Helping Sensitive Pets Feel Safe, Seen & Soothed — Naturally

Tending Pets is where energy medicine meets modern pet care.

Founded in Kansas City, I specialize in gentle sound baths, Reiki, and custom healing sessions for animals and their people—whether in-person or via Zoom. If your pet is anxious, aging, or just needs extra TLC, you’ve come to the right place.

Holistic pet healer Joann smiling during a sound bath with a gray kitten in Kansas City, offering calming energy work in a cozy, serene space.

  • I wasn’t sure how Charlie would react to the sound bath—he started off pacing and a bit on edge, just doing his usual skeptical-cat thing. But within minutes of Joann beginning the session, he slowly eased into stillness. His breathing softened. By the end, he was curled up fast asleep, deeply relaxed in a way I’ve rarely seen. It was honestly magical to witness."

    Jenny D. — Charlie’s Human, Kansas City

  • These three cats never cuddle. Like, ever. They each have their turf and their moods and that’s just how it’s always been—until Joann came over. During her sound bath session, something shifted. One by one, they climbed onto the couch and curled up side by side, purring and completely at ease. I was floored. The peace in the room was palpable. Joann’s work is gentle but powerful—she has a real gift."

    Heidi G. — A Very Surprised Cat Mom

  • There was a wild storm rolling through, and all three of my dogs were trembling messes—panting, pacing, trying to hide. As soon as Joann began the sound healing, their whole energy changed. It was like someone flipped a switch. They calmed down, laid their heads down, and actually slept through the rest of the storm. I’ve never seen them so soothed."

    Andrew S. — Dog Parent in KC, Forever Grateful

Why I Created Tending Pets

Every pet deserves to feel safe, balanced, and deeply loved. That belief—and years of caring for sensitive, rescue, and aging animals—led me to create Tending Pets: a space where pets (and their people) can experience nervous system support through sound baths, energy work, and holistic care.

After years as a certified herbalist, Holistic Esthetician, Yoga Teacher, Sound Healer, and Ayurveda Health Counselor, I noticed something powerful: the same techniques that soothe anxious humans—like vibrational healing, grounding rituals, and breathwork—can profoundly help pets too. Especially those who are easily overstimulated, recovering from trauma, or deeply empathic.

It all began with an 18-year-old cat named Cubby. I was pet-sitting when she suddenly fell ill. Her humans couldn’t get home, and I did everything I could—gentle care, comforting presence, and on a whim, a sound bath. I had my instruments with me to prepare for a human session, but the moment I began playing, Cubby’s energy shifted. She softened. Her breath slowed. She looked peaceful. I sent her family videos of her progress—and they were so moved by the change, they hired me for regular sessions. They said the calming sounds helped her heal.

That was the moment I realized: this work is not just soothing. It’s sacred.

Tending Pets is how I bring that sacred care to others. Through calming techniques for dogs, energy work for animals, and holistic support for anxious pets, I help your companions feel safe in their bodies and connected to your love. This practice exists to tend—not just treat.

Tending Pets combines my certifications in Animal Reiki, Holistic Pet Care, and Sound Healing with my Ayurvedic values of empathy, nervous system regulation, and individualized care. My goal? To offer natural, loving, vibrational support for pets experiencing anxiety, transitions, aging, or emotional overwhelm.

Why Sound Healing Works for Pets

Animals are incredibly receptive to sound and vibration. Unlike humans, they aren’t burdened by skepticism—they simply respond. From calming anxiety to helping with transitions like aging, illness, or environmental stress, sound healing offers a gentle, non-invasive way to support our pets’ nervous systems.

Scientific and anecdotal evidence supports this:

  • A comprehensive study from the NIH shows that animals exposed to specific sound frequencies (like classical music or harmonic tones) demonstrate reduced signs of stress and improved well-being.

  • The Sound Healing Research Foundation shares multiple case studies showing how animals respond positively to sound therapy—including calmer behavior, improved sleep, and reduced reactivity—especially during high-stress situations like thunderstorms or shelter intake.

These studies echo what I’ve seen firsthand in my sessions—pets intuitively relax, stretch out, and shift from alert to at ease when surrounded by gentle tones and a grounded presence.

Credentials

Certifications & Training:

  • Certified Animal Reiki Practitioner

  • Sound Healing Practitioner Certified

  • Panchakarma Technician including Ayurveda energy work

  • Holistic Pet Care & Herbalist Training

  • Pet First Aid & Animal Communication Certified

  • Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200)

  • Over 20 years in holistic health and wellness

  • Licensed Holistic Esthetician

  • Natural Skincare Formulator Certified

  • Ayurveda Health Counselor

  • Licensed Ethetician Instructor

About Joann, Founder of Tending Pets

A woman in a black dress plays a green steel tongue drum while sitting on a brown couch next to a relaxed black and tan dog. The scene is calm and focused, highlighting a pet sound healing session

Joann Schermerhorn is the founder of Tending Pets and a seasoned holistic wellness practitioner based in Kansas City with a lifelong devotion to animal care and well-being. With over 15 years of professional experience in Ayurveda, energy work, and esthetics, Joann brings a rare blend of grounded expertise and intuitive presence to her work—especially when supporting anxious, aging, or highly sensitive pets.

Joann has been immersed in the health and wellness field since 2004, working across modalities that emphasize nervous system regulation, trauma-informed care, and personalized healing. Her certifications include Animal Reiki, Sound Therapy, Panchakarma, and Holistic Pet Care, along with extensive training in herbalism, yoga, and skincare rooted in traditional healing lineages.

Long before founding Tending Pets, Joann was known as the go-to on-site pet sitter and dog walker for a 250-unit apartment complex, where her presence became a trusted, calming constant for countless animals. Over the years, her clients have come to rely so deeply on her care that she’s been flown across the country to provide one-on-one pet care while guardians travel—because they know their animals are safe, seen, and truly understood in her hands.

Now, through Tending Pets, Joann offers sound healing for animals, remote and in-person Reiki for dogs and cats, and nervous system support for pets who struggle with overstimulation, separation stress, or environmental transitions. Whether easing a rescue dog’s thunderstorm fears or helping an elder cat find deep rest, Joann’s sessions are rooted in compassion, attunement, and holistic tools that actually work.

Her mission is simple but powerful: To help pets feel safe, balanced, and deeply loved—because their wellness matters, too.

Connect

📍 Kansas City Metro
📞 (913) 335‑0564
📧 hellotendingpets@gmail.com
📸 Follow: @tendingpets on Instagram
🌐 Book a Session