Mission
Statement:
“To
provide compassionate, holistic veterinary care that integrates
the benefits of traditional western veterinary medicine with the
powerful
healing potential of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, chiropractic
care and nutrition.”
 Biography
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (IVAS)
Certified in Animal Chiropractic (AVCA)
Certified in Chinese Veterinary Herbology Chi Institute
Dr. Weingardt grew up in a suburb of New
York City. After completing his Bachelor’s
degree in Animal Science at Cornell University, Dr. Weingardt attended Cornell
University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated with distinction
in 1999. Having had enough cold rain and snow for one lifetime
he moved to San
Diego, California where he lives and practices today.
After moving to San Diego, Dr. Weingardt
completed an internship in Emergency and Critical Care with rotations
in surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology
and exotic animal medicine. After his internship he continued to work as
an emergency and critical care veterinarian. During this time, Dr. Weingardt
had
a very powerful realization. Conventional western veterinary medicine had
significant limitations in influencing his patient’s care. There were many times
where western diagnostics and treatment had provided all the benefits that
they could. In addition, the drugs and treatments utilized often had limiting
side effects. This point was driven home when Dr. Weingardt’s dog
Max fell ill with a brain tumor. Max was on high doses of steroids and
was developing
severe complications (gastrointestinal bleeding). At this time Dr. Weingardt
began to look for other options.
Max saw a holistic veterinarian who counseled Dr. Weingardt regarding diet
and nutritional supplementation, in addition to homeopathy. After switching
to a raw food diet, Max began eating without hesitation, his GI side effects
subsided and his dose of steroids was minimized. Max lived another six months
and left Dr. Weingardt with a legacy that would influence the rest of his life.
Dr. Weingardt began studying with a holistic veterinarian in San Diego. This
exposed him to a variety of gentle yet powerful healing modalities. He also
began studying acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and received his
acupuncture certification with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
in 2003.
During the past 3 years Dr. Weingardt saw
acupuncture patients at the emergency and specialty hospital where
he was
employed. Over
these years Dr. Weingardt has begun to incorporate more and more
complementary modalities into his practice. After completing advanced
training in
animal chiropractic
and attaining certification from the American Veterinary Chiropractic
Association,
he began incorporating chiropractic adjustments to his treatment
regimen with considerable success. He is also receiving advanced
training in
TCVM (Traditional
Chinese Veterinary Medicine) and Chinese Herbs through the Chi Institute.
The advanced training at the Chi Institute is part of a Master’s
program in TCVM which includes study abroad at the China Southwest
Agricultural University.
Dr. Weingardt’s vision for the Animal Healing Center is unlike any other
traditional veterinary hospital. He wants to provide the most stress-free environment
for his patients to receive care. His desire for his patients to not feel as
if they are entering a hospital is evident on visiting the center. The AHC
is a quiet, warm, nurturing environment for both his patient’s
and their caretakers. Dr. Weingardt wants his patients to enjoy
their visits
and treatments.
He is known for his compassion which helps him to empathetically
counsel his clients in the care of their animal friends.
Biography
Dr.
Katie Kangas grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from
Veterinary Medical School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
in 1993. Prior to obtaining her medical degree, she had accumulated
much experience with wildlife and zoo animals. After two years
of small animal general practice in Milwaukee, she moved to Virginia
to pursue a specialized internship in wildlife rehabilitation.
At the Wildlife Center of Virginia,
Dr. Kangas worked with many species of birds and raptors, mammals
and reptiles. On many exciting occasions, she was involved with
releasing animals such as Bald or Golden Eagles back into the
wild after medically rehabilitating their various injuries. In
1997 she moved to San Diego looking for new adventure and southwestern
coastal weather.
Dr. Kangas worked in general practice and
in several different hospitals around the San Diego area and spent
3 years at a practice that
specializes in exotic pets such as birds, reptiles, rabbits and
rodents. In 1998 she attended a Veterinary Homeopathy and Holistic
Medicine Course offered here in San Diego. Since that time she
has had a special interest in holistic health care, but first
found her way into shelter medicine before actively pursing more
training in the holistic specialty. In early 2002, Dr. Kangas
was offered a unique position at the San Diego Humane Society
as the Director of the Veterinary Medical Department. This was
a great opportunity as she was given the financial and political
support necessary to initiate and implement vast improvements
in both the medical treatment and care for homeless animals in
the San Diego community. She was also involved with the planning
phases and the subsequent moving of the Humane Society to the
new state of the art shelter facility (on a campus shared with
San Diego County Animal Services) which opened in 2003. Dr. Kangas
supervised the medical department and the health care the society's
many animals for 5 years. This role involved work with humane
and neglect cases, as well as daily medical care of adoptable
animals in the shelter.
Dr. Kangas was
then again inspired to pursue training in acupuncture and holistic
medicine through the event of seeking treatment for her
own aged dog, Asti.
Asti gained such
dramatic improvement in the quality of her life after several
acupuncture treatments with Dr. Keith Weingardt, that Dr. Kangas
was prompted to learn these skills to help her patients too.
She began studying with Dr. Weingardt in 2006 and she completed
her veterinary acupuncture training at the Chi Institute in
Gainesville, Florida in 2008, and was very happy to join the
staff at the Animal Healing Center.
 Biography
Healing Hands Canine Massage
www.healinghandscaninemassage.com
Ann Montalto is a California licensed RN and a graduate of The Lang Institute for Canine Massage, a comprehensive 682 hour course. Areas of study included canine anatomy, physiology, orthopedic pathology, gait and movement, massage techniques, and nutrition. She has also attended The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for specialized training in Tui-na and has studied Reiki under two outstanding Reiki Masters.
She has been a guest speaker at Rancho Coastal Humane Society and the San Diego Humane Society & SPCA, and has been featured in the San Diego Reader, on Channel 10 News, San Diego Living, Sign On San Diego and Wealth TV.
Ann is a member of the International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork and a rescue volunteer for the Italian Greyhound Club of America.
She is now pursuing certification in Homeopathy and Bach Flower Essences to further assist her clients.
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