Sometimes you have to try things to see if they work. And the point comes when you realise they don’t work and you backtrack and end up on familiar ground again which makes you feel all cosy and warm, like you’ve come home after a particularly bumpy journey. That’s what’s been happening. And that is why I am returned to ‘Oh, My Days!’ If anyone is still here…they might not be…in which case I am shouting into the lone void. But it’ll be a lone void that keeps me entertained. And I’ll be able to say what I like because I shan’t be offended.
Anyway, last Wednesday his Lordship Malarkey and I took Nellibobs the Cockapoo to the Pets At Home Groom Room for an all over spruce up and full clip. Now she has her adult coat we need to have her clipped every 8-10 weeks or she’ll turn into a felted door mat of a creature, which won’t be nice at all. We dropped her off at lunchtime for her 2 hour appointment, and hied ourselves off for a spot of lunch. So far, so good.
Half an hour later, we received a phone call from The Groom Room, saying ever so sorry but they’d cut her leg with the clippers and were taking her to the vet to be treated.
What??? Well, we shot off back to The Groom Room (shit name, by the way) and there was our little Nell, very agitated, partially clipped (she looked like a scabby Victorian child newly shaved because it had lice), a stapled inch-long cut to her right foreleg (not even the baggy underarm area which I thought was where they’d nicked her) and wearing a buster collar. As you can imagine, I was tight-lipped livid.
(There were two staples in situ when we collected Nell. She removed one herself.)
The staff explained what they’d done. Not how they’d managed to maim my dog - I can only imagine gross incompetence - but what happened at the vet’s. ‘You’ll need to bring her back in 10 days to have the staples removed,’ they said. Andy said, ‘I’m a vet - I’ll take them out.’ ‘Oh,’ they said. ‘Well, that’s handy. That’ll save you a journey.’ They went on to say they wouldn’t charge us for the appointment - obvs - and would we like to rebook for a fortnight’s time to complete her clip? (Because they couldn’t do it now because she had an open wound. Which they inflicted.) What??? So they could have a go at maiming her other leg? I declined their offer and swept from the building in a manner that suggested I was most displeased with the whole episode because I bloody well was.
And when we got home, I purchased a set of dog clippers, a portable grooming table, various combs, detangle brushes, scissors and shampoos, because I am going to learn to manage Nell’s coat myself. I just can’t bring myself to trust anyone else with her at the moment and, let’s be honest, I can’t make more of a pig’s ear of the job than Pets At Home Groom Room, can I? I’ve been watching YouTube videos on the process and taking advice from dedicated cockapoo websites. It won’t be easy, but it will be doable. And it will be a process that grows easier with time and practise.
The initial cost of the equipment I bought will pay for itself within six months.The Groom Room wanted £53 for their (shoddy) service. I requested they refund the £15 deposit, in a manner that dared them to disagree, which they have processed but which hasn’t yet appeared back in our bank account, so I’ll need to keep an eye open to make sure it does. They’ve scarred my Nell for life. Disgraceful.
Comments
I’m sorry to hear about Nell and am once more relieved, on behalf of all your menagerie (past and present), that you have a full time resident vet.
Good luck with the grooming. Of course, there must be a photo call. But how hard can it be? You tube is excellent in this regard and I’m sure you’ll do a much better job than me on my own back-of-the-head layers. Not enough hands you see.. hair, scissors, mirror. Does not compute!
(Mrs Duck)
Thanks, Anonymous. Turns out you can’t keep a long-time blogging habit down. I’m immersed in novel writing, but the blog is good for short, sharp writing episodes.
KJ