Helping Pets Feel Their Best!

Love 4 Paws is owned and operated by
Elana Titus, BA (Hons), RMT, CCMT. 

Elana is an animal lover at heart. Her mission since a very young age has been to help animals live long, happy, healthy lives. Her passion is to work from the heart, and she believes that helping animals and their people is her true life purpose.

The human and animal body consists of much more than can be seen and touched physically. The lack of healing on the nonphysical levels of humans and animals is the reason why technological western medicine is only partly effective. By adding nonphysical healing methods to the physical western healing methods, animals (and people) heal more quickly, fully and satisfactorily.

Love 4 Paws services offer healing modalities to help your animal heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, bridging the gap from physical western healing methods to wholeness.
This is how Love 4 Paws “Helps Pets to Feel Their Best!”

Elana is a Registered Human Massage Therapist, Certified Canine Massage Therapist, Small Animal Acupressure Practitioner in Training, Certified Canine Aquatic Therapist, Certified Canine Swim Therapist, Reiki Master Teacher, Integrated Energy Therapy Master Instructor, and IET for Pets Practitioner. Elana was a Veterinary Receptionist and Veterinary Assistant for over 6 years. Elana has over 25 years experience with dogs, 20 years with rabbits, and 15 years with cats.

Canine Aquatic Therapy Training

 Elana completed a 10 day intensive training in Canine Aquatic Therapy at La Paw Spa in Sequim, Washington, in the spring of 2010. 

Canine Swim Therapy Training 

Elana completed a 5-day intensive Canine Hydrotherapy (Swim Therapy) training course, taught by Alex Debolt (of Alex Debolt Consulting Dogs) and Nancy Couillard, RVT, CCRTech (from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute) at the previous Ottawa Canine Rehabilitation & Aquatic Centre (OCRAC) owned by the Ontario Veterinary Group.

• The program included an Introduction to Canine Hydrotherapy, Immediate Hydrotherapy Benefits, Health and Safety, Rules & Regulations, Roles & Responsibilities, Canine Basic Anatomy, The Musculoskeletal System, Common Conditions, Precautions of Conditions, Protocols for Treatment Plans, Pool Management, First Aid and Hands-on Internship.
  
• Elana attended OCRAC for Canine Hydrotherapy sessions with her dog Mango, for hindlimb lameness due to severe arthritis, beginning in April 2005 until moving from Ottawa in December 2006. Mango started with Assisted swim therapy and then Elana worked with Mango for Supervised swim sessions. Elana saw the results of swim therapy with Mango, and this is why she offers swim therapy to others.

Elana is a member and follows the Code of Ethics of the Association of Canine Water Therapy (ACWT).

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
for Companion Animals wet lab

Elana attended a half-day “Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Companion Animals” wet lab with Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, Associate Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, Cofounder and Past Chief Medical Officer, Animal Rehabilitation and Wellness Hospital, Raleigh, NC – at the Ottawa Canine Rehabilitation & Aquatic Centre, September 25, 2008.

• The Wet Lab covered the Initial Rehabilitation assessment, measuring range of motion with a goniometer, measuring muscle girth for atrophy, Joint Mobilizations, end-feel of joints, benefits and use of cold and hot hydrotherapy, stretching, strengthening, using balance and wobble boards, TheraBand and TheraBall exercises, frequency-duration and intensity of exercises, and budgeting for Post-Surgery rehabilitation, massage, and/or swimming. 

Canine Massage Therapy Training 

Elana is a Certified Canine Massage Therapist (CCMT), who completed her Canine Massage Therapy Certification at the Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage (ACTM). The course was taught by Sharon Jones-Gilmore, BA, RMT, AMP and Dr. Jim Berry, DVM.

• The program included courses in Canine Anatomy and Physiology, Canine Biomechanics, Canine Musculoskeletal Injuries, Common Medical Conditions, Canine Assessments, Canine Behaviour and Management, Proper Handling and Communication Procedures, Massage Techniques, Massage Treatments, Remedial Exercises and Home Care, First Aid, Veterinary Medicine Legal and Ethical Issues, and Clinical Internship.
• Elana completed her clinical hours at the ACTM Canine Clinic - June 2007, Oromocto SPCA - June 2007 and the 2nd Annual NBSPCA Pet Expo - September 2007.

Elana completed a two day Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute hands-on “Introduction to Small Animal Acupressure & Traditional Chinese Medicine” course held at the Canine Wellness Centre Inc., in July 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. The course focuses on being able to perform a complete acupressure treatment protocol and a basic introduction on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Elana completed an exam, essay questions, and four case studies to receive her 30 hour Certificate of Completion. Elana has also completed the on-line course "Small Animal Overview to Traditional Chinese Medicine" through Tallgrass, completing the Introductory level training.

Elana is currently working on her Intermediate level training by distance and plans to attend the 4-day Intermediate level hands-on training, through Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute in September 2010.

Human Massage Therapy Training 

Elana is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), an Honours graduate of the 2200 hour Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage Diploma program in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The curriculum is equivalent to the competency standards of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.

• Elana completed courses in Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, and Cranial Sacral Tequniques, Hydrotherapy Principles and Advanced Hydrotherapy Application, Massage Theory & Techniques, Assessment and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction and Treatment Adaptation, Advanced Therapeutic Techniques, Sports Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Remedial Exercise and Kinesiology, Nutrition, Biology, Microbiology, Arthrology, Osteology, Myology, Pharmacology, Medical Terminology, Neurology, Pathology, Visceral Anatomy, Cardiac/Lymphatics, Sense Organs, Cardiac Physiology, Muscle Physiology, Renal Physiology, Respiratory Physiology, Endocrinology, G.I. Physiology, Neurophysiology, Ethics, Business, Jurisprudence and Professional Regulation, Human Relations and Communication, Clinical Documentation, First Aid/CPR and Clinical Internship.
  
• The Massage Therapy Diploma at the Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage allows graduates the opportunity to enter the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology program at the University of New Brunswick, with approximately two years of transfer credits.
  
• Elana graduated with over 320 hours of clinical internship experience through the Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage. Her placements included:
• ACTM Wellness clinic where she treated people living with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Hemiplegia.
• Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation where she treated people living with Neurological and Spinal Cord Injuries.
• South Hampton House Residential Care Facility.
• Dr. Everest Chalmers Hospital
• St. Mary’s Health Clinic
   
  Elana is a member of the Association of New Brunswick Massage Therapists (ANBMT).

Veterinary Reception/Assistant Experience

Elana worked as a Veterinary Receptionist and Assistant for Bayview Animal Hospital from July 1998 to January 2001. She was responsible for booking appointments, Public Education, Sales, Inventory, Data Entry, filling prescriptions, assisting Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians during appointments, assisting pre and post surgeries, performing treatments for hospitalized and boarding animals, and training new receptionists.

Elana worked as an Animal Care Assistant for Carling Animal Hospital from January 1995 to July 1998. She was responsible for booking appointments, Public Education, Sales, Inventory, Data Entry, Nightly Deposits, filling prescriptions, assisting Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians during appointments, running blood work, assisting pre and post surgeries, performing treatments for hospitalized and boarding animals, and training new animal care assistants.

Energy Therapy Training 

Elana is also a Reiki Master Teacher (May 2008) and Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) Master Instructor (May 2009) and IET for Pets practitioner (September 2006).

She has studied energy therapy since 2005; with Sabine Blais Reiki Master Teacher, Maria Trumbach Reiki Master Teacher & IET Master/Instructor of T-Line Services, Lynn McKenzie of Animal Energy™, Jennifer Clark of Soulful Solutions, Elizabeth Wright of Jasper’s Spaw and Associates, Cindy O'Donnell Reiki Master Teacher, Brett Macfarlane Medium, and Cheryl Nasson TTouch Practitioner.

Elana volunteered as a Sidewalker for the Fredericton Therapeutic Riding Association (FTRA), August 2008 until moving to Quispamsis in May 2009. The FTRA provides therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. Individuals learn to ride while working on physical, cognitive and psychological goals. Examples are: balance, range of motion, self-esteem, following instructions and socialization.

Elana volunteered at the Oromocto SPCA performing Canine and Feline Therapeutic Massage and Energy therapy, in July and August 2008.

Elana volunteered at the Ottawa-Carleton Humane Society for the Wiggle Waggle Walkathon 1998-2001. Elana also volunteered cleaning cages, walking dogs and assisting in canine behaviour assessments in 1998.

Elana attended a three hour seminar “The Effects of Structure on Performance, Soundness, and Longevity in Dog Sport”, by Helen King at Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training facility in July 2008 in Alberton, Ontario.

Elana attended the Ottawa Dog Obedience Group for Beginner & Novice Obedience, and Flyball with her dog Mango. She attended Best Friends School of Dog Training, in Orleans, Ontario with her dog Bear. She has attended Camp Dogwould with her dogs for Flyball and Tracking.  

Elana completed an intensive program in theory and practical application of Homeopathy and Pets, from the Ottawa School of Homeopathy in April 1997. The program included information and treatments using homeopathy, tissue salts, and Bach flower remedies.

In 2005, Elana's dog Mango became lame due to severe arthritis in both hips. Mango's Veterinarian at the time, Dr. Eddie Beltran at Blair Animal Hospital in Ottawa, recommended trying Canine Swim Therapy as an alternative to a total hip replacement for both hips.

Due to Mango's amazing progress in gaining muscle, endurance, and running again after only three swim therapy sessions, Elana decided that she was going to change her life! She decided to go back to working with animals, as she had done as a Veterinary Assistant, and go back to school to pursue a career as a Registered Massage Therapist working with dogs.

Here are some pictures of Mango's Swim Therapy sessions in Ottawa.

Getting Mango in the pool

In Memory of Mango

Our most beloved boy Mango went over the
Rainbow Bridge at over 15 years of age.

Thank you to Dr. Adrian Tompkins and staff at Fundy Animal Hospital for helping Mango to go home to the "Great Big Party in the Sky" in the most perfect way. 

"Adios Amigos" - Mango