Attending STAAR, as a veterinarian, vendor, and now deepening my expertise as a rehabilitation student, has been truly transformative.

The hands‑on workshops and collaborative spirit have already reshaped how I approach patient care, blending clinical rigor with cutting‑edge rehab techniques. I’m proud to share these insights with our community and excited to see the positive impact on animal wellness.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent organization and the enriching experience offered by the STAAR Conference. As a canine physiotherapist in Costa Rica since 2010, with certifications in Mulligan, Myofascial Release, POLD, and McKenzie for humans, I found it incredibly valuable to explore different therapeutic approaches applied to dogs. This significantly enhances my clinical practice. Thank you for creating such high-level learning opportunities for those of us committed to delivering the best possible care to our canine patients.

I truly enjoyed STAAR, and like you said to me, Ilaria, the classes were all good choices. It was hard to decide which to pick, but your star ratings in the registration page helped me a lot in choosing. I especially enjoyed Leslie Eide’s courses as they helped me to feel more in control of the situations we find when teaching owners and dogs the therapeutic exercises. She is a stickler for good form and for a reason! She had a great group of dog owners and dogs, and I learned from some of the experienced dog owners also.

Winston and I greatly enjoyed STAAR. For me, it was a renewal of why I got into Canine Rehab 18 years ago. One has a tendency to lose that in the day-to-day grind of treating patients. I appreciate the camaraderie displayed between the attendees who come from many different backgrounds. Too often when Rehab is included at a veterinary conference, it is so generic as to be of little use to those who have been practicing for more than a few years.  In contrast, STAAR offers specific topics taught by top practitioners. For that , I thank you Ilaria!

The STAAR Conference is an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best in veterinary rehabilitation. The instructors are always carefully selected with meaningful and timely topics. What sets STAAR above other conferences is the hands-on time with dogs that are part of every lecture allowing you a chance to practice what you just learned. The small class size allows opportunities to have your questions answered and your techniques improved if needed. The STAAR Conference also allows you build relationships with other rehabilitation practitioners, specialists and vendors that can be a valuable resource.  It is a fantastic conference run by great people.  Just go, you will gain so much information.

As a lifelong learner, I feel there is no end to how much knowledge we can gain and in the ever-growing field we can never know enough. The STAAR conference was a dream space for gaining more knowledge about my passion, and it was filled with like-minded individuals that truly encouraged a collaborative learning experience overall. It was so pleasant to learn from and alongside the best of the best. Thanks again, see you next year!!

This year's conference was great on so many levels! Top notch instruction from the leading experts in the field of veterinary rehab combined with one-on-one hands on learning is the best way to add to and sharpen clinical skills. I am continuing to improve my knowledge and skill set each time I attend which only benefits my patients more and my ability to provide valuable services for them. As both an attendee and a handler of a volunteer dog, we never miss it!

The collaborative spirit at STAAR 2025 was strong. STAAR is a unique conference that brings diverse practitioners together to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations in a welcoming and inclusive setting.

I suggested having a panel of industry leaders to spark dialogue about the essence of responsible leadership, and Ilaria immediately embraced the idea with her ‘go far together’ mindset.  It was inspiring to see our profession leaning into collaboration and building momentum toward a shared vision. STAAR is an ideal conference setting to have these pivotal discussions and I’m excited to build on what was started knowing that dialogue builds bridges, not walls.

Reggie reporting for demo dog duty! Reggie enjoyed all the attention as a demo dog and I appreciate how attuned the participants were when working with him. It's a wonderful opportunity and hopefully we'll be able to find as skilled practitioners if/when we do need treatment!

This was our first time volunteering for the conference and it was a great experience. Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful. Hobbes participated in 2 days of morning sessions for shockwave treatment and extremity releases. By the end of the 2nd day she was completely relaxed. We are looking forward to participating next year.

This was our first adventure at STAAR. Both Annika and Hex were happy to be demo dogs on Friday and hope to be back next year. I didn't think to take pix at the event, but here are the girls!

My golden Arya had a fabulous time!

This was our first time volunteering. Oreo loved every minute of it and I learned many new things about him.

Workshop volunteer "Story" trying out her gift bag Back on Track Cool On Track towel during field training!

Repeat attendee with workshop volunteers "Story" and "Page"!

This was my first time bringing Argos to volunteer at STAAR!  I was a little wary due to his age (he's 15) and how he would handle it, but everyone was fantastic and so patient with him!  He volunteered for a class about laser acupuncture and acupressure, and by the end of the class he had his head in my lap and was completely sprawled out on his side, something he hasn't done in almost a year due to his arthritis!  Thank you to everyone we interacted with and hopefully we can come back in the future!

There are so many things that I love about STAAR, but being among so many dogs is by far my favorite! So many different breeds, so many different sizes, all of them perfect! In addition to being a crucial part of the hands-on learning process for STAAR participants, the dog volunteers spread so much joy throughout the conference!

Though I have many, one of my favorite memories from STAAR 2025 was witnessing three generations coming together to share their love of learning and animals. Dr. Lisa Wilson, her mother, and her daughter, Dr. Sara Farthing, along with their amazing dogs CeCe and Alaska, embodied everything STAAR is about: connection, passion, and legacy. Seeing them learn and work together was such a beautiful reminder of the deep bonds this community creates, not just professionally, but across generations.