About

Conscious Paws has been providing top-quality pet care services for twenty-five years now.  We mainly serve upper Montgomery County, and potentially surrounding areas too with special consideration.  

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

Under Dr. Maniet's tutelage, Wendy further learned about flower essences, homeopathy and the power of energy medicine to heal, and how acupuncture coupled with massage, specific whole-food nutritional diets and supplementation support, plus pure water brought most animals around from what ailed them (along with individualized veterinary care).  Wendy additionally provided in-home care visits for clinic patients: subQ-fluids, energy healing and massage, plus cat visits and overnight pet-sitting 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.  

Five years prior to working for Dr. Maniet, Wendy went to massage school (Potomac Massage Therapy Institute in Washington DC), became Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and began professional practice in August of 1995.  She specialized in the healing arts: relaxation massage, deep-tissue massage and energy-work, with a specialization in Process Oriented Bodywork (Trauma-Informed Recovery via guided imagery, informed 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's new 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 adjusting 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 as a trusted local resource.  She managed the supplement section and assisted customers with food options/education.  From there Conscious Paws grew significantly and became what it is today.  

Wendy, although not a certified trainer, offers embodiment training packages (page coming soon!) for pet owners. She teaches tools and practices to clients as a means to help pet-people become more present, calm and mindful in their walks and daily interactions with their pets, and thus more empowered.  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.  

She is educated and certified in numerous healing arts modalities, including as a Reiki Master, and 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.  

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For decades Wendy worked solo.  Recently (December 2024) she hired a few committed walkers and sitters (all vetted contractors), to assist when Wendy isn't available to care for your pet(s).  We are certified pet sitters through Pet Sitters International.  With Wendy's extensive experience and high client regard, she hadn't found it necessary to be certified before now.  We participate in continuing education and outreach courses to build skills as professional pet sitters, and background checks are current. 

Conscious Paws provides meet and greets 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.