Michelle Yuen

25 Feb | Posted by admin | no comments |

Michelle Yuen, Director of Animal Intake and Care. 

     Michelle co-founded Paws Giving Independence in 2008, but her work with dogs didn’t start there. She has been training dogs since 2000;   Her early work focused on behavior and training of rescue/ shelter dogs at West Suburban Humane Society, but she has also trained dogs in agility, therapy work, and basic obedience. In 2006, she  completed an internship with a Chicago-based service dog program, and she hasn’t stopped working with service dogs. Michelle has her doctorate degree in Physical Therapy and has her evaluator credential through the State of Illinois Early Intervention system.  Michelle works as a pediatric physical therapist and has started many Animal Assisted Therapy Programs.  In 2009, Michelle was named one of Peoria 25 Women in Leadership and received the Ruthe Ashcraft Advocate for Animals Award.