I have almost started to get used to this, and I don’t want to because it is unacceptable. What I’m talking about is the neglect I see all the time at work. I was looking at the pictures today and imagined looking at them from the eyes of someone who doesn’t see this all the time, and you know what? It’s disgusting. I mean, I know it is disgusting, but I’ve started to get desensitized to it. And I don’t want to be. I want to remember the shock I first had when I started to see this, when I started grooming at the vet clinic.
One thing that still gets under my skin is the sob stories people give me. I’m getting sick of them. If you have been sick and your husband was laid off, then I am very sorry for you, but you need to find another home for your dog if you can’t take care of it. There is no excuse for this.
And the lies!
Yes, I’m very sure you tried your best to bathe the dog at home and yes, bathing her probably caused these mats I see all over her. Yes, you were trying very hard to take good care of her, and that is why I have to wear a surgical mask in order to be in the same room with her without vomiting.
Do people think I’m stupid? Obviously.
And no, I am not able to make a skirt out of the cast on your dog’s legs.
And no, I will not give you a discount because you want me to feel sorry for you after you neglect your dog for an entire year. I would discount you if you were a regular customer who took proper care of her dog.
(I didn’t exactly discount, but I did not charge extra, so yeah, I did kind of discount. I did the same thing last year, when she came in in this same condition. I don’t know why. I just felt sorry for the dog.)
And I’m mad at myself for not saying any of this to the dog owner. Instead I just play dumb and nod and say “okay” and tell her I will do my best and that I will definitely have to shave the dog, and yes, of course I know she will start brushing her and she will not get into this condition again. Same as last year.
Anyway, this is not the first and not even the 20th dog this year that has come in this matted, but I think she may win the award for the stinkiest. She smelled like vomit, after it had been standing in a puddle in the hot sun for a few days. With a dead rat soaking in it.
Anyway, I took some pictures for you. Well, I take pictures of many of these just to document them. Just in case, I have no idea, but I think it is a good idea. I have plenty more, but this one shows up pretty good in the pictures. I mean, you can’t smell it, but you almost can if you really try.







The second to last photo, which is hard to make out, is me holding up her foot so you are looking at the bottom of her foot. Her entire paw pad was covered in a big mat. She’s been walking on this for months. Underneath it the overgrown toenails were also matted over.
The worst thing is that this dog is 15 years old. So this has been going on her entire life! The only time she has ever been comfortable was in the two or three months after her groom before the mats and stinkiness completely took over. Also, this is an indoor dog! I cannot even fathom that.
Oh, wait, the even worse than worst thing is that the lady told me that she babysits out of her home. She babysits out of her home! No shit!
How do people live with themselves?