to chase squirrels and is the instigator to Drews favourite past time, digging up my garden. When not digging up my garden or sleeping on the couch, Drew can be found close to my feet always ready for a good cuddle.

I also get to be mom to my own unicorn, otherwise known as Bodenhausen Timbuktu. He is a 6 year old Namibian Warmblood who enjoys walks around Tokai forest and gives me the extreme warm and fuzzies during our flying lessons (aka jumping lessons) twice a week.

My pets mean the world to me and I could never live without them. They have changed the way I live, and totally changed my priorities in life and I couldn’t imagine a world without them.