About

Conscious Paws has been providing top-quality pet care services for twenty-six years now. Mainly CPPS serves Montgomery County, and some surrounding areas with special consideration.

Wendy's work for well-known, pioneering holistic (and integrative) veterinarian Dr. Monique Maniet, in Bethesda Maryland, began in 1999 after becoming a client in her clinic.  In addition to providing massage there, Wendy soon became her assistant in patient visits, performing dental cleanings, providing nutritional guidance and education, assisting during euthanasia, providing grief support, offering flower essence consultations, filling prescriptions (conventional and holistic) and running labs.  Eventually she also acted as office manager, running the clinic and facilities.  

Five years prior to working for Dr. Maniet, Wendy went to massage school (Potomac Massage Therapy Institute in Washington DC) and became Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, 1995. Her professional practice specialized in the healing arts: relaxation massage, deep-tissue massage and energy-work, Process Oriented Bodywork (Trauma-Informed Recovery via guided imagery, dialogue and processing, educated touch, energy work) where therapist and client work specifically on dissociative body-memory patterns.  From there her skills and gifts in intuitive energy healing grew.  Wendy is also a certified Pilates and Qi Gong Instructor.

Under Dr. Maniet's tutelage, Wendy learned about flower essences, homeopathy and the power of energy medicine with animals.  And how acupuncture coupled with massage, whole-food nutrition and supplementation, and good quality water brought most animals around from what ailed them (along with individualized veterinary care).  Wendy also provided in-home care visits for clinic patients giving subQ-fluids, energy healing and massage, helping with extreme cat cases (feral), and providing overnight stays throughout her time at VHC.

Wendy worked closely with Dr. Mainet's and Dr. Carol Lundquist's (chiropractic vet) animal patients helping resolve issues related to trauma, drug-induced paralysis, arthritis, sprains and strains, general health malaise, and aches and pains from aging/illness (cats, dogs, horses).  After several years practicing massage at VHC, she became certified in Canine Massage through Integrated Touch Therapy, in Ohio.  

These skills coupled with her passion for animals led to specializing in individualized care for special needs pets, whether it be providing fluids, walking disabled dogs, working with feral cats, or assisting newly adopted pets: puppies, kittens, and rescues adjust to their new lives and environments.  

From 2008-2012 she worked as Senior Sales Associate for The Big Bad Woof, where customers and fellow staff deemed her, "trusted local resource".  She managed the supplement section and assisted customers with wellness choices and nutritional education.  From there Conscious Paws grew significantly and became what it is today.  

Although not an official certified trainer, Wendy offers embodiment training packages (page coming soon!) for pet owners. She offers tools and practices to clients as a means to teach presence, calm and mindfulness on walks and in daily interactions with pets, thus creating empowered relationships. True empowerment represents alignment, balance and well-being.  

Animals need our calm presence and empowered hearts to thrive.  Not perfection per se, as we are all human, though surely we can offer boundaries, embodiment, and mindfulness.  

Wendy is educated and certified in numerous healing arts modalities, including Reiki Master.  She holds an M.A. from Maryland University of Integrative Health in Health Coaching with a specialization in Integrative Nutrition with further certification in Herbal Studies.  

Additionally, Wendy has certifications through DM University: Pet Nutrition, Raw Food Specialist, Homeopathy for Dogs and Cats.  Wendy has been offering well-being to people and pets for decades, and is a big fan of Dr. Becker and her Forever Dog book.  Pets deserve health and wellness, just as we do.  Wendy promotes all that she has learned.  

Wendy also works with local agility dog groups, offering massage and healing services.  Please contact her directly for schedule.

From Solo Onward

For decades Wendy worked solo.  Recently (December 2024) she hired a few committed walkers-sitters (all vetted contractors) to assist when she isn't available to care for your pet(s).  With Wendy's extensive experience and high client regard, she hadn't found it necessary to join a large certifiction group before now, though now we are certified through Pet Sitters International and insured with Alternative Balance.

We participate in continuing education and outreach courses to build skills as professional pet sitters, and background checks are current. 

Conscious Paws provides Meet & Greet in your home for a fee, to be applied to your first service, to ensure we are the best fit for your needs. Scheduling is done through a client portal system.  During our meet and greet we review procedures, agreements, liability, and care needs.  

We are committed to providing clients peace of mind and assurance, and are fully prepared to care for your pets and your home while you are away.