GROVELAND — As a licensed massage therapist for people, canines and horses, Cindy Douphinette is used to getting a lot of questions when she tells people her profession.
"The animals really benefit from the work," Douphinette said. "I think it enhances the bond between the pet and the owner."
It was in 2006 that Douphinette opened her Groveland shop, Plum Grove Therapeutic Massage. Unlike similar shops, her clientele extends beyond humans to the four-footed variety.
A licensed and certified massage therapist, Douphinette admits her first love has been animals. Originally she hoped to become a veterinarian, but decided to become a nurse. After leaving that field to raise a family, she says, she went back to school to learn massage therapy. With her heart still hoping to work with animals, she decided to apply the skills she gained to them.
Massages have all kinds of benefits for pets and their owners, Douphinette said. It can help owners connect with their pets and strengthen bonds, while helping dogs move better and stay healthy by releasing tight muscles, aiding with a chronic problem, assisting show dogs seeking a better standing in a competition — or even just helping an ailing or sick dog.
Puppies are also welcome.
"Right now, I'm finding either end of the spectrum," Douphinette said. "It's not just for the competition dog, it's not just for the debilitated dog."
Douphinette said she enjoys teaching people about what her job is and how canine massage works. It's more than just giving your dog a pat every day.
"This is educated patting," she said. "You're patting with an educated hand. People are interested when you begin to explain the benefits, what can happen."
Part of her sessions include teaching pet owners how to do their own massage — including how to look for cues from the dog that he is uncomfortable — such as panting if he is agitated, or if he picks up his head when you touch a sore spot.
In addition to massages, Douphinette has also offered other services. A few years ago, she formed a four-part pet grief support workshop. During the first session, group members talked about a lost pet and acknowledged feelings through group discussion with the aid of photographs. The subsequent three sessions involved creative writing, visual art and music.
Douphinette, who lives in Groveland, said the pet grief groups is something she'd be willing to form again if clients expressed a need for it.
