Michelle’s Biography

(Michelle Martineau – President)

Michelle is very active in both dog training and competition with over 15 years’ experience.  She is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and enjoys competing in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility, Dock Diving, and Frisbee.  Michelle is the Captain of her local K9 Toss ‘n Fetch league. Along with her Border Collie Cali,  she was featured on ESPN as part of the AKC special “Dog Day” and competed at the Westminster Dog Show Inaugural Dock Diving competition.  With her dog Kya, she competed as part of the special “Bark in the Park” for AKC and aired on ESPN. She teaches weekly obedience classes and can often be found working with her personal dogs on both obedience and sports.

Michelle believes wholeheartedly in the bond between humans and animals and has dedicated herself to the development of training programs for emotional support partners.  Michelle and her dogs Raena, Cali, and Choco are a registered therapy team that enjoys visits to local hospitals and with retired and active military.  From her Columbia, CT farm “Hidden Haven,” Michelle hosts NEHAB’s  Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy programs.  She is Certified by PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.  As a Reiki II practitioner, Michelle applies these principles to promote a calm and healing environment for all her training and interaction sessions.

Craig’s Biography

(Craig Bergeron – Vice President)

Craig is the owner of Bergeron K9. He works regularly with clients and their dogs on all levels of obedience and service dog skills. He teaches Nehabs weekly therapy dog training course . He enjoys competing with his dog Darla in barn hunt, K9 Toss N Fetch, and Updog frisbee and with his dog Opie in Dock Diving.  Craig is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and he is trained by Path INTL (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Craig’s devotion to the therapeutic benefit of the human-animal bond is shown through his weekly volunteer session with both horses and dogs. Craig and his dog Opie earned the 2022 Ambassador of Good will award for their volunteer work.

Lexie’s Biography

(Lexi McKenzie – Secretary)

Lexi has grown up working with horses and developed a desire to help others through equine therapeutic services. She is a 2022 graduate of the Animal Behavior Institute with an Animal Assisted Therapy Certificate. She is director for all of  Nehabs equine programs. Lexi developed and teaches the mini horse certification course. She is the Nehab mentor for Voag Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)  In addition to horses, Lexi has found a love of canine assisted therapy. She was the 1^st graduate of Nehabs therapy dog certification course, teaches Nehabs weekly therapy dog training course and does several Canine therapy visits weekly.

Dr. Aimee’s Biography

Dr. Aimee Eggleston is an equine veterinarian who has owned and operated a solo ambulatory equine practice since 2005, seeing patients and clients in RI, MA, and CT. She grew up a “Cape Codder,” graduated from Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine in 2000, and completed an internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic, VA. Dr. Eggleston has collaborated on various wellness initiatives for the AAEP, AVMA, and CT-VMA over the years. She founded a non-profit, Veterinarians for the Intervention and Prevention of Suicide (VIPS) with two colleagues. Dr. Eggleston loves to camp/hike, travel, pursue athletic endeavors (or just snuggle!) with her business partner and husband, Tim, and their 13 year-old daughter, Carolina. ‘Dr. Aimee’ feels centered watching her flock of twelve hens “peck about.”