Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines - ARC

Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines - ARC Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines (ARC) was established to improve the quality of life for animals. Karen Atlas, PT, MPT, CCRT and William J.

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we introduce our community to Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines (ARC). ARC is Santa Barbara’s only stand-alone canine rehabilitation and performance facility led by certified and licensed professionals. Otto, DVM have joined together to offer comprehensive rehabilitation services to the Central Coast. Karen is a licensed and experienced human physical therapist with advanced training and certification in canine rehabilitation. For the past 8 years she has served as the Director of Rehabilitation at Hydropaws Animal Rehabilitation and Performance Center. She has devoted her life to serve the pets and their people in her hometown community of Santa Barbara. She has teamed up with a well-known and respected local veterinarian, Dr. William Otto. ARC’s state-of-the-art facility is fully equipped with the latest underwater treadmill, cold laser therapy (class 3b), therapeutic ultrasound, Alpha-Stimulation (CES), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), electrical stimulation (NMES and TENS), as well as innovative land based exercise equipment. More importantly, it is Karen’s unique knowledge base and manual therapy skills from her 20 years of experience as a licensed physical therapist that has contributed to the success of her practice with animals. We welcome you to visit our new facility on or after June 5th at: 3208 State Street (near the corner of State and Las Positas next to Salon Patine). Parking is in the back. Or call us at (805) 724-4ARC (4272). We will be officially opening our doors for service on Monday, June 5th. To make an appointment, you can call on or after Wednesday, May 24th. We will only accept patients on a referral basis. Once a patient is referred to ARC by their primary veterinarian, they will undergo an evaluation by Dr. Otto before seeing Karen for rehab services. This evaluation will be done to stay in compliance with the Veterinary Practice Act and will not be a substitute for primary veterinary care. ABSOLUTELY NO PRIMARY VETERINARY CARE WILL BE OFFERED AT ARC. ARC is committed and limited to rendering rehab services only. We vow to stay in good communication with your referring veterinarians to provide our clients with the most collaborative healthcare approach available. We believe the client is best served when they have a team of qualified professionals working together in the best interest of their pet. Sincerely,


Karen Atlas, PT, MPT, CCRT
Founder and Director of Animal Rehabilitation

It’s smiles all around when  swings by!Got to love on Bellona (who is getting SO big 🐾😍) and catch up on everything he’s...
12/02/2025

It’s smiles all around when swings by!

Got to love on Bellona (who is getting SO big 🐾😍) and catch up on everything he’s building at his rescue compound in Mexico…such an incredible setup for the dogs.

And we were also 🎶 “Getting Ready for the Future.” 🎶
We talked about the big piece of legislation coming up for a vote in January in Sacramento. And guess what? Shorty is FIRED UP to come support it — and I couldn’t be more grateful. 🙏🏼🔥

I’ll share the hearing date as soon as AB 1458 is scheduled, and I’d love for you to join us!

Why AB 1458 matters:
Right now, veterinarians in California are only allowed to refer to another veterinarian for rehab…even if they want to send their patients to a qualified physical therapist. AB 1458 fixes that by allowing vets to refer to trained animal PTs like me, so animals can finally access the care they need.

And here’s the truth: Most practicing veterinarians support this.
The main opposition comes from the CVMA — a for-profit veterinary trade association that invests heavily in lobbyists to protect the veterinary industry’s income streams.

The vets who actually treat your animals? They want more collaboration. They want more options. They want to be able to refer to PTs.

So come join us! Help us push back against industry lobbyists and open the door to better access, better outcomes, and better teamwork between PTs and vets. 🙌🏼💙🐾

Well deserved honor for Sarah Aguilar at Santa Barbara County Animal Services. Congrats Sarah!
11/27/2025

Well deserved honor for Sarah Aguilar at Santa Barbara County Animal Services. Congrats Sarah!

Every Thanksgiving holiday, the 'Santa Barbara Independent' publishes a special Local Heroes section honoring some of the great people who make our county an exceptional place to live. It is a tradition that began 40 years ago, when the 'Independent' first began publishing. Since then, we have honored close to 800 people and organizations.⁠

These Local Heroes have been our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends. Some have been in positions of prestige and power, but most have not. They share qualities of kindness, generosity, and courage, all going about the normal course of their daily lives, doing what they can to bring help and comfort to those they meet. Their actions remind us that we all are in this place together. We all belong here. We are all neighbors. ⁠

It is with heartfelt appreciation and our great pleasure to honor the Local Heroes of 2025.⁠

Read more: https://www.independent.com/2025/11/25/local-heroes-2025/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Cover-Story&utm_content=Local-Heroes&utm_gen=utmdc

📸: Ingrid Bostrom / Santa Barbara Independent⁠
🎨: Xavier Pererya

I'm Lost.  This little one is looking for his person/people.  Location:   Orcutt (PETS Hospital).
11/26/2025

I'm Lost.
This little one is looking for his person/people.
Location: Orcutt (PETS Hospital).

**update - Dog is currently at the Santa Maria shelter
548 W Foster Rd

Do you know this dog? It's currently at PETS Hospital in Orcutt.
Found 11/25 in the afternoon.

Help us alert his owners!!!

Gotta say…I’m pretty fired up about this textbook chapter!  This textbook is used widely around the world, so to have th...
11/11/2025

Gotta say…I’m pretty fired up about this textbook chapter! This textbook is used widely around the world, so to have the opportunity to contribute as a co-author was quite an honor. The
digital version actually comes with links to educational video snippets that help visual learners, which is quite unique for a textbook.
It was a privilege to work my arse off on this inaugural chapter on neurorehabilitation for this new edition! 😅

Special thanks to Dr. Amie Hesbach and Dr. Samantha Wong, my fellow co-authors.
And of course to the editors of this grand piece of work, Dr. Chris Zink and Dr. Janet VanDyke.

Being alongside the expert authors in this textbook is truly a pinch-me moment. 🫶🏼

PTs interested in working with animals?Join us for a webinar on November 18th!
11/05/2025

PTs interested in working with animals?
Join us for a webinar on November 18th!

Join host Sasha Foster, PT, CCRT, with special guests Karen Atlas, PT, CCRT and Kirk Peck, PT, PhD, CSCS, CCRT, for the next session in the Animal PT Webinar Series. This discussion breaks down the often-intimidating licensing process and highlights how PTs can successfully navigate state regulation...

UPDATE:  Post has been edited because "Elaine" has been adopted!  YAY!!Still have 2 adorable Chihuahua (mix?) pups looki...
08/19/2025

UPDATE: Post has been edited because "Elaine" has been adopted! YAY!!

Still have 2 adorable Chihuahua (mix?) pups looking for their forever home.
Location: Santa Barbara
contact Jen

Well adjusted, sweet, playful, 10 week old Chi puppies.
2 available. 1 males 1 female.
Can Ben or Jerry join your family? 💜

Our family has been fostering these cutie pies. Its been fun giving them the solid start they need to life.
But they all need forever homes!
If you’re looking for a littles, please consider adopting instead of shopping. 🫶

Save the date 805 friends!Come support our local county animal shelter!September 21stHope to see you there!
07/22/2025

Save the date 805 friends!
Come support our local county animal shelter!
September 21st
Hope to see you there!

These search and rescue dogs have a very special place in my heart. 💜 Now they are off to help Texas. 🙏🏼
07/09/2025

These search and rescue dogs have a very special place in my heart. 💜
Now they are off to help Texas. 🙏🏼

Address

3208 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA
93105

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