I'm Dr. Edriana Bougrat Fermin DPT, CCRT, but my friends call me Edi; you can too!
I was born in Venezuela & moved to Michigan at 17 years old to learn English & pursue higher education. In 2012 I graduated from Grand Valley State University (Go Lakers!) with a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy, moved to Florida & started working in outpatient orthopedics. On January 12, 2013 I found a sweet, old, & very rough-looking long haired dachshund wandering along a busy road. His story is very long, so I'll save you the details, but let me say that the moment I put him in my car OUR lives changed forever. |
Gerard James was estimated to be around 14-15 years old. He was slow, almost deaf & had a questionable sense of sight. With the years, his aging really started to show...doggie diapers, complete deafness & blindness eventually set in. Enjoying daily walks, using the steps onto the couch, & exploring the outdoors were a thing of the past. Several vets, specialists, & meds later, Gerard's quality of life continued to decline in spite of my efforts to avoid it (& my denial). Therapy for dogs was an option; I could get him rehabilitation but wait...there was no one around us providing it.
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I wanted to help my old guy so bad that I pursued my certification through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, practiced new skills with him as I moved along the program & about 9 months later I was a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT)! By then it was too late... Gerard was about 19 years old & suffering. So, on August 18th, 2018 my GingerBeast went to doggy heaven. The hardest decision & day of my life by far!
What to do now with CCRT lined up at the end of my name? Well...there still was no one helping dogs like Gerard & pawrents like me in Kissimmee & nearby areas. So, I decided to do something about this and Unleashed Rehab was born. |
In honor of my beloved Gerard, I vow to use my knowledge, experiences, & skills to help dogs in need enjoy the active life they deserve & prolong their healthy years without the need for pain killers, before it's too late! In his memory, I vow to help dog parents give their fur-kids the best life & return to the activities they love most, through what I learned from CRI, pawrenting a 19-20 year old dog & the challenges we overcame.
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If you & your dog are facing daily challenges due to pain, aging, surgery, or injury, I am only one click or call away! We stand ready to come to the comfort of your home to help you & your dog live happy & longer!