Ann’s Weblog

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

Was glad to have a little paying work today, I groomed this delightful Yorkshire Terrier, Pikachu.

At her owner’s request, I tried a rather different style with this “client”: I clipped much of the fur from her tiny feet so that Pikachu wouldn’t be so bothered by snow and ice crystals building up between the pads. I think it’s a great idea for winter for dogs with hairy paws. (Click on the thumbnails for a larger portrait to view or print out.)

I “babysat” (provided daycare for) my friend’s dogs Morag and Foxy again this week. The sisters have become long-legged beauties; at this age many puppies have an “ugly duckling” stage: NOT so for them! Am I biased? Yes, indeed.

I also groomed “Snoopy”, a regular client who is part Fox Terrier, part Yorkshire Terrier, and total gentleman and sweetie.

I am glad to report that I seem to have shaken “the blues”. There’s no rational excuse for me to feel so sad (I wouldn’t call what I have “depression”… more like melancholy), but I do feel relieved when the grey mood passes.

Am very excited to see my daughters in Calgary; two of them live there, and one is flying back from Argentina next week (unless she has changed her mind and extended her stay). We always have a great time visiting and eating great food in restaurants, sometimes shopping. I need to visit my stepmother, who also lives in Calgary. She is, in general, lonely, and troubled by realities of what lies ahead in her life. Whatever conversations she thinks we need to have, I’m opened minded to.

The weather has been great today, mild and clear. Gary split a bunch of firewood and hauled it all indoors. The warmer temperatures and high winds have resulted in our parking area being just like a skating rink, so we try to greet customers at the cars so that THEY don’t have to walk on the ice, and we have spread some gritty stuff on it. The gritty stuff that I found in my shop? Chick starter! Hey, it’s biodegradeable, and we won’t be raising chickens again any time soon.

We’re having cheese blintzes tonight (yippee) and some plain meatballs with the main attraction.

Thanks for checking my blog.

~Ann