Willow Grove Animal Wellness Centre

12/22/2024

Our holiday hours are as follows:

Daycare: there will be no daycare Dec 24,25,26 or January 1. Your packages will be reimbursed accordingly

Boarders: all boarding friends will be heading home for the holidays. Please have an appointment slot selected for pick up on the 24th. Drop off the 26th will have instructions going out via email tomorrow. We do not allow pick up or drop off on January 1. Your booking will automatically be extended to January 2nd.

Rehab/swim: all appointments are set up with the appropriate staff member working on your case.

All other practitioners: their schedule may differ from ours so reach out to your practitioner providing the services to confirm or change your appointment.

12/14/2024

Today was an exciting day in our facility. We want to congratulate on the adoption of our wonderful MJ. We are so excited to watch her flourish in such a fabulous home and we would be lying if we weren't pumped she will still be a part of our Willow Grove Family, just in a different way. Welcome home MJ, you are so loved!!

12/03/2024

Our winter boarding availability is filling fast with very limited January availability left and March break already waitlisted. Please ensure you are booking early to ensure you have a spot. As you choose your vacation time for next year and want to use our boarding services now is a good time to book! www.willowgroveawc.ca and click BOOK NOW

11/25/2024

Please note our lobby will be closed to public access this Friday November 29th to fix our defective floors.

If you are daycare or boarding; we will resume curbside pick up and drop off for the day. This will be through our old front doors and staff will happily greet you to retrieve or return your pet

If you are swimming, massage, integrative medicine please await staff guidance around the building to a separate entrance when you can enter the facility. This pathway is muddy so please bring appropriate footwear.

This service disruption will only be one day but our lobby will likely look different throughout the week as we clear everything out. We appreciate your patience.

11/12/2024

💙💙UP FOR ADOPTION!! PLEASE SHARE💙💙

This is one special lady that quite literally deserves the world. She just wants snuggles and cuddles and companionship. So eager to please and excited to start building confidence in a new home. She loves soft beds, plush toys and human touch (as much as you'll give her). MJ is quite literally a once in a life soul dog that is so eager to find her permanent home. We have not tested her face to face with other dogs or cats but she does seem keen to interact. She has been tested with men, women and children and shows no issue with them. She is currently working on potty training still so would need some work in that area as well as her fear of outside noises and loud sounds. She has not had an easy life so far so we are eager to find a family that will love her with as much love as she has to give. Are you looking or know someone looking for an incredible companion, MJ is it. Trust me.

11/06/2024

Pool Service and Details. Booking is open as of November 18th. I will post a "how to book" video shortly to help you book your first safety swims for solos and consultation for recreational swims. As always, let me know if you have any questions.

10/21/2024

VOTE!!!! Our incredible friends at Be Well Dog Behaviour & Training have been nominated for the outstanding new business award with Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. Such an incredible addition to what our facility offers and we would really appreciate your vote

10/03/2024

Hey, I'm MJ! If you have been into our facility in the past couple of weeks you might have seen me snoozing or hanging out with staff. I am recovering from a surgery called an FHO (femoral head osteotomy). At 10 months old, I have seen a lot of things and finally found my way to a wonderful group of people that helped my surgery happen and found Willow Grove so I can recover too. Ultimately, I will be looking for a place to call my forever home after I complete my rehabilitation program and I am wondering if you know anyone that is looking for shadow, cuddle bug, tug of war participant or a couch I can curl up on. I will let you know more about me, my recovery and my life story soon! 

10/01/2024

For the first time in 3.5 years, we have openings in our daycare program. Our membership works based on weekly attendance and we are now taking applications. If you are looking for your social dog to get out and get some exercise during the day, our daycare program might be a good fit for you. Email [email protected] to request your application and start your daycare trial.

09/08/2024

Please ensure your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccines. Southwestern public health and several veterinary clinics have teamed up to host multiple low cost rabies clinics in the coming months. Bats are fabulous creatures and are a huge part of our ecosystem but they can get into homes easily and possibly bite your 'indoor only' animals. If you have been bitten by a wild animal that is a rabies vector, please contact your physician to ensure proper treatment.

*Please note up to date rabies vaccines are required to board in our facility.*

A resident of Brantford-Brant is in hospital with rabies, the Brant County Health Unit announced Friday.

The health unit, in a statement, said the exposure to the virus came from a bat in the Gowganda area of Timiskaming. However, bats in all areas of Ontario are known to carry rabies.

It is the first-ever confirmed case of rabies in a Brantford-Brant resident.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with this individual and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Dr. Rebecca Comley, Brant County’s medical officer of health, said in the statement. “Rabies, though rare, is a serious virus in humans.

“If you have direct contact with any animal known to carry rabies, you should seek immediate medical attention.”

Ontario’s last domestic case of human rabies occurred in 1967. There have been 26 human cases in Canada since 1924, said the health unit.

“To ensure privacy for the family, no further information about the individual will be released,” Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a statement late Friday afternoon.

A viral infection that causes brain and spinal cord inflammation, rabies is typically spread to humans through direct contact with saliva or mucous – a bit or a scratch- of an infected animal.

Rabies is typically found in bats, skunks, foxes and raccoons.

Even tiny bites or scratches, which can be difficult to see, can transmit the virus.

To date, there has never been a documented case of human-to-human transmission of rabies virus. As a precaution, family members and other close contacts are being assessed and offered post-exposure prophylaxis , as needed.

Ways to reduce exposure to rabies includes: keeping pets and livestock rabies vaccinations up to date. It’s the law; stay away from and do not touch unfamiliar animals; keep pets away from wildlife; supervise children when they are around animals; don’t let pets roam free and feed pets indoors.

If you have direct contact with a bat and or if any animal known to carry rabies bites or scratches you, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention right away.

For more information visit www.ontario.ca/rabies .

[email protected]

09/05/2024

Excellent resources coming your way for Low Cost Rabies clinics.

Information about rabies, the rabies vaccine, and protecting against rabies

08/01/2024

Fergus is still looking for a home. Please share!!

07/22/2024

Hey, I'm Fergus, I am a big 4 year old ball of energy searching for somewhere to call my forever home. It's no fault of my own, I am a super sweet boy and I love companionship. I have good manners although four paws on the floor is sometimes hard for me when I get super excited. I was surrendered to Willow Grove about a month ago and in that month I have gone through a series of challenges to test my skills. I'm super smart so I'd love to share my score
Kids-LOVE -I would thrive in a home with children that are busy and love to play. I am a bigger boy so small children may be fearful but I usually approach with kisses because that makes everything better. He interacted with a 1.5 year old boy who has dogs at home.
Car- EXCELLENT- I sit in my seat quietly but please keep the windows up, the wind knots my hair.
Dogs- LOVE- sometimes a little too much so I need to be reminded to calm down and that other dogs don't always like being mounted.
Cats - GOOD - dog savvy cats would be good with me. I do think they understand my language and I get a little confused when play bows don't mean the same thing to them. I don't chase or obsess over them but I will accidentally poodle punch them because I get really excited about making friends.
Seperation- GOOD- I have been through a lot in the last month or so, so sometimes I get a little nervous when alone. That being said, I do not destroy things and settle quickly. My foster parents confine me during the day in the entry hall and I do well there and nap the day away on my bed. The crate made me a little nervous so we haven't tried it fully.
Grooming- PROFESSIONAL- I have been groomed my whole life and do well at the groomer. I require a full groom every 6 weeks as my fur type mats quickly.
Vet-WONDERFUL- I don't mind the vet at all. Afterall, there are treats involved. I am now up to date on my vaccines, I was already neutered and the vet said I don't have any tick borne diseases. I weigh 77lbs and could shed a tiny bit to keep me lean and fit.

If I were to pick an ideal home, I would want a family with kids I can play with or another dog to keep me busy. I enjoy an active lifestyle so bring me along for a run or swim! I could use a little help with my recall still but I think Willow Grove knows people that can help with that. This will be my third home, so I would want it to be my last and while I adjust well to new and changing environments, I think it's my time to settle into my forever. That's a little about me and I look forward to meeting you soon!

Please email [email protected] if you are interested in bringing home an awesome furry friend to join your family.

07/05/2024

💡 ATTENTION VETERINARY TEAMS 💡 we are excited to host this workshop designed for veterinary teams and reducing anxiety and fear within your appointments.

We are so excited to be offering our first in person workshop for veterinary teams, and we can’t wait to share our passion and expertise to help your team lower stress of appointments and procedures, communicate with guardians of fearful or “difficult dogs” for better outcomes, and reduce risk of bites. Registration Fee is $85+HST and Self-Registration is NOW OPEN: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/be-well-dog-behaviour-training?location_id=2019&service_id=14235 Email [email protected] for more information or if experiencing difficulty self-registering.

07/04/2024

One of my favourite parts of this business is seeing the same clients with new fur family members. Welcome Winston to our family here at Willow Grove. We are looking forward to seeing you grow ❤️❤️

06/25/2024

5 years ago today, I opened my doors for the first time. Willow Grove Animal Wellness Centre became my pride and joy and I am so proud to do what I do everyday. Today, I received a young entrepreneurship award with Community Futures Oxford and it couldn't be a better way to celebrate. I do what I do to make an impact on my community, my colleagues and my profession. Our team genuinely cares about your pets while in our care for a variety of services and I am truly honoured with the last 5 years of your business and your pets 🥰

06/06/2024

Once again proud to stand in the Gallery today as Bill 171 reached Royal Assent! A project that has been in the works for 20 plus years and I have had the privilege to work on for the last 3 years as Vice President. This bill will formally recognize RVT's and help bring team based medicine to life. A practice we already follow with regulated professionals to ensure your pets are receiving safe care.

05/24/2024

Thank you for such a wonderful evening. Celebrating, reminiscing and gathering to recognize the change and value your team has on small businesses like mine. We were honoured to accept the 2024 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD last night. We want to congratulate all winners and nominees from the evening as we would not have the supportive, local focused community we are privileged to be a part of without you.