He was standing in my reception room, small, gray, bedraggled and shaking. "You don't look very happy" I observed.

"What do you expect with this jerk on the other end of my leash?" he growled.

I had to admit that Marley's owner WAS pretty obnoxious and always brought him in matted and filthy. "You wanna come in the back and let me get you cleaned up? You know you always feel better after you're groomed."

"Sure" he grumbled, pulling me toward the cages, "anything to get away from this idiot."

We went directly to the tub and as I was Hydrosurging the first layer of dirt off  him, he whined "You 'member last time, I told ya how he always kept me in that lousy pen outside? And then ya talked him into lettin' me in the house? So I think everything is gonna be hunky dory right? Wrong. The kids are drivin' me up the wall, pullin' my tail, yankin' my ears, so I growl at 'em so's they'll give me a little peace and quiet and who gets in trouble? ME! And that's not the half of it! Know how I got here today? In the BACK of a pickup truck!"

"Gosh Marley, that's really awful. Hold on while I drain the tub, you need a second bath. Here, have a biscuit while your waiting".

I had to admit Marley had good reason to be grouchy. Poor little guy. His owner just didn't have a clue about how to take care of a dog. I had been trying to educate him for the last year. So far I had managed to talk him into bringing the dog in for grooming on a regular schedule, feeding Marley better food, taking him to clicker training classes and FINALLY letting him in the house so he wouldn't be so lonely. Now I needed to get him to teach his children some respect for their small furry brother. And if I could just get him to communicate with his dog without yelling commands at him, I figured Marley's life could almost be rewarding.

Sometimes it seems that the real reason I was put on earth at this time and place is to teach people how to love their dogs and cats and that grooming is only the vehicle for that. It's almost impossible to be a groomer and not have an opportunity to educate pet owners. I feel the responsibility of that daily.  Hence the file cabinets full of dog and cat care pamphlets. My neighbor, Chris the florist, always laughs about seeing people come staggering out of my shop loaded down with brochures and food samples.

When he was dry,  I put him on the table to finish him. "Ya wanna NOT make me look like some wimpy poodle this time? The last time I had to hide out for weeks. Every time I walked outside all I heard was laughin'."

"Sorry Marley but that WAS what your dad asked for. But he said I could do what I want this time, so how's about that cut I gave you last year, the lamb trim with the round face that makes you look like a little teddy bear?"

"Aw geeze, can'tcha just make me look like a dog?"

"OK, no bows, a bandanna with ducks and no nail polish, deal?"

"Yeah, sure, (grrrrr) I give up, ... deal". We shook on it.

When Marley's owner came to pick him up I managed to talk the guy into letting him ride inside the cab of the truck, now that his dog smelled good again. Getting Marley out of his kennel to go home I said "Come on now Marley, admit it, you DO feel better all cleaned up."

He looked up at me with those little bright Cockapoo eyes and gave me a small tidy kiss on my nose "Yeah, thanks Molly, oh and could you get my dad to buy another bag of those health bars he got last time? They taste lots better than the kids" he grinned.

I watched them walk out the door and toward their car when Marley's owner saw a friend and stopped to talk. Without missing a beat Marley walked over and casually lifted his leg on his owner's trouser leg unbeknownst to all. They thought he was panting, but as he looked over his shoulder at me, I was pretty sure he was laughing.

Molly Sargent
Embarkadero Compassionate Grooming
Pleasant Hill, OR

Copyright 2003