My Story
Hi, I'm Bentley! I'm a Certified Small Animal Massage Therapist based in Portland, Oregon, and proud guardian of Olive, a 2 year old rescued Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix. It brings me immense joy to work with animals to reduce anxiety, relieve muscle tension, and improve mobility through manual therapy. Animals have had a piece of my heart for as long as I can remember.
My journey into animal massage was inspired by my beloved pup Tuba, a rescued Pomeranian/Chihuahua/Dachshund mix who lived to the ripe age of 17. She was 4 and I was 20 when we found each other. We navigated relationships, moves, and all sorts of life changes together. Anywhere you could bring a dog, Tuba went! In her later years, she frequently experienced back spasms and discomfort that was impacting her mobility. I discovered that with the right pressure and techniques, I could alleviate her pain. Thanks to massage, she remained active, climbing stairs, hiking, and enjoying life confidently until her final day. Tuba also taught me valuable lessons about caring for a dog with high anxiety, which fuels my passion for assisting clients facing similar challenges.
I completed my massage therapy training through the Northwest School of Animal Massage and am insured through the Associated Bodywork and Massage Practitioners. I have experience working with dogs and cats of various breeds and temperaments, approaching each with gentle curiosity to address their unique needs while building a trusting relationship during our sessions.
It would be an honor to bring ease and comfort to the cherished paws in your life!
From panosteitits to Forest Park hike
Olive suffered from panosteitis as a puppy - inflammation around the bone that causes pain; commonly called growing pains. She developed a limp and I had to limit her activity. Fortunately, when the bones fully develop the pain goes away. A priority for me was working with her to prevent harmful movement patterns from impacting her gait throughout her life. I focused on relieving excess tension in the muscles that were picking up the slack, while incorporating range of motion and stretching work as part of her regular routine to maintain mobility.
Olive and I in Sedona
Olive is an adventure pup through and through! It's a joy to explore the world with her. When we travel I build in extra time to support her immune system, reduce anxiety and relieve tension in tired muscles after a long day of hiking.