About Us

“I have been an avid dog lover my entire life. It is my true belief that it is our responsibility as humans to provide our pets with the best quality of life possible. That includes great nutrition, plenty of exercise and endless love. In May 2013, I took a leap of faith and opened The Puddle. I created this facility to be a safe and trusting environment where owners can witness firsthand the countless benefits of canine swimming. I wanted a place where they can obtain excellent information about nutrition so they can make educated decisions on what to feed their dogs and cats. Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand and it is our goal to provide the best place possible to accomplish that. I am truly lucky to wake each morning and spend the day doing what I love.”

Cathy is a graduate of the La Paw Spa’s Aquatic Training Program Level One & Two. She is certified in Canine CPR and First Aid, and by the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF). She is a member of the Association of Canine Water Therapy (ACWT).

Cindy joined our team in May 2016. She graduated with a degree in finance, but decided to leave her career and make her dreams come true by working with animals. She has a natural gift for putting dogs at ease when handling and working with them in the water. Her passion for animals also extends beyond the Puddle. Cindy is furthering her education with animal health science classes and she is involved with the Anderson Animal Shelter Foster Program. She enjoys caring for shelter dogs until they find their forever home. She is also the proud parent of 3 dogs of her own.

Cindy is a graduate of La Paw Spa’s Aquatic Training Program Level One & Two and is certified in Canine CPR and First Aid.

Jessica joined the Puddle team in October 2017. A lover of dogs her whole life, Jessica is very comfortable handling and assisting dogs in the pool. She has the ability to make our swimmers feel comfortable and safe while in the water. With continuing education in biology and nutrition, Jessica spent 5 years working in the veterinary field as a vet tech. Her experience and expertise in nutrition has been a valuable asset to our team. Jessica helps our clients navigate the mysterious world of pet food labels, ingredients and calories so they can make educated choices for their furry friends.

Jess is certified in Canine CPR and First Aid. She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technician Assistance (NAVTA) and the Association of Canine Water Therapy (ACWT). Above all, she is a proud dog mom to Lola (left) and Roxxie.

Amy is our massage therapist. She owns and operates Amy’s Animal Massage and is available at The Puddle on a weekly basis.

“As far back as I can remember I have loved animals. Over the years I have had many different kinds of pets and have loved them all. I have always known that one day I would help and work with animals in some capacity.

After high school I attended St. Xavier University in Chicago where I graduated with a bachelors degree in biology. I then went to Joliet Junior College where I completed the veterinary technology program. I passed my certification exam in the summer of 2003 and have been a certified veterinary technician ever since. I have worked at a few animal clinics over the years and was at one place for just over twelve years. There I was head technician for 6 of those years. In 2014, I had my second little boy and took a step back from my career to raise my children. During that time I learned about canine massage and its amazing benefits and I knew it was something I had to do.

In February of 2016 I began the 10 month program at the Chicago School of Canine Massage. This school not only offered great lectures but countless hands on practice and experience. Each class we had the opportunity to work on several dogs. We also worked with shelter dogs at Animal Care League and Anti-Cruelty Society. We did post event massages at Bark in the Park at Soldier Field in Chicago and Puppy Up in Wheaton, IL.”

If you would like to schedule a massage appointment with Amy, please call her directly at 773-306-3930.

For more information about Amy, visit www.AmysAnimalM.com