The Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center is "an integrative veterinary medicine center offering full service wellness care to patients (pets) as well as holistic and integrative medical referral services to other local veterinarians, by addressing the needs of the whole pet."

Opening in March 2008 at 5897 North College Avenue, their veterinary services include acupuncture, advanced pain management, animal communications, behavioral medicine & counseling, food therapy, immunization & wellness care, massage therapy, nutritional & dietary counseling and radiology. BRAWC can be found about three blocks south of the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic, which is located at 6225 Broadway Street.

Founder Dr. R. David Brunner received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University in 1977 and opened BRAC in 1981. His philosophy of veterinary care is to "Treat others and their pets as I and my own pets would want to be treated." He is a member of several veterinary organizations that include the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Brunner is a past president of the Indianapolis Humane Society.

His colleague, Dr. Cara Gardner, graduated from Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and recently received her Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture. During her undergraduate years at the University of Xavier she was an intern at the Cincinnati Zoo in their Nocturnal house where she fed and cleaned animal habitats. Describing her philosophy of veterinary care, Dr. Gardner said, "I am truly looking forward to putting my all into the well-being of each and every patient I meet and to help the BRAC maintain the excellent reputation it has earned."

A dedicated staff also provides animal care and related pet services.

Registered Veterinary Technician Blythe (Addington) Swanger recalled, "I was training with Dr. Brunner during school before working at BRAC full-time. We always had dogs when I was growing up, but my favorite pet was my hamster Ophelia that I adopted during school at Purdue after one of my lab animal management classes. She lived in the dorm for the rest of the year. Everyone on the floor knew about her, except our floor counselor! She would roll around in her exercise ball and had the ability to get out of her cage and roam our room, usually ending up on my roommate's chest as she slept!"

Swanger earned her Associate's and Bachelor's degrees from Purdue University's Veterinary Technology program. While studying at Purdue, she was fortunate to be able to work with a wide variety of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, exotics, etc. "I remember helping with a cesarean on a dairy cow that was having some difficulty delivering naturally. It was an amazing experience to help get a newborn calf up and on its feet. I also worked in the Small Animal ICU and Medicine areas for a few semesters and that was also a great experience to be able to grow my technical skills and knowledge", she noted.

In order to complete her Bachelor's degree at Purdue, she had to pick an area of veterinary medicine to focus her studies. "I had really enjoyed my behavior classes, so it seemed natural to continue my knowledge in that area. I completed an internship with a behavior resident from Purdue. I worked on running a puppy socialization class in the suburbs of Chicago and helping the doctor to see his behavior appointments teaching the clients how to work with their dogs and cats at home", Swanger mentioned.

"When I came to the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic, we tried starting a puppy socialization class, but due to space, it was not feasible long term. To help find a solution, we created the Responsible Pet Partnership. This is a series of three appointments with the client and their puppy or kitten starting no later than 12 weeks of age. During the one-on-one appointments we discuss common puppy and kitten behavioral concerns like house training, crate training, litter box training, play biting, inappropriate jumping and getting them used to basic grooming like nail trims, ear cleaning and brushing teeth. We also talk about basic training commands such as "sit", "down", "come" and "stay". Once the client and their pet have completed all three sessions, the spay or neuter surgery is complementary. Long term, we were able to open Bark Tutor School for Dogs and bring Brad Phifer, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) to the Wellness Center as our Director of Behavior Services to address more extensive training and behavior issues. More information can be found at http://www.bracpet.com/pages/RPP.php on this program.

Swanger is also a member of the Indiana Veterinary Technicians Association and the North American Veterinary Technicians Association. "We have an emphasis (at BRAWC) on preventive medicine, preventive care and alternative medicine. There are two veterinarians on staff Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and one on staff Wednesday and Friday", she added. Their website recommends complete physical exams twice annually with appropriate immunizations for the prevention of common or potentially fatal diseases.

Canine massage therapy is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) as an alternative therapy for animals. It is a "non-invasive technique using the hands to manipulate muscle tissue and can be defined as any systemic form of touch found to give comfort and promote good health. Relaxation, relief from excitability or pain can all be achieved through the application of different massage techniques."

Amanda Shaffer is a Certified Canine Massage Therapist and veterinary assistant at BRAWC. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor's degree in Animal Agribusiness and joined the BRAC staff in 2004. She completed her training in Integrated Touch Therapy and certification as a Canine Massage Therapist at Synergy Farms in Circleville, Ohio.

Though the animal clinic and wellness center are in two separate locations, they complement one another in providing a range of veterinary services to pets and educating their owners about animal care.

BRAC and BRAWC clients whose pets have been examined by a staff veterinarian within the past 12 months can request flea and heartworm prevention, medication refills, prescription diets and additional products through an on-line refill service. They can shop at their on-line pharmacy, www.bracpet.com/pharmacyform.htm by accessing a form where they can request either pick-up or delivery of the item ordered.

Their next step in addressing convenience is to begin a home delivery service of pet foods and prescription refills. This service will be fully operational by the end of May.

BRAWC is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Questions can be answered at 257-5334. Their talented staff of veterinarians, technicians and related personnel helps pets live longer, happier and healthier lives.