Blog

Laura, CVT

My name is Laura Flores, I’ve been working with animals for the last 10 years and have always had a special interest in helping them anyway I could.

I started as a dog groomer at a local shop where I was able to make connections with clients and coworkers that further cemented my interest in the veterinary field.

In 2016 I graduated from the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College. I worked at a small animal general practice where I was able to grow as a veterinary professional eventually becoming their lead technician.

After years of general practice I decided I wanted to be a part of a closer community, and that is what sparked my interest in animal rehabilitation.

I’m currently in the process of obtaining my certification from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and look forward to continuing to grow and learn. At home, I am kept busy by my 2 year old daughter and 16 year old shih tzu Oreo.

Katie, CCRA, NBCAAM

Katie has always loved being around animals and has spent her life working with them. She currently lives in Wheaton, IL with her family and her Pitbull mix, Sonny.

She earned her B.S. in Biology from DePaul University and began her rehabilitation journey in 2019 as an assistant at Integrative Pet Care of Chicago. Katie quickly fell in love with the field and worked her way up to the role of rehabilitation therapist, earning her Canine Rehabilitation Certification (CCRA) through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2023. Since then, she has also obtained her Canine Massage Certification through Canis Bodyworks and national certification through NBCAAM.

One of Katie’s favorite parts about working in rehabilitation is that no two patients are ever the same and you are constantly learning something new. She enjoys the challenge of continuously adapting treatment plans to provide each animal with the best possible care for a happy, healthy life.

Jordan Bach, CVT

Jordan has always loved animals, growing up with dogs and volunteering with the Naperville Humane Society throughout high school.

Jordan graduated from Joliet Junior College’s veterinary technology program, passed the VTNE, and got her vet tech license in Spring 2024. While in school, Jordan worked part-time at Two Bostons, where she first learned and became passionate about pet nutrition.

Jordan recently transitioned from conventional vet medicine to rehabilitation, and is currently working towards receiving her canine rehabilitation certification through Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

Jordan became interested in rehabilitation due to the close bonds rehab allows you to make with patients, and the ways in which rehab utilizes integrative medicine to improve the lives of patients.

At home, Jordan takes care of her two dogs; Truman, a mixed breed rescue dog and Mabel, a retired laboratory Beagle.

Dr. Meno

Dr. Meno grew up in Illinois and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was five years old. She always had an interest in animals, which resulted in her owning a variety of pets. Currently, she and her boyfriend, Mike, share their household with dogs, cats, reptiles, a bird, and a rabbit. She feels strongly that pets are important members of the family and treats her patients with the same care and compassion she would give her own.

Dr. Meno graduated from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she completed a rotating small animal internship with VCA Aurora/Berwyn where she gained valuable experience with a variety of specialties. It wasn’t long after she started practicing that she became frustrated with the limitations of conventional medicine when treating chronic diseases in her patients. She studied acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Chi University in 2014 and quickly found that acupuncture helped her improve the quality of life in some of the patients that conventional medicine alone failed to help. Since then, she attended the Healing Oasis and became certified in veterinary spinal manipulation (animal chiropractic). She has also gained experience in veterinary rehabilitation. She continues to expand her knowledge in holistic modalities and enjoys practicing integrative medicine.

In addition to veterinary medicine, Dr. Meno loves to travel and explore different cultures. Her travels have taken her to Australia, Italy, South Africa, Guatemala, China, Thailand, Ireland, and the Galápagos Islands. She also enjoys yoga, cooking, and spending time with her pets.

Brandon

Brandon lives in Downers Grove with his family and dog Broadway. He first started working with dogs in 2018, in boarding and daycare. Currently, he is completing classes through Canis Bodyworks to become a certified NBCAAM canine massage therapist. His second massage certification; having completed human massage therapy education and certification/licensing in 2014.

Always loving animals, getting to work with them has been something he has truly enjoyed. And being a part of the process in helping these amazing companions and their caring owners has been a great experience for him. He looks forward to continually expanding and learning within the veterinary field. He is looking forward to helping the pets and amazing team that’s around him.

One of his favorite things about working in rehab is seeing what the hard work of a patient and supporting team can accomplish. Another being the great relationships and bonds you get to make with the pets and owners. When not working, he loves getting to spend as much time as he can with his dog; especially when enjoying a beautiful nature walk is involved as well.

Tracy

Pets have always held a special place in Tracy’s heart, bringing joy and endless learning opportunities. She competes with her dogs in barn hunt, dock diving, FastCAT, scent work, and conformation. This firsthand experience provides invaluable insight into canine athletes’ unique needs.

Tracy’s passion for rehabilitation was sparked when her miniature schnauzer suffered an injury. She became a Certified Canine Athletic Specialist (C.C.A.S.) and looks forward to expanding her knowledge and skills while completing her Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA) training.

CARA brings Tracy together with something she enjoys and people who feel the same way. Rehabilitation excites her, and every day presents opportunities to make a difference in pet’s lives and the people who love them. When not competing in dog sports or creating endless enrichment for her Wirehaired Vizslas, Tracy enjoys hiking and exploring new vacation spots with her husband.

Amanda

CVTA, NCCMT, CCRA (in progress)

Amanda lives in Mokena with her family, cattle dog Roo and cat Ruca. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2009 and received her veterinary technician assistant degree from San Juan College. In effort to benefit helping animals with mobility she attended Canis Bodyworks in 2019 to become a certified canine massage therapist and received her certification through the NBCAAM.

This has been a long-time goal of Amanda’s to work in an animal rehab facility. She is currently attending CRI and working towards becoming a CCRA. She also has interests in kinesiology taping, acupressure, animal communication, and reiki to help better assist each and every patient.

Her love for animals is apparent in the gentle way she interacts with each pet she encounters. Her favorite thing about working in rehab is being able to see the improvement that rehabilitation has on the quality of life of our patients.

The world has so much to learn from animals & Amanda wants to be their voice-helping with healing their bodies, minds, & hearts.

Megan

Megan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology from Augustana College. Following an internship with the Shedd Aquarium, she earned a certificate in Zoo & Aquarium Studies in 2013 from Western Illinois. She volunteered with the Shedd for 9 years in both the Marine Mammal Department and Wild Reef. She misses it terribly!

Megan has held various positions in the veterinary field for over 25 years mainly at a companion animal vet clinic. She’s new to the rehab world and is excited to learn more. She enjoys seeing the improvements each pet makes week to week and the happiness it brings to their owners.

In her free time Megan loves to travel with her fiancé, Tim. She also enjoys reading, crafting and painting, antiquing and baseball. When she can, she devotes time to greyhound rescue. She and Tim share their home with their furry children, 2 dogs and 3 cats. They also have 2 Russian tortoises, Rudy and Jack.

Jarred

Jarred’s career spans over 15 years in professional operations management within the restaurant and grocery industry. He brings a vigorous passion and enthusiasm to his work. Throughout the course of his various leadership positions, he has gained expertise in sales management, finance, accounting, and marketing.

Jarred holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College.

Tiffany

Tiffany lives in Westmont with her husband, Matt, 10-year-old son, Liam, Beagle, Hope, and turtle, Speedy. She graduated from UIC in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, then worked as a veterinary assistant for 6 years until a client pointed her in the direction of Integrative Pet Care Chicago and, in turn, the field of canine rehabilitation. She has been working in the field ever since.

While working at IPC Chicago, she attended CRI and received her CCRA. Currently, she is working towards a certification in canine massage through Canis Bodyworks and would also like to learn more about orthotic and assistive devices for differently-abled pets.

Her favorite things about working in rehab are that the frequency with which she sees her patients allows her to form personal and lasting bonds with them, and that it requires a lot of creativity, as there is not a “one size fits all” approach to it.

Dr. Ubatuba

Dr. Annie Ubatuba grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. After graduation, she completed a sports medicine-focused internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY. During her time as an equine veterinarian, she gained extensive knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries in equine athletes. She began working as a small animal exclusive veterinarian after a horse-related injury. She has worked in several different clinic settings over the years and has opened her first practice, Companion Animal Rehab and Athletics, to serve animals in need of physical rehabilitation.

As a veterinarian, she began introducing integrative therapies into practice initially with her acupuncture certification through the Chi Institute in 2015. She then pursued certification in veterinary spinal manipulation therapy (chiropractic) through the Healing Oasis Wellness Center in 2016 and in canine rehabilitation therapy from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2019.

Dr. Ubatuba is passionate about providing individualized care for each pet and helping them live a better quality of life through improved mobility. Our mission at Companion Animal Rehab and Athletics is to help animals maintain functional mobility for improved comfort, recovery, and independence. She loves spending time with her young daughter and husband. They have a busy house with two cats, three dogs, and a turtle. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors.