More about the people who work at Aquavet

Lisa Dobson - R.C.H. R.G.N. Advanced underwater treadmill.

Aquavet owner

Lisa's background is in human nursing with orthopaedic experience. She qualified as a nurse in 1982 and qualified from further nurse training in 1988. After moving to the area in 1989, she worked as an occupational health nurse for British Steel. It was here that she met her husband Michael.

Lisa took a career break to bring up two children, Hannah and Arran. It was during this time that she took up Dog training gaining many certificates in different levels of Canine obedience, from puppy to advanced. She also studied and attained teaching qualifications.

Once Lisa's children had reached secondary school age, she decided she needed a new challenge in her life. She qualified as a Hydrotherapist and took over Aquavet in 2010, where she had worked tirelessly to expand the business and build a trusted team in order to lead the way in Canine rehabilitation.

The next step will be to offer training to those wishing to have a career in Hydrotherapy. Combining her love of dogs with her knowledge and skills in working with Dogs as well as her medical background.

Loren Pearson - R.C.H

NARCH Registered Canine Hydrotherapist & Veterinary Physiotherapist

Hi my name is Loren I Joined Aquavet in 2019 following my recent graduation as a Masters qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist and Canine Hydrotherapist.

Having grown up on my grandads farm I have a passion for all animals, but I now spend most of my time surrounded by lots of horses and dogs!!

I Love being in the saddle and riding in my spare time and exploring all kinds of new walks with my two rescue Puggles Iggle and Finley.

Joanne Swallow - R.C.H, RVN

NARCH Registered Canine Hydrotherapist

Joanne Swallow recently started with us in October 2020 as a NARCH Registered Canine Hydrotherapist.

Prior to working for us Joanne has had an interesting and varied career, as a Senior Forensic Scientist and then Histologist, before her love of animals lead to her to becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2016. Joanne still holds her nursing registration, which is excellent for us because, we can now offer Nutritional Advice including weight management; Nail clips, Anal gland expression, dental checks etc.

Outside of work Joanne enjoys cycling, or spinning when the weather is bad, and loves taking her two Weimaraner’s on long walks.

Anne Sharpe -

Administration Assistant / Right hand woman

Bio to follow...

Photo of staff member - Kirsty Bannister

Kirsty Bannister - . RVN (Registered Vet Nurse.)

Hydrotherapy Assistant.

Give us a call - 0114 258 3221

If you need more information about how we can help with your Dog, please get in touch. We welcome a 'phone call and are more than happy to answer your questions. You can also email us or download information forms HERE .

Our clients say it best

hi to all of you at aquavets .Thank you so much for your kind words with reguards leo our very lively lab. he will be missed by us all .He was so lovable to everybody he met in his life . we are finding it very hard to adjust to life without him. thank you again for all the fun he had in your care . love janet,john,emily,julia x –Janet Phillips
Our dog, Sadie, a chunky 35k Akita cross, first went to Aquavet after a nasty fall from a wall caused her pre-existing arthritis to take a steep dive. She was about 10 at the time and her back legs were badly affected.

She started with weekly swims and the occasional physio session. After six months her gait had improved considerably and she settled into a swim once a month, and a physio session two weeks after a swim. This served her very well until she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. After an operation to remove the growths she continued with increased physio sessions for a period until she could resume swimming again. This continued until the cancer returned and she became too unwell for any treatment.

In all, we came to Aquavet for about 26 months and during this period her mobility was maintained so that she could enjoy walks in the park and play in the house. I found all the staff at Aquavet to be fantastic. Lisa was sympathetic to the need to keep Sadie separate from other dogs when we arrived/left the premises (Sadie was not great with other dogs) and the care and attention she received from Lisa, Nicole and Becky was lovely.

Sadie was so relaxed during her physio sessions with Sarah that she often fell asleep on the platform. In the end it was cancer that caused her death but I doubt her last years would have been as enjoyable for her if she had not attended for the treatments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Aquavet to others - in fact I already have. Aftercare - in terms of a Christmas card in remembrance was a lovely touch. Best wishes to the team.
–Cathy Murray
Sadie

Fully qualified and experienced Canine Hydrotherapist

Lisa Dobson - Aquavet owner
is a fully qualified and experienced Canine Hydrotherapist and registered with the National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists