Sugar
This pretty little dog is “Sugar”. I stop by her owner’s office a few times per year just to clip Sugar’s toenails, and then once annually, I scissor off some of the long coat. I try not to destroy her unique “tousled” look, which just melts my heart. To me she looks a bit like a Dr. Seuss character. Sugar is a petite pet with a huge heart.
Yesterday I clipped a Shih Tzu named Ozzie. I didn’t get his photo taken, but he would have made a nice portrait. Perhaps next time.
While I was grooming Ozzie, I got a phone call from a friend who reported that her beloved terrier had survived what they believe was a coyote attack. It is entirely possible that a small dog can survivive such an ordeal… perhaps Snoopy was cornered just by one young coyote. My friend asked me to come over with scissors to help inspect the wounds, as she thought he had several punctures but no serious gashes.
I gathered up my electric clippers (which Snoopy is quite accustomed to), and my grooming shears, a comb, tube of antibiotic ointment, and a small muzzle. What I wasn’t prepared for was that my friend’s irascible husband (of more than 50 years) disagreed about the need for doing any such clipping and inspection. He announced with confidence that he had smoothed the matted and bloody hair over Snoopy’s wounds, thereby stopping the “leaks” at the time of the injury, which was almost two days before! The elderly man did not feel that we should clip around the wounds because the little dog might “leak” again.
I was diplomatic (I’ve been intimidated by the man for 25 years) but suggested that the fur pressed over the open wounds would NOT promote healing, and in fact could lead to infection quite quickly. So then, Mr. L proceeded to be even ruder to his wife, while I took some of the commentary personally (“YOU think ointment is the cure for everything!”)… and I hadn’t even got MY trusty tube of medication out of my pocket yet.
The upshot of all of this is that Snoopy’s master demanded we bring out a tub of warm water with salt in it, so that HE could “bathe the wounds”. What a mess was made… the little dog ended up wetted, but without any of us being able to clean or inspect a single puncture wound (the bloody coat was obscuring everything). The whole time Mr. L was nasty to his wife regarding whether the cloths were wet enough, or if she handed them over fast enough, “We’re doctoring a DOG here, not SOCIALIZING!” he exclaimed. I was so uncomfortable that I almost bailed, but I knew that would not improve the mood in that household.
In the end, my trip and my time was wasted, except that I always enjoy seeing my friend (the Mrs. in the family). Another day we will have a better visit. I’m going to do a follow-up phone call, partly because Snoopy is “due” for general grooming, and so that perhaps I can convince said Mr. to let me take the dog to clean up the injuries. The victim is probably quite bruised, so as long as he doesn’t contract infection, he’ll be walking better and acting more like himself in a few days. Gary says, the trouble with all of this, is that if the dog gets sicker, Mr. L will say it’s YOUR fault because you went over there and “Didn’t do anything!”. Makes life interesting, no ? Perhaps I should have muzzled Mr. L..
This is a picture of Snoopy at a better time. We all certainly hope he makes a complete recovery from his ordeal. The man who owns him calls Snoopy a “Jack Russell Terrier”, but Snoopy is actually progeny from a Wire Haired Fox Terrier mother, bred to a Yorkshire Terrier. He’s a handsome laddy, by any name.
I have to get a move on! The driveway is sheer ice at the moment… one can’t walk safely from cars or out to the shop or the kennels. I’m going out to spread some sand and gravel, and then away to town to deliver Sugar back to her owner.
Love, Ann
