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Dog died on my table today
"Is there anything I need to know about Schnookums? Any arthritis, sore hips, knees, shoulders? Lumps, bumps, bruises or skin issues you'd like me to take a look at? ANYTHING that I should be aware of before I start the groom?" This is a standard question that I ask every new client before I start the groom on their dog. I guess I need to add another - "Are you planning on euthanizing your pet this afternoon?"
Yeah. I showed up at a new client's house this afternoon to groom their ancient, decrepit, and absolutely sweet cairn terrier. Halfway through the drying, she put her head down on the table, sighed, and closed her eyes. How cute, I thought. She must be really relaxed from the massage.
She was dead, which I discovered about a minute later when I gently nudged her. Completely panic stricken, I grabbed her under my arm, leapt from the van and went racing into the owners house. "Call your vet and start the car!". Instead of the expected response, I got, "Oh. Well, I guess she didn't make it then." No tears, no concern, no running around, just a quiet sadness.
Utterly baffled and sobbing, I stood there in the hall (the half-groomed dead dog still in my arms) while the owner explained. Apparently, this was Schnookums last groom, their final "treat" for her before being pts. They had planned on euthanizing her this afternoon. They [B]deliberately [/B]withheld this information from me because they thought if I knew that, I wouldn't groom her. Then...THEN...they held out a black plastic garbage bag in my direction.
A million responses flew through my head, not a single one of them polite. I settled for an accusing look and stony silence. Brushing past the owner, I gently placed her in the little bed that I saw in the living room. Then they asked me if it was still the full price since I never finished the groom. Handing them a business card, I instructed them to call the office and speak to Bossman. They did NOT offer an apology, or a tip (not that I would have accepted either one).
I am beyond livid & appalled that they would put me in such a situation. I can still feel that dog's weight in my arms, her limp little body...I doubt I will sleep very well tonite. I AM glad that I was able to give her some comfort in what would turn out to be her final hour on this planet (she REALLY loved being bathed, brushed, and pampered). But I am still royally pissed off/sad/confused/upset/exhausted over this whole episode. Right now, Im just counting the minutes until DH comes home, because he always seems to say just the right thing to make me feel better.
Has anyone else ever run into this type of situation and, if so, how in the world did you handle it??
Yeah. I showed up at a new client's house this afternoon to groom their ancient, decrepit, and absolutely sweet cairn terrier. Halfway through the drying, she put her head down on the table, sighed, and closed her eyes. How cute, I thought. She must be really relaxed from the massage.
She was dead, which I discovered about a minute later when I gently nudged her. Completely panic stricken, I grabbed her under my arm, leapt from the van and went racing into the owners house. "Call your vet and start the car!". Instead of the expected response, I got, "Oh. Well, I guess she didn't make it then." No tears, no concern, no running around, just a quiet sadness.
Utterly baffled and sobbing, I stood there in the hall (the half-groomed dead dog still in my arms) while the owner explained. Apparently, this was Schnookums last groom, their final "treat" for her before being pts. They had planned on euthanizing her this afternoon. They [B]deliberately [/B]withheld this information from me because they thought if I knew that, I wouldn't groom her. Then...THEN...they held out a black plastic garbage bag in my direction.
A million responses flew through my head, not a single one of them polite. I settled for an accusing look and stony silence. Brushing past the owner, I gently placed her in the little bed that I saw in the living room. Then they asked me if it was still the full price since I never finished the groom. Handing them a business card, I instructed them to call the office and speak to Bossman. They did NOT offer an apology, or a tip (not that I would have accepted either one).
I am beyond livid & appalled that they would put me in such a situation. I can still feel that dog's weight in my arms, her limp little body...I doubt I will sleep very well tonite. I AM glad that I was able to give her some comfort in what would turn out to be her final hour on this planet (she REALLY loved being bathed, brushed, and pampered). But I am still royally pissed off/sad/confused/upset/exhausted over this whole episode. Right now, Im just counting the minutes until DH comes home, because he always seems to say just the right thing to make me feel better.
Has anyone else ever run into this type of situation and, if so, how in the world did you handle it??
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