Laura Southworth

Laura grew up in Wisconsin, where her love of animals began. She received a Bachelor of Science in biology in 2000. When her agility dog, Ellie, had a strained muscle that veterinarians had a hard time diagnosing and treating, Laura discovered canine rehabilitation. After six months of rehab, Ellie was performing better than ever, and Laura was sold on rehabilitative therapy! She went on to obtain her CVT in 2014 from the Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology so she could pursue her dream of being part of a rehabilitation team. In 2017, she became a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner (CCRP). Laura is now the lead rehabilitation technician and enjoys being able to support her fellow teammates while continuing to challenge herself developing new skills in a leadership role. She received her master's in natural resource stewardship in 2023. Laura’s career goals include providing compassionate and loving care while treating and respecting each patient as an individual. She is also interested in continuing to develop her knowledge of animal training using positive reinforcement and gentle handling techniques. Fun jobs in Laura’s past include handling for an Iditarod musher for three seasons and working at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana, caring for 185 large cats, including tigers, lions, leopards, and mountain lions.