Give YOUR DOG the EXERCISE they DESERVE! (With retired PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYER, Max Nicastro)
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 15 Dec 2019
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SEE the FUN your DOG can have with the SKATE DOGTOR!
Dog exercise company Skate Dogtor was established in the summer of 2018, when Max Nicastro combined his professional hockey background with his unconditional love for dogs. At that time, Nicastro’s wife Briana had an idea: What if Max could harness the healing power of movement by using his skill in skating to exercise and engage dogs?
Max started organizing rollerblading outings with harnessed dogs attached to a bungee leash, giving them the opportunity to run at a comfortable pace while under complete control. With each skate, he saw that a dog was completely transformed into a content, relaxed animal. This inspired him to start sharing the transformative joy of a skate with more dogs.
The benefits of skating with dogs are instantly noticeable: They experience improved physical fitness (strengthened muscles and bones, weight loss, boosted cardiovascular health, better sleep, and increased longevity) as well as improved mental health (less aggression, elimination of destructive behaviors, decreased separation anxiety and happier dispositions). Every one of them sleeps like a newborn puppy at the end of a skate too!
From inception, we have already accomplished a lot through Skate Dogtor. For example, a 10-year-old lab that Max has been skating three times a week has been able to maintain peak physical fitness . An overweight pitbull lost 15 pounds over a 60-day regiment and is now at her optimal weight. And regular skate outings have built confidence in a coonhound, a Boykin and a husky by helping them control destructive tendencies caused by anxiety.
This new type of enrichment made it clear that we could impact and serve animal welfare by skating adoptable shelter dogs. So we built strong relationships with the five animal shelters in Charleston, who understand the importance of mental and physical activity for stressed shelter dogs and are happy to collaborate with us to help improve their well-being.
HOW IT WORKS
We volunteer at 3 to 6 shelters per month. With each trip, we load the dogs scheduled to skate that day into either the shelter’s van, if available, or our personal cars. For security and the comfort of the dogs, they are transported in kennels to one of several ideal locations in the area.
Then, it’s SHOW TIME! A majority of the dogs pick it up right away, while others understandably need time to adapt until they find their rhythm. Roughly 25 minutes covers 2-4 miles of absolute “freedom.” When we’re finished skating, the dogs are spoiled with love, water and treats by Skate Dogtor volunteers. They return to the shelter relaxed, spirits lifted, and ready to greet their potential adopters.
Skate Dogtor Mission Statement
To improve the physical and mental health of shelter dogs and increase their rate of adoption.
Current Status of Skate Dogtor
To achieve this mission, Max and Briana Nicastro have applied to register Skate Dogtor as a recognized 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Short-Term Goals (Year 1-2)
1.Acquire a dog transportation trailer so we can operate independently and efficiently;
2.Visit 1+ shelter on a daily basis, helping as many adoptable dogs as possible;
3.Add a paid dog handler/trailer who can manage the dogs and trailer;
4.Bring on more professional skaters to the team;
5.Hold adoption events on a regular basis.
Mid-Term Goals (Years 2-4)
1.Custom build an adoption bus;
2.Expand Skate Dogtor to areas outside Charleston.
Long-Term Goals (Years 4+)
1.Build an indoor/outdoor Skate Dogtor facility in Charleston where shelter, rescue, and foster dogs could get as much exercise as they need at their convenience. This would be a controlled environment with different landscape elements, including pavement, grass and dirt, with fun obstacles throughout. This dog paradise would also be available to any active or veteran military, as well as K9 police dogs and other trained first-responder dogs. We would also welcome family dogs to join the party as a service and revenue stream;
2.Incorporate technology that can optimize a dog’s health by tracking statistics with the latest software and hardware;
3.Allow for short-term therapeutic stays at the facility to provide an opportunity for a shelter dog to get healthy. Because this facility would be open to the public, families looking to adopt would have a chance to see the dogs in a comfortable, stress-free environment.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS! PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY SIMPLY FOLLOWING OUR JOURNEY
Website: https://www.skatedogtor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skate_dogtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Skate-Dogtor-619828295051418/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/skate-dogtor-charleston-2
#SkateDogtor #DogTraining #HealthyDog