Beth Yerrick
Beth Yerrick graduated from Western Michigan University with a teaching major in Emotional Impairment and continued to attend WMU to obtain a Masters in Educational Leadership and Teaching Socially and Educationally Disadvantaged children. She taught special education at Comstock Public Schools for 38 years, and has spent the last six as a classroom behavioral consultant.
She has been a local, state, and national advocate for children’s mental health serving as president of the local Kalamazoo chapter and state level board of the Michigan Association of Children with Emotional Disorders, as well as the national board of The Federation of Children’s Mental Health. While teaching, it was common for Beth to use animals as an integral part of the program. This included taking classes for horseback riding therapy at the Cheff Center, having white rats for students to train, and a spunky Jack Russell named Rikki Tikki Tavi.
Beth’s interest in opening a year around warm water facility occurred when the family’s elder dog, Duke could no longer control is bowels and was losing the ability to walk. The veterinarian emphasized he needed to be in water, and there was no year around facility in the area. She researched the need, studied warm water facilities in operation around the nation, and then hunted for training. When she found PetMassage in Toledo, Ohio, and completed specific instruction in Water Work with dogs, she proposed to Mary Lester and husband, Darryl that they open their own facility. Beth is a Certified WaterWork Practitioner and is currently finishing her certification as a canine massage therapist. She also maintains certification in Pet First Aid/CPR. She is a member of IAAMB/AWT.
Darryl Yerrick
Darryl Yerrick graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but soon decided his interest was really in computers. He received an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from KVCC and joined Meijer’s Information Technology team.
Darryl has always enjoyed time with his animals which started when he hunted with his family’s cocker spaniel as a teen. He was an avid distance rider with his horse, Amelia, and was an original board member of the Yankee Springs Trail Riders Association. He has served as the president of that organization, and is currently president of the board for the Southern Michigan Weimaraner Club. Darryl’s interest in being a partner in The Dog Dive is directly related to his beloved Weimaraner, Adalmar. Adalmar received extensive injuries from an accident at 7 months old and had major surgery in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and went through rehabilitation to learn to walk again. His veterinary suggested water work to help him stay fit in a non-weight bearing environment to help ward off future arthritis. With the closest year around swim facility being 3 hours away, Darryl was determined to help establish a facility in Southwest Michigan. Darryl is The Dog Dive’s facility manager and earned his national credentials as a Certified Pool Operator through The National Swimming Pool Foundation to assure we have the highest water standards at all times.
