We are often asked what is the hardest thing about doing the loop. I now know the correct response is finding a dog groomer. They are rarer then hens teeth and one with an appointment available is rarer still. Our Shih Zhu are great boat dogs as they are basically non-shedding, but their hair grows and needs to be cut.
I have the equipment and in previous years would wash and groom them aboard. However, Maggie’s heart issues have made her quite sensitive to temperature. Very hot or very cold will result in her fainting and sometimes having a seizure. I am therefore very reluctant to groom her unless the right conditions present themselves.
I can wash them aboard but quarters in our shower stall are tight and drying them with a hair dryer is best done outside so the ambient temperature must be at least 80. Another option is a handicapped shower stall with a handheld shower head.
St Augustine had a pleasant surprise for us. Not only was there a Pet Smart grooming studio with appointments available within two kilometres, but there were also Ubers that took pets. Yeah!
I dropped the dogs off at 5:00 and was told pick up would be around 9:00. The groomer said they would stop the service if Maggie became upset. Fair enough.
I received a call around 6:30. The groomer had started with Maggie and was uncomfortable continuing. She thought Maggie needed to be in calmer environment. Off I went. Maggie was still damp when I arrived so I asked if I could blow her dry. It was breezy and cool outside and I was worried she would pass out. They refused “for safety reasons” and gave me a thin blue towel.
There were no benches along the mall and little protection from the wind. So once I towelled her down, I sat on the pavement on the downwind side of a small pillar. Maggie was wrapped in the towel and very close to my side to stay warm.
She and I sat there quietly waiting for Rocco. She enjoyed watching the people walk by. After half an hour I started to notice that they didn’t make eye contact. Their glance would make a brief stop then slide over us.
Ah, the penny finally dropped. They thought I was homeless. Very interesting. I had on new jeans, a nice Arc’teryx hoody, showered, fresh hair cut, fresh pedicure and my Apple Watch. Still I was sitting on the pavement outside of Pet Smart on Friday night.
I continued sitting there thinking about the nature of homelessness and hoping I wasn’t scaring anyone. Eventually, a lovely Hispanic gentleman came by and tried to give me a hand of bananas. I shook my head refusing his generosity. He went into Pet Smart and I decided I should check on Rocco’s progress and find somewhere else to sit.
By the time I got to my feet and went into the store, the gentleman was at the cash trying to get change for a hundred. Maggie and I scurried into an aisle and out of sight.
Really there are some nice people in the world.
Moon Dance IV 