LOCAL LIFE
Dr Harry gets into
the swim
Lights , action , camera ! Dr Harry Cooper and K9 Swim ’ s Sharon Osmond ( to his right ) chat with Mark and Kathy Foden , the “ parents ” of Molly , who had just finished her pool exercises with three K9 Swim helpers , Tracie , Czarina and Alyssa . The Better Homes and Gardens film crew are ( l-r ) Dave Sims , Wes Ashton and Tim Vincent , who didn ’ t mind taking a dip to oversee the production . Photos : Kathryn Johnston
by Greg Martin
Dr Harry Cooper is one of the most beloved faces on television due to his genial character and his passion for animals .
Dr Harry has been educating and entertaining Aussie television viewers for many years , ever since first appearing as a talking head in a veterinary segment on a TV morning show in Sydney in the mid-80s .
One small step for mankind , but there were many , many steps to come as Harry forged a career in the media .
Down the years since , he has delighted audiences on programs such as Burke ’ s Backyard , Talk to the Animals , Harry ’ s Practice , and now for many years everyone ’ s favourite vet on Better Homes and Gardens .
A venerable veterinarian and media personality indeed !
So , you could imagine Sharon Osmond ’ s glee when Better Homes and Gardens producer , Tim Vincent , gave her a tingle .
Sharon is a highly qualified veterinary nurse , animal hydrotherapist and founder and proprietor of North Richmond ’ s K9 Swim Hydrotherapy and Wellness Centre . After introducing himself , Tim told
Sharon that he and Dr Harry were discussing story ideas when the Doc mentioned he had visited K9 Swim back in 2014 to do a program segment on weight loss for dogs .
“ Harry had been contemplating a story about the rehabilitation of dogs and because his K9 Swim 2014 program was such a hit with the audience , he suggested I make contact with you ,” Tim explained .
“ So could we visit you and film a program on the rehabilitation of our canine friends .” “ Of course not ,” Sharon said . Yeah , sure ! The venerated vet , Tim , cameraman Wes Ashton and soundman , Dave Sims , arrived at K9 Swim early last month and spent the day filming dogs being rehabilitated and chatting with Sharon , her diligent staff and clients .
Dr Harry and the production team filmed our canine friends being rehabilitated in the heated indoor pool as well as in the water treadmill .
One of those doggie patients was Mark and Kathy Foden ’ s four-year-old Border Collie-cross poodle , Molly , which had recently had her right foreleg amputated due to cancer .
“ We live at Mount Annan , but we don ’ t mind one iota about traveling this far because of the care and expertise provided by Sharon and her team ,” Kathy said .
The always affable Dr Harry said he was “ delighted ” to again feature K9 Swim on his Better Homes and Garden program – the K9 Swim segment is expected to be screened on November 10 .
“ What Sharon and her staff are achieving here is remarkable and it has been a privilege for the crew and I to come here again to meet her and her wonderful staff and witness what they are achieving ,” Dr Harry said .
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 162 // NOVEMBER 2023 9