Puppy ends fear of dogs Now Julie cares for pooches

BRAVE Julie Smith was terrified of dogs but facing her fear has turned her life around.

Now she has a rewarding new career getting our injured four-legged friends firmly back on their paws.

Julie was so scared of dogs she would do anything to avoid them – even crossing the road if one approached.

Yet her husband Thomas really wanted a dog. Eventually his nagging paid off and Julie agreed.

But she insisted it was a rescue labrador puppy. Julie, 51, said: “I thought we’d never get one, as it’s quite unusual to have a small puppy rehomed.

“They found us a match in three days. It was certainly a baptism of fire but Giles was a great introduction to having a dog.

“There was no particular incident that sparked my fear – I suppose my family never had pets, other than a cat.”

To her surprise Julie was quickly smitten and began fostering more dogs and at one point owned ten.

It was the arrival of ten-month-old OUR vet Brian Faulkner, from Petplan, has 16 years of experience and is a freelance working all over the country. Send your questions to Brian at: Petplan, Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9DX or via Petplan’s Facebook page facebook.com/ PetplanUK. labrador/springer spaniel cross Dylan, who was born with severe hip displacement, that really changed Julie’s life.

She said: “He could barely walk, sit or stand for long periods. He should never have been bred.”

She took him to a hydrotherapy pool rather than giving him invasive surgery and became so fascinated by the treadmill treatment that she volunteered to help.

Last year, after a college course, Julie set up Craigard Treadmill Hydrotherapy, part of the Canine Hydrotherapy Association, at her Lincolnshire home.

There she treats dogs with neurological and physical conditions, referred to her by their vet.

Hydrotherapy can help relieve pain, swelling and stiff joints, improve circulation and re-educate gait pattern by using a treadmill.

Among former pensions worker Julie’s patients are an overweight dog with arthritis and another recovering from meningitis.

She said: “I feel very fortunate that I got the chance to do this. I get so much out of it, helping the dogs – it’s not work, it’s enjoyment.” MY rabbit is four years old and has started to get crusty bits in and around his ear – we wash her regularly but are unsure how to tackle this for fear of making it worse?