Allyson Gallegos-Massage Therapist

Figured I'd share a random bit of what I've been upto with my time off!

December 26th, 2025 we welcomed our foster dog Frost! He is an absolute sweetie! https://www.pitrescue.org/frost

I have been enjoying nature. Finding bunnies in my porch pot, butterflies, bees, and even fascinated by spiders 🤔. My husband started a garden that I have helped with. We got some good cucumbers (after thinking we weren't going to), jalapeños (his not mine 🥵😂), and we failed at watermelon and green peppers haha.

We did a hike up to Crazy Horse back in June with my family and I made it back down in one piece. We took our daughter to Valleyfair for the first time and she absolutely loved it!

My husband sliced his hand open in May and ended up seeing my hand surgeon. He had a small cut on the tendon that was catching plus two tendons were scar tissued together!

Our daughter started high school! We babysat a few dogs (only showed Danny Boy as he is the only one left we babysat that isn't adopted yet! ) Random picture of the time I found a bolt in my soup from Olive Garden. A contractor stood on our dryer and dented it. We did a sip n cycle with our pit rescue family (I was lucky enough to sit in the back haha). I also thought my scar on my wrist reminded me of a whale 😂.

September 5th, 2026 we welcomed are second foster dog, Brie! I know you're thinking "wow Allyson, youre crazy! "Yes I am! But she is 26 pounds, tiny, and just like Frost, and total sweetie.
https://www.pitrescue.org/brie

So I am keeping busy and staying distracted while trying to fix these hands of mine. I know you all enjoy my crazy life so figured I'd share a bit 😂

A little update on my hands and my journey back to doing what I love. ❤️

Healing has not gone the way I hoped it would, and honestly, there have been moments where I’ve felt completely defeated. I never imagined that my hands—the very things I have relied on for my career as a massage therapist—would become the thing that made me question whether I should have ever chosen this path.

My right hand is still experiencing some swelling, even months after surgery. My doctor explained that this can sometimes take up to a year to fully settle, and we are also considering whether my hypermobility may be contributing to the amount of swelling and the slower healing process.

Unfortunately, my left hand still needs more work as well. On November 24th, I will be having surgery to release the trigger fingers in my thumb, middle finger, and pinky, along with a De Quervain’s release. I will also be receiving injections on the pinky side of my wrist to help address the ongoing pain there.

To say this has been an emotional process would be an understatement.

There have been days when I have felt betrayed by my own hands. Days when I’ve worried that I’m failing my clients, my coworkers, and the people who have supported me. Days when I’ve wondered if becoming a massage therapist was a mistake.

But I’m trying to remind myself that needing to heal does not mean I have failed.

My body has been asking me to slow down, and I am finally learning to listen.

I don't know exactly what my timeline back to massage will look like yet. What I do know is that I am doing everything I can to give my hands the best chance at healing properly, rather than rushing back before they are ready.

To all of my clients who have been patient, understanding, and supportive through all of this—thank you. Truly. Your kindness means more to me than you probably realize. ❤️

I miss my work. I miss my clients. And I hope that when my hands are ready, I’ll be able to come back with a renewed appreciation for the work I love so much.

For now, it’s time to keep healing. One day, one step, and one little bit of progress at a time. 🖤

Today is the last day to vote and these 3 are so close to making the calendar! Please give them a like on the original post!!

Hey everyone! It's that time of year again! If you could please please please vote for my fur babies, I would appreciate it! I will post a screenshot in the comments on which photos are my babies!

My daughter, Lilly, is working to raise money for the JHS Volleyball program and would really appreciate your support! There is also an OPTIONAL Tip that protects your donation, covers processing fees and allows them to receive the highest percentage! Please click the link or scan the QR code to help her reach her goal of raising $1,000 for her team. Thank you for your generosity!
https://v2.launchfundraising.com/2DeC473U

Please share ☺️

🧳 Tonight's the Night! ❤️

Have you been wondering if Francine could be the right dog for your family? Come meet her tonight!

This is your chance to see Francine in action with her trainers, Missy and Madison from Nerdy K9, learn about her personality, and ask honest questions. There's no pressure, just an opportunity to see the real Francine and discover what makes her so special!

Francine is excited to hopefully meet the family she's been waiting more than two years for. She's ready to have a home and people to call her very own!

📍 Dog Days Hotel (4060 S Grange Ave #200, Sioux Falls)
🕡 Tonight at 6:30 PM

We hope to see you there! ❤️🐾
https://www.pitrescue.org/francine

Can everyone do me a HUGE favor please and share Francine?

Two weeks.
Two weeks until time runs out.
Two weeks until Francine loses the only home she's known for the last 2½ years.
Two weeks until the couch she curls up on, the bed she sleeps in, and the life she's worked so hard to trust all disappear.
And the hardest part?
Not one single person has stepped forward with serious interest in giving this incredible girl a chance.That means we have to start making plans to board her.

After 2½ years in a loving foster home, boarding is not where Francine belongs. She isn't a dog who will thrive in a kennel environment. She needs stability. She needs routine. She needs someone who understands that trust is built, not demanded.

This has to become everyone's mission.
If you've ever shared one of our posts...
If you've ever said you love rescue...
If you've ever wondered how you could help...

This is it.

Francine needs to be in your conversations. She needs to be on your page, in your stories, in your texts to friends and family. She needs every single one of us advocating for her until the right person sees her.

Some may ask why we're bringing new dogs into rescue when Francine still needs a home.
The answer is simple.
Francine doesn't need just any home. She needs the right home.
She would do best in a quieter home without cats or children, someone who understands canine body language, respects her space, and is willing to let her settle in at her own pace. She isn't difficult. She's simply honest about who she is.
When we pulled Francine from Sioux City Animal Control, she had already lost everything once.

We refuse to watch her become that shut-down, hopeless dog again.
So here we are.

Two weeks.

That's all we have.

Please... share her story. Tag someone. Talk about her. Help us find the one person who has been looking for a dog exactly like Francine but just hasn't met her yet.

Because Francine deserves so much more than another goodbye. ❤️🐾

Webpage: https://www.pitrescue.org/francine

Adopt Me Now! https://fs22.formsite.com/siouxempire/form1/index.html...

Happy 4th of July everyone! Have a fun and safe day! Please be kind, courteous and considerate to your neighbors, veterans, and pets!

A few days ago, we reintroduced everyone to our beautiful redhead, Francine, and shared the reality that after nearly two years in our foster program, she is once again facing uncertainty. 🐾

Due to serious medical circumstances, her foster family has made the difficult decision to sell their home, and unless we can find her forever family, Francine will need somewhere to go by July 31.

What many people don't realize is that the dog you see today is not the dog that arrived in our program two years ago. 💖

The terrified little red dog that hid in the back of her kennel, growled out of fear, and trusted absolutely no one has blossomed into a smart, funny, adventurous girl who genuinely wants to be part of someone's life.

A huge part of that transformation is thanks to the incredible team at Nerdy K9 Academy. Missy, Madison, and their staff have invested countless hours into helping Francine learn how to navigate the world with confidence. Alongside her foster family and our volunteers, they have helped fine-tune her skills, build her trust, and show her that people can be safe.

And Francine has been an exceptional student. 🧠

She is intelligent, eager to learn, incredibly observant, and one of those dogs that forms deep connections with the people she loves. While she still has a larger-than-life personality, she has come so incredibly far from where she started.

What continues to amaze us is that no one has stepped forward for her.

Yes, Francine requires a little more finesse than your average dog. She isn't going to walk up to every stranger and immediately ask for belly rubs. She appreciates thoughtful introductions and people who understand that trust is earned. But once you're in her circle, you're in it for life.

We've seen how much she enjoys having a canine companion as well. During his time in our program, she adored SEPR alumni Beau. His goofy confidence helped bring out the best in her, and she was endlessly patient with all of his young-dog antics. Watching her play, learn, and gain confidence alongside him was one of the many reminders that there is so much more to Francine than people realize.

The reality is that we may never know everything this girl endured before she came to us. Some stories are written in scars we can't see. 📖

But what we do know is that she has worked incredibly hard for the life she has today, and she deserves a future that is every bit as bright as the progress she has made.

Somewhere out there is a person who will appreciate her quirky personality, her intelligence, her loyalty, and the bond that comes from earning the trust of a dog who doesn't give her heart away freely.

We just need to find them. 🔍

Please continue sharing Francine's story. Cross-post this. Send it to friends, family members, coworkers, dog trainers, hiking buddies, and anyone you know who appreciates an underdog.

We have until July 31 to find the family she has waited her entire life for.

💻 Learn more about Francine:
https://www.pitrescue.org/francine

Well hopefully right hand is all fixed up. Pinky, middle finger, and thumb were fixed for trigger finger. The De Quervains (which is the side of my wrist on the thumb side) was actually frayed. This spot was questionable about getting fixed because it didn't cause excruciating pain like it should when something is wrong. I decided to do it because certain things were getting worst and I am so glad I did! He said that was the worse spot out of all of them.

So now I am healing and resting. I will most likely need my left done but I am going to see how this goes!

Thank you all for thoughts and prayers!