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Work through University of Oregon
This is a collection of work I have done through the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication from 2023-2025
Photo Story
This photo story was a project I did for a journalism class with Professor Dan Morrison of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. I visited and interviewed the K9 Swim Center in Eugene, a facility that provides swim therapy and rehabilitation for dogs.
Swim Assistant Kayla Seanor (left) works for K9 Swim Center, a hydrotherapy clinic for dogs. Since opening in 2018, their most common clients are dogs such as 14-year-old Penny (right), who has arthritis and swims in the 91º water to improve her mobility. Penny receives treatment once a week, and after one session was able to jump onto her owner's bed again. Penny swims with a lifejacket as she’s not strong enough to swim without support. Sessions include 45 minutes of swimming with 5-minute breaks for older dogs such as Penny.
Long-time K9 Swim Center client Sue Picard, (top) and her 7-year-old retriever Cher, (bottom) compete in agility pageants together. Cher swims at K9 Swim Center every week and has since they opened in 2018. Cher started swimming due to obesity, but quickly lost the weight and continued to keep her strength and mobility. Picard’s recent dog, Jack, swam at K9 Center too, “Jack had arthritis, and after two sessions he was back to running across our backyard. It gave us 2 extra years with him,” Picard said.
K9 Swim Center manager Christie Wells (top) began working for the company when they opened. “There’s no two dogs that swim the same, so we have different treatment programs for every client,” Wells said. “Nothing makes me feel more meaning and value than helping these dogs. The paycheck is just a bonus to me.” Sunny (bottom), a 4-year-old retriever, swims at the center to maintain her strength and health. While treatment programs are gentler for older dogs, Sunny, age 4, receives her workout by playing fetch in the water for 45 minutes.
Clients such as retrievers like Sunny (pictured, age 4) and her sister Cher swim at K9 to stay in shape, as swimming works out different muscles and improves strength without potential stress to their body. Other common clients are in recovery from injuries, often including surgery, referred here post-op. K9 Swim Center also treats younger dogs with anxiety. The inflated neck guard holds each dog's head up and keeps them from swallowing too much water.
K9 Swim Center treats around 80 dogs per week, most of them having been clients for years. The first session is free, and after which sessions are $80 each. Many clients are recommended to the center from veterinarians, as the re-injury rate for dogs is high and hydrotherapy improves their recovery, as well as general lifespan. Swim Assistants Seanor (pictured, right, with Sunny, left) and Wells stay by each dogs side throughout the duration of their session, pulling them backwards while they swim to challenge their muscles and uttering constant words of encouragement. “It’s impressive how much of a difference our verbal encouragement makes,” Seanor said. “It keeps each dog going even when they’re clearly starting to tire out.”
