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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2000)
Five folks who've found unique ways to talk to—and for—the animals lot of us have pets at home, and some of us are lucky enough to share office space w ith our furry friends, but the people you'll meet in this story have taken their love for animals a step further. They've each found an unusual w ay to enhance the lives of many animals and made it their life's w ork. Sure, w e might know gay vets and lesbian dog groomers, but these five people go where few others have gone before. They're all ?V\o ' 0 members of our community, and th ey're all fascinating. Perhaps they'll even inspire you to invent a new career! To youp pet's good health How a woman’s three-legged dog led her down, a new path by Above: “ Tell me where it hurts,” Dr. Mandeville asks her patient Below: It helps to be a contortionist if you’re an animal chiropractor O riana G reen 1 he magazines on the waiting room And Mandeville took on the additional table tell the whole story: Natural training for another, more personal reason. “I’d Health, Yoga, Parents and Dog Fancy. had cancer, and I didn’t care if it was mildly Yes, Portland chiropractor Dr. Mary eccentric— life is about what matters. I didn’t Mandeville treats both human and care if I earned a dime for it," she says earnestly. canine spines. She’s also treated hors But this area is crawling with devoted dog es—although she no longer wants to people who will sniff out remedies for their make ham calls— cats, bunnies and ailing pooch pals, no matter how unusual the even a rat. And how on earth do cure. Good word of mouth soon brought you adjust a rat? “It’s hard, be Mandeville plenty of furry patients; today, cause they’re so little,” Mande about one-fourth of her clients are the four ville admits, clearly not one to legged kind. O f those, about 80 percent are turn tail on a good challenge. dogs, many of them the larger breeds who suf And it was one helluva chal fer from hip dysplasia. And some even come lenge that inspired Mandeville to for a doubleheader! treat animals. About five years ago, “There are some really sweet things about Molly, her beloved black Lab mix, this practice. Sometimes a person and their dog got hit by a car and lost a leg. Man will get adjusted together,” Mandeville says deville was amazed at her recovery. softly, displaying what must be a very gentle “She just went, ‘OK I used to bedside manner. “I also have many have four legs, now I have people who’ll bring their dogs three— life goes on.’ ” "Sure, it's a little atypical for treatment even though Still, the chiroprac * * ' r - they’ve never been to a chi tor could see her dog to have dogs trooping in and ropractor before.” was developing other Not only that, this is problems as a result of out. But I think they put me in an office where patients compensating for the can bring their dogs along a happier, richer space." missing leg, and she just for the company. As wanted to help. In 1996, — Dr. M ary Mandeville Mandeville says, “It’s the per she found a training program fect antidote to a typically sterile in the Midwest for chiropractors and office environment.” veterinarians that was run by a woman She is clear that this was the right evolu who happens to be both. Mandeville spent tion for her career. “It has done nothing but hundreds of hours there learning tech enrich my practice. Working with patients niques for working with animals. So how who don’t use words has deepened my ability do two such disparate breeds of doctors to work with humans,” she explains. “Some find common ground to share? times words get in the way— it forces me to “I loved the course and loved that be more quiet.” two professions came together without any Mandeville has moved her office to a won bitching and moaning,” she explains. She’s derful old home on Southeast Belmont Street quick to add, “I’m not a vet, so I work with a big fenced yard where all the office dogs with the animal’s vet.” In fact, she only feel free to romp. Eventually, she’ll convert the treats animals that are referred by a vet. garage into a special treatment area for her Her first patient, of course, was Molly. animal patients. Their routine includes range of motion “Sure, it’s a little atypical to have dogs exercises and daily physical therapy. “Molly trooping in and out,” she says with a chuck can run; she even did the Doggie Dash [an le. “But I think they put me in a happier, annual Portland fund-raiserj for a few richer space.” years,” Mandeville says proudly. In fact, And what if the animals took over her prac Molly ran so well on three legs, a spectator tice? “I’d miss my people clients, but I’m open came up to her afterward and pointed out her to the flow of whatever happens.” dog was limping; he hadn’t noticed Molly had Spoken like a true best friend. j n a good reason for her odd gait.