Founder

Sharon L. Willoughby Blake DVM, DC (December 1, 1946 – November 10, 2010) is the founder of modern day animal chiropractic. Dr. Willoughby Blake was a Michigan veterinarian who became interested in animal chiropractic care after seeing its effects on a canine patient and later on, herself. After earning her doctor of chiropractic degree at Palmer Chiropractic College, Davenport, Iowa, it was her desire to teach animal chiropractic to her peers.

Dr. Willoughby Blake started the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) as well as the first postgraduate basic animal chiropractic program which was the main animal chiropractic training program from 1989 to 2001. She encouraged others to develop other basic animal chiropractic programs.
She presented at the “First Annual Animal Chiropractic Conference” held at Life College in Georgia in 1985. She taught Anatomy/Physiology, Physical Examination, and Neurological Examination classes at Palmer College of Chiropractic from 1986 to 1989. She was named Interim Director for the PCC School of Chiropractic Technology in 1988, and was awarded Professor of the Year in 1989. In 2001, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award, Michigan State University.

In the late 1990’s, she wrote, “We share a vision that animal chiropractic deserves a place in the animal health care system. We will bear the burdens of the pioneer so that the path will be clearer and straighter for those that follow. We make a commitment to study, to research, to teach and to write so that we will inspire future animal chiropractic professionals. We know that the foundations that we create will influence animal chiropractic care for generations of animals and humans to come. We understand that our time here is but brief, yet the ultimate truth in chiropractic is universal, enduring and significant.”