| Our Team Principal
- Angela Griffiths |
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Angela
Griffiths - Principal
Angela started Greyfriars, with Dawn Phillips, nearly five years ago in response to her experiences of rehabilitating her own dog Mia, a Wood Green rescue GSD cross, who suffered spinal injury and paralysis. This was a life changing experience and she gave up a successful business to realise the dream that has now become Greyfriars. Things have moved on a long way since the days of 2 people and a hydrotherapy pool. Angela believes in striving for the best possible care for animals and has continually reinvested to improve facilities and add new services. She has been joined by a team of like minded people that share the same drive for excellence, professional responsibility and compassion. Despite the difficulty of working long hours and studying at the same time, she is committed to continuing professional development, both personally and for her staff. She feels this is especially important in the new and rapidly advancing field of animal rehabilitation. Angela qualified as a CCRP in 2005. She lives with Rocky a four year old boxer, who came for rehab at 14 weeks with multiple hindlimb fractures due to brittle bones, and Aisha a two year old brindle greyhound, who originally came from Battersea Dogs Home for rehab and then became part of the family. Hobbies include photography, history, gardening, travel and skiing. |
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| Kirsty Arthur - Assistant Manager Certified
Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner – University of Tennessee,
College of Veterinary Medicine.
Kirsty originally came to Greyfriars as part of her HND course work experience – she loved it so much she refused to leave. Kirsty’s previous experience includes working in kennels and catteries, farm work and small animal rescue. Kirsty has now been with us for four years and her unbounded energy, enthusiasm and love for animals have helped to make Greyfriars special. Promotion to Assistant Manager, two years ago, reflects her commitment and contribution to Greyfriars. Kirsty worked tirelessly last year to complete her studies in America and qualify as a CCRP. Kirsty lives with Portia and Phoenix, labrador X collies, and Willow a two year rescue greyhound from Battersea Dogs Home (sister to Angela’s Aisha). Kirsty also has four rescue cats and nine rescue chinchillas so life is never dull. Hobbies include walking the dogs, skiing, squash and swimming! |
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| Karen Lees - Principal Physiotherapist Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, Category A Member of ACPAT, The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy.
Karen completed her physiotherapy degree in 2002, she then continued her post-graduate study through ACPAT and qualified as a Category A Veterinary Physiotherapist in January 2006. In the future Karen plans to complete an MSc course at the Royal Veterinary College and to participate in research associated with Veterinary Physiotherapy. Karen joined the team at Greyfriars in November 2005. She spent time working in the pool alongside Angela and other team members to understand both the complexity and variety of cases which are treated at Greyfriars. She then became an official member of the team as a veterinary physiotherapist in January 2006. Karen has experience of treating a variety of canine problems, including cruciate ligament problems, spinal injuries, arthritis and performance problems. Karen believes strongly in a functional, multi-disciplinary, team based approach to rehabilitation. Karen runs massage courses at Greyfriars and also works closely with The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy to help to promote Veterinary Physiotherapy. Karen lives with a standard Dachshund, Monty and her hobbies include long walks, horse riding, reading and drinking good wine. |
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Annelies
Klinker – Physiotherapist
MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy, Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, Category A Member of ACPAT (The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy)
Annelies completed her physiotherapy degree in 2002 and continued her post-graduate study at the Royal Veterinary College, qualifying as a Category A Veterinary Physiotherapist in December 2007. Her MSc research project investigated blood flow in tendon, a technique that will be very useful for future physiotherapy research. Annelies joined the team at Greyfriars in 2007. She spent time working in the pool alongside Angela and other team members to understand both the complexity and variety of cases which are treated at Greyfriars. Annelies has experience of treating a variety of canine problems, including cruciate ligament injury and conservative/surgical management, spinal injuries, arthritis and performance/sports injuries. Annelies believes strongly in a functional multi-disciplinary team based approach to rehabilitation, working closely with the client and referring veterinary surgeon to achieve the best possible outcome for the animal. Annelies lives with
2 golden retrievers, Ted and Alice, and has a horse, Sunny who
she competes at show jumping. Her hobbies include long walks,
watching rugby, sports cars and enjoying good food and wine. |
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| Dietrich
Graf von Schweinitz - Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (IVAS)
Dietrich is from
the US and gained his Doctor of Vet. Med. in Georgia (1982) and
subsequently qualified in the UK (1983). While practicing in the
US over 20 years ago he started studying acupuncture and integrating
this into clinical practice. In 1986 he moved to the UK and continued
to develop the acupuncture skills, and gained the IVAS certificate
in veterinary acupuncture. He is the past President of the Association
of British Veterinary Acupuncturists and a long standing Council
member, as well a member on the Board of Directors of the International
Veterinary Acupuncture Society. He has published on acupuncture
and lectured internationally. While his conventional practice
is restricted to horses he has practiced acupuncture on large
and small animals. He recently appeared on Blue Peter to acupuncture
Lucy. |
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Jo Frost - Veterinary Surgeon Jo qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Liverpool University in 2000. She initially worked in a mixed practice in Kent looking after a range of animals from hamsters to horses. After a period of 2 years, Jo decided to concentrate on the care of small animals and joined a busy practice in Reading. There Jo developed an interest in small animal medicine, pain control and acupuncture. In 2007, Jo moved to surrey becoming head vet at Stocton Veterinary Centre in Guildford, where she is enjoying working as part of a happy, hard-working team striving to give the very best in client and patient care. Jo very much enjoys being part of the team at Greyfriars, whose combined experience and dedication is key to the rehabilitation of animals enabling them to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. back to top |
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Diana Lowe - Administrator and Publicity Officer Diana discovered canine hydrotherapy when her Border Collie, Willow, had bilaterial hip replacements. When Greyfriars opened, Willow started swimming there and Storm, also a Border Collie, joined her although he just swims for fitness and fun. In 2005 Willow's recovery from an achilles tendon repair was speeded along by regular hydrotherapy sessions with Kirsty. Also in 2005 Diana's Border Collie family increased with the arrival of Mainline Hope who, as soon as he was old enough, joined the swimming gang. In 2006, and by the
big mistake of arriving too early to swim the dogs, so giving
time for a cup of tea and a chat with Angela, Diana was asked
if she had just a few hours a week to help out with admin stuff.
A few quickly became a lot as Greyfriars' courses have developed
and more and more publicity opportunities have come along. Diana
competes in agility with Storm. Hope is currently in training.
She also spends time in Cornwall with her son and makes regular
visits to Yorkshire as she is a Trustee of a new charity - The
Freedom of Spirit Trust for Border Collies. When
not involved with Greyfriars, her dogs and travelling she tries
to find time to sleep! |
