The animals receiving care aren’t the only ones benefitting from Veterinary Rehabilitation Services of Virginia (VRSVA). The downtown Fredericksburg facility is also providing an outlet for staff members to fulfill their goal of working in the canine rehabilitation industry.
VRSVA founder Sam Blake is an animal nurturer at heart who has spent the past 23 years rehabbing four-legged friends.
The Caroline County native earned her first opportunity as a kennel assistant in 2002 and subsequently climbed the ladder in the veterinary field. She became a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) and obtained her Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner certificate to propel her forward in her field and as a businesswoman.
VRSVA is located at 710 Littlepage Street. Blake also has ownership in another VRSVA location in Richmond. The 3-year-old establishment is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dogs are able to get a variety of treatments at VRSVA, including laser therapy, piezowave therapy, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy and acupuncture. These services are offered as an alternative to surgery, but postoperative animals benefit as well. VRSVA also specializes in building custom leg braces and prosthetics for pets.
Animals with soft tissue injuries, arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, muscle and tendon injuries, ligament tears, neurologic conditions and other chronic pain issues can be nursed back to health by Blake and the VRSVA staff.
Blake’s peers and proteges speak highly of her and VRSVA assistants are grateful for the opportunity and knowledge she passes down. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a much faster than average growth rate for animal care and service workers and veterinary technicians, with numerous job openings expected each year.
Dr. Julia Wolfe has worked alongside Blake for the past 18 months, specializing in acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. She’s served in the veterinary industry for 18 years and provides services at VRSVA every Monday.
“We are just trying to improve prognosis and provide alternative care to make the animals feel better without using a lot of medicine,” Wolfe said. “Issues like blood flow, trigger points, and weak muscles are not always fixed by a pill.”
The recovery of Bruno, a male dachshund, who entered VRSVA paralyzed, but began walking again, is a testament to the facility’s impact, Wolfe noted.
“A lot of older pets have mobility issues and I enjoy rehabbing with them,” she said.
When dogs recover from injury, they receive a graduation cap and their photo is taken to mark the occasion as they exit. Those are memories that rehab assistant Trinity Gibbs holds on to dearly. It was very memorable for Gibbs when a police dog suffering from an ACL injury graduated after using VRSVA services in late 2024.
Rehab Assistant Terra Page worked with Blake previously at another animal hospital. Page is pursuing her LVT certification at Penn Foster College while working at VRSVA.
“I love it here and I can tell the animals like it, too,” Page said.
Rehab Assistant Anu Rajala provides massages to the animals. She uses compression methods, various stretching positions, and heating pads in her massage sessions.
“My massages have been very beneficial to postoperative dogs and to the elderly ones,” Rajala said.
In addition to Fredericksburg and Richmond, a VRSVA facility is located in the Gordonsville area of Orange County at 17339 James Madison Highway.
