JAPAN: Disabled, overweight and old dogs get exercise at an aquatic sports club in central Tokyo

Record ID: 464777

  • Title: JAPAN: Disabled, overweight and old dogs get exercise at an aquatic sports club in central Tokyo
  • Date: 10th March 2007
  • Summary: (L!1) TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 4, 2007) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF AQUA FITNESS CLUB FOR DOGS "EL PERRO" FIVE-YEAR-OLD DACHSHUND "MONTA" BROUGHT IN BY HIS OWNER MONTA TRYING TO WALK ONLY WITH HIS FORELEGS VARIOUS OF MONTA WEARING EXERCISE VEST VARIOUS OF MONTA EXERCISING IN UNDERWATER TREADMILL; MOVING HIS HIND LEGS VARIOUS OF MONTA SWIMMING IN POOL
  • Embargoed: 25th March 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABTCVWS47DF6HAIMJL2XIKMCZ0
  • Story Text: Monta, a five-year-old dachshund, has been suffering from rheumatism and has had trouble walking -- finding it especially difficult to move his hind legs.
    But at an aquatic gymnasium called "El Perro" in central Tokyo, Monta finds it easier to walk. His owner says his condition seems to be improving every time he exercises in the water.
    This aqua sport club, catering especially to dogs, offers rehabilitation and other training programmes for disabled dogs like Monta, as well as for overweight and old dogs.
    A one-hour fitness course, which includes a one-hour session of walking on a treadmill underwater, swimming, a hot spa dip, shampooing and a blow dry, costs for 6,800 yen (59 US dollars) for dogs weighing less than five kilograms. The price is higher for heavier dogs.
    After his underwater exercise, Monta was indeed able to move his troublesome hind legs freely - at least in the water.
    Monta's owner Matsuko Yamaguchi, said she noticed that her pet started to gain some muscle on his legs.
    "I've noticed that more muscle has been built around his hind legs," said Yamaguchi.
    Koshoku Matsuyama, president of "El Perro," which means "the dog" in Spanish, said there were a growing demand for such facilities as his, as dogs' lifestyles were assimilating more and more their owners.
    "As many dogs are starting to have lifestyles similar to humans, they are also starting to develop lifestyle-related health problems," Matsuyama said. "That's why fitness clubs for dogs like this are in high demand."
    About 35 dogs visit Matsuyama's club each week.
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