We had the good fortune of connecting with Sasha Foster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sasha, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Your pet’s function, no matter the age of stage of life, can probably improve with physical therapy and rehabilitation. One of the most important components of PT is a simple, fun, easy-to-follow home program. GoGoCharlie, PT Home Programs for Pets, is the world’s largest curated library of video-based exercises and treatments in the world. It even includes exercises for cats, birds, and turtles.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When we learn to see the world through the eyes of our pets, we become understanding of their needs and desires. This empathy is the heart and soul of GoGoCharlie, PT Home Programs for Pets. It begins at the very start, when an exercise is in development. First, exercise options are sketched and evaluated to ensure safety and accuracy. Second, exercises are tested by a healthy trained pet and a highly skilled human. If the exercise passes the “I’m a happy pet doing this” test, it moves onto the video shoot list. Third, the exercise is videoed with a physical therapy patient and a rehabilitation professional. All three stages of this process are designed with the pet’s comfort and enjoyment as the foundation. This is why GoGoCharlie videos are so beautiful and fun to watch. You can see and feel the connection between the pet and the therapist. It’s heart warming to watch a rabbit enjoy being stretched or a dog completing a technically difficult exercise.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO – The place to hang out with your dog!
Wagz Boutique, Fort Collins, CO – The place to shop with your pet.
Bean Cycle, Fort Collins, CO – The most delicious coffee with dog friendly outdoor seating area.
Union Reservoir, Longmont, CO – The place to cool off with your dog!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A shoutout to Mimzy Buttercup Brown who taught me to see the world through her little brown eyes. At her adoption, she was handed across the shelter counter to me like a sack of potatoes. I promised her she would never be treated like that again. She taught me to love her in the way she wanted. No to other dogs, agility class, or clothes. Yes to a walks, naps, and digging up worms. As she aged, she became more determined to do the things she loved. Her last day on Earth, she finished half her walk then looked up and me and said, “This has been a really great life, but I’m ready to go now.” She was 16-ish.

And a shoutout to Ted Kerasote (author of Merle’s Door and Pukka’s Promise, https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=ted%20kerasote). Ted exemplifies seeing the world through the eyes of our dogs. It was a honor to be Pukka’s PT.

Website: https://www.gogocharlie.com

Image Credits
Images Copyright Pedanticon, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Image of terrier on green grass, Shutterstock license 306278024.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.