Laura Sheldon is a Fear Free Certified and Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist with nearly 20 years of experience as a veterinary technician, bringing a deep understanding of anatomy, pathology, and medical conditions to her bodywork sessions. Throughout her clinical career, she gravitated toward the pets who needed emotional support the most—fearful, anxious, and reactive animals who often struggled the most in the traditional veterinary setting. She first began using gentle massage techniques simply as a way to help these pets relax, not realizing that the methods she had intuitively developed were grounded in massage therapy principles. It wasn’t until a close friend—who is a human massage therapist—pointed this out that Laura recognized the impact of what she was doing. This sparked a passion that led her to pursue formal training, expanding her skills to include therapeutic techniques for pain relief while deepening her toolkit for supporting anxious, fearful, and touch-sensitive animals.

Today, Laura works exclusively as a mobile massage therapist, meeting pets where they feel most secure: at home. Her practice is evenly divided between behavioral-focused massage—treating anxiety, reactivity, and touch sensitivity—and therapeutic massage for pain relief and mobility. She believes that massage therapy is just as powerful for emotional wellbeing as it is for physical comfort, and she takes great pride in bringing ease, safety, and connection to every animal she works with. “Your pet’s comfort and wellbeing is my passion!” guides her in every session.

Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia-retired), VTS-Physical rehabilitation-retired, VTS-H (anesthesia/analgesia): Mary Ellen Goldberg is a graduate of Harcum College and the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. She worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Division of Animal Resources and for Research Scientists advising on their choices for anesthesia and pain management on their protocols. She was a member of VCU’s IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) for 10 years. She has been the instructor of Anesthesia and Pain Management at VetMedTeam, LLC since 2003. She is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM (International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management). Mary Ellen is retired as a Surgical Research Anesthetist certified through the Academy of Surgical Research. She is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse. (CCRVN). She is currently a member of the IACUC at the Manheimmer Foundation, Inc. Mary Ellen was chosen as NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year 2017. In 2019, Mary Ellen received the VTS-anesthesia, analgesia – honorary title from the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthesia and Analgesia in November 2019. She received the IVAPM Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2021. Mary Ellen has written several books, and contributed numerous chapters regarding anesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. She has worked in various aspects of veterinary medicine from small animal and equine to mixed practice, coccidiosis research for a pharmaceutical company, zoo animal medicine and laboratory animal medicine since 1976.

Kathy Tupper started her professional life as a Technical Officer in Pathology, but she quickly transitioned to her career as a therapist when she earned her Associate Diploma in Health Science (Massage Therapy) over 28 years ago.

Her friends and patients brought in their pets for treatment, and Kathy was amazed at how well they responded to a gentle, listening touch.

Kathy worked for 20 years in an Osteopathic clinic in Sydney, during which time she completed a 5-year degree and Masters of Osteopathy at the University of Western Sydney. Treating her friends' pets always gave her great joy - and was a welcome relief from all the study.

Osteopathy in the Cranial Field has always been Kathy's passion, and she has been fortunate to receive amazing mentoring while pursuing further education with many post graduate qualifications both in Australia and overseas.

Her graduate diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine was a gift to herself to be able to integrate something she genuinely loves with the delight of communicating with and and helping animals.

After moving to Queensland, Kathy opened Bribie Animal Osteopathy. After many years of treating humans, she looks forward to seeing more of her furry/scaly/feathered friends and their lovely owners.