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Combatting national and international communication breakdowns in mainframe computers is a far cry from tackling canine mobility issues — yet that’s the lifestyle leap taken by Duncan when they moved to Okehampton in 2011.
Duncan Croad was living the high life back in the ‘noughties’. Having been taken on by IBM as a promising school leaver, he had looked after mainframe computer systems across Europe and the UK. However, constant 12-hour shifts of four nights on and four nights off began to take its toll.
Duncan, who is now 41, said: ‘I’d sit there for six or seven hours and hardly move and that’s what started my back problems. I eventually found out I’d got an exploded disk.’
Several months recuperation followed an operation, during which time Duncan began voluntary work with the Labrador Lifeline Trust in Portsmouth. His first home visit was an eye-opener. Duncan said: ’They sent me there to take on an eight-month-old Staffie-Labrador cross who had never left the flat in which she lived for the whole of her life — she literally hadn’t exercised at all. The owners seem to have expected her to be like a cat and their attitude was “This is the devil dog from Hell, get her out of here”. I said I would foster her and from that moment, I was smitten.’
Duncan said within weeks of proper care, and although still fearful of other dogs, Lulu was a different animal. ‘During those weeks I realised how weak she had become in her first few months of life.’ The veterinary advice was regular, gentle exercise and Duncan decided to try what was then a rare treatment for animals — hydrotherapy. So enthused was Duncan by the change in his beloved dog, he decided to qualify as a hydrotherapist himself.
The couple took the ‘huge step’ of relocating to Devon to set up his own centre in April 2011.
However, physically setting up the hydrotherapy pool was fraught with problems. The pool was imported from Hungary and constructed during one of the wettest winters for years. There were issues with its depth and a nightmare when the pale grey interior didn’t turn out quite as expected. Duncan said: ‘I got home and found it was jet black! You wouldn’t have been able to see a black dog swimming in it, let alone film any underwater movement!’
The Retreat Canine Hydrotherapy Centre finally opened in May 2012 with just Duncan and a part time helper. Duncan said: ’We had to try and spread the word — even three years ago, people were saying “I can throw my dog in the river — that’s what they’re for”! It was a hard sell to start with and I was very lucky to have such amazing support from my wife.’
He said it was ‘hugely rewarding’ to see a dog’s strength improve — and their mental state as well.
‘You see dogs who have appeared low and depressed, who’ve not been able to run and retrieve, get into the water excited because they can do it in the pool,’ said Duncan. ‘It’s heartbreaking seeing dogs fade. If we can give an elderly dog that extra healthy year or one with an ongoing issue a better quality of life, then it’s all worthwhile, for them and for their owners,’ said Duncan.
For more information about The Retreat Canine Hydrotherapy Centre, go to www.caninehydrodevon.co.uk