The owners of the aMaizin Adventure Park, Carlton and Kristina Le Feuvre, have applied to turn a redundant craft shed at their popular visitor attraction into an animal therapy centre.
The plot has become a storage area following a brief existence as an arts and crafts unit, but the applicants are now keen to provide space for animal therapist Lucy Falle, who will run the centre if the proposals are approved.
Miss Falle said it would provide a variety of treatments for dogs and cats to ease joint pain, or help them to recover following injury or surgery.
She said: ‘It’s all about rehabilitating, particularly dogs, but cats as well, should they need it after an accident, injury or surgery.
‘Or maybe they are just elderly animals.
‘There are ways of making them more comfortable using massage or different types of therapy.
‘There are hundreds of kinds of treatment and there isn’t one way of making animals more comfortable.
‘Sessions vary, depending on the animal.
‘I start with a minimum of an hour for a first consultation to get to know the dog and its handler to see what treatment is required.’
Miss Falle, who gained animal therapy qualifications in the UK, explained that she had spoken to vets in the Island who believed there was a need for an animal therapy centre in the west, as the only current therapy facility is at New Era Vets in St Saviour.
‘With particularly arthritic or elderly dogs, people wrongly assume there is no way to make their lives easier,’ she added.
‘I have worked with animals for years and years and run a dog-walking and pet-sitting and training business.
‘I’ve always been interested in dogs and horses and I wanted to work with them to do something satisfying and rewarding.’
Mr and Mrs Le Feuvre’s planning application states that approving the change of use of part of their operation would provide an opportunity to support an ‘essential business’ that would take place on already developed land.
To date the plans, which are yet to be determined, have received no objections.
Pet owners who want more information can contact Miss Falle on 07829824534 or email her via lucy@muddypaws.je.
