The alarm clock goes off -- the morning I've been dreading has come.

I panic and think about just running away.

My hope of fleeing is quickly dashed by the realization that my leg is broken and I can't run away, which is why I am going to physical therapy in the first place. Oh no!

We arrive at the vet's office.

It begins as terrifyingly as I feared. I am placed in an aquarium, just large enough for a half dozen ...PIRANHAS!

The water rises higher and higher, like a scene in one of those adventure movies in which the hero finds himself trapped in an aquarium, just large enough for a half dozen piranhas, with water rising all around him.

I scream, "Terry! Kyle! Marci! --

Have you all gone MAD?"

Hmmm, treats!

Sorry -- what was I saying?

Oh yes -- in those movies, the hero is always rescued at the last minute by a beautiful woman.

It turns out that this is actually Canine Hydrotherapy, part of my rehabilitation regimen.

Hydrotherapy acts by encouraging a full range of joint motion in reduced weight conditions, thus improving muscle tone and promoting tendon repair without imposing undue stress on damaged tissues and improving cardiovascular stamina.

It feels good. The warm water is relaxing, encouraging blood flow to my painful skinny little legs. I feel a lot less pain as I walk through it, because the buoyancy takes the pressure off my injury.

It hurts, Terry!

She comforts me. I couldn't bear any of this without her gentle love.

I'll need to rebuild strength in my upper body.

Having my joints flexed like this increases their range of motion and teaches my muscles to move again. Perhaps one day I will be able to "gimme paw."

A guy can't look pitiful all the time....

The sometimes painful massage therapy is done, but my session at the vet office is still not over.

Terry senses my apprehension.

The facility is decorated with pictures of limber pussycats doing vigorous gymnastics, Tae Bo and Modern Dance.

Is this the sort of thing that's coming next?

Terry tells me about the type of therapy I am to receive next.

Aw, come on, you can't be serious.

PILATES! Not just trendy, but cutting edge canine physical therapy too.

Pilates is great for hounds recovering from serious injuries. It increases core strength, stability, balance and awareness of body position, along with flexibility and relaxation. These things can assist in reducing pain and maximizing quality of life.

I will need that back leg strength and balance, because Michelle Espino has already signed me up to lead the Conga Line at next Summer's SCG Reunion at North Park.

Boom-boom boom-boom BOOM boom
Boom-boom boom-boom BOOM boom

We move on to the next therapy -- apparently a game of Twister. Except there's only one dot!

We still manage to get pretty tangled up.

The winner gets a piece of cheese.

Actually, this is another range of motion therapy, which causes me to move my legs side to side for increased flexibility. Is this a lead up to hula dancing?

What's next?

• Will they put me in a high-powered aerobics class with those endorphin-crazed pussycats?
• Will they add another dot to the Twister game for me to stand on?
• Will they figure out I peed in the hydrotherapy pool?

Please check back and read about what happens in the upcoming chapter of my story.

Will you do something to help this courageous little pup, who truly puts the "CAN" into "CANINE"?