Have seen this e-mailed joke for several years but I always giggle…and know it’s true!
Life really boils down to 2 questions…
1. Should I get a dog…?
Dog
OR…
2. Should I have children?
Child
Luckily my 2 huskies are so perfect – makes this an easy question ;-)
Angelus puppy
Storm puppy
Priceless :)
I took the boys in to get groomed today. They were scheduled to go in last week but then Angelus got hurt so I re-scheduled for today. So I let them get extra sandy and wet at the beach yesterday and today :)
I took them to a new place for us. Normally, a friend of ours has been doing it (she does it for a living up in SF) but she can only do it on Sundays and it’s just been super-tough to schedule a Sunday afternoon for the both of us.
The place I found is close to work so I can drop them off in the morning and just run over and grab them when done. Seemed simple! They also sell my impossibly hard to find dog food, Eagle Pack. So double bonus!
I Yelped the place so that I could see what has been said about their grooming (they also offer doggie daycare.) Or, if they hadn’t been reviewed yet, I could be the first one (dork!!) hehehe…but they did have reviews. And the reviews about the services were fine, but there seemed to be a couple issues with communication about pricing, timing, etc. So when I called to ask what they charged, I asked specifically what they did for that charge. Also how long it would take. The girl I spoke to said the charge was $68.00 and that would be for a bath, blow out, brush out, nails clipped, ears cleaned, teeth checked and a “hygiene clean” if needed (the huskies would not have appreciated that!! She said it would take about 6 hours. She asked me when they were bathed/groomed last and I told her. She asked if they were up-to-date on their shots and told me that I needed to bring in their vaccination certificate. It all seemed very organized.
Now, I have paid $45-$50 per dog in the past. But that didn’t include ears or teeth plus this place was very convenient so I thought the premium was acceptable.
When I dropped them off today, I went over the check-in with the girl at the front desk and explained Storm hates being brushed so make sure they weren’t too rough or impatient with him. I asked what time I could pick them up and she said would call me but expect about 6 hours. And then I left (and boy was I sad…it was like it must be for new parents leaving their kids at daycare!)
So 6 hours later at 3:30 I called as I had not heard from them. They told me to come around 4:00-4:15pm. I showed up at 4:15 and got some dog food and went to the counter to pay. The groomer’s assistant was the one helping us at the counter. The groomer walked by with another dog and asked if we were sure they were huskies and not malamutes. I said yes, they are pure huskies. She seemed shocked and said they were so big and fluffy. She was eastern European or something with an accent that made her tone seem very clipped so not sure if that was a joke?
Then the assistant told me my total and it was almost double what I was quoted! WHAT? The groomer then interjected how she had to spend a lot of hours on them as they had very thick and matted fur and I said yes, I know that, which is why they were here. She then said well maybe if I brushed them regularly, it might not be as bad. Or if they got groomed more regularly. I told her they get groomed twice a year and huskies don’t typically ever get more than that. And that I DO brush them (Angelus more than Storm) but obviously a good bath is what gets the fur up and able to come out better.
I added it was hardly fair to to just charge me an extra $60 per dog without asking me first and that this was not how to run a business. She said well, she had to miss another appointment to spend so much time on them. I said I specifically asked the cost, what is covered and how long and was quoted $68 for a full wash, blow out and brush out in the 6 hours – which was basically how long they were there. And if they knew it was going to cost more than that, they needed to call & ask and not just assume someone can afford a double charge like that. She said well, just see them and see how nice they look. I said I had no doubt they will look nice but they looked great when they got groomed for $50 too. She said well maybe I should take them there next time. Then she added that she should have taken her other appointment instead.
To say I was shocked at how this woman was treating a customer is an understatement. Clearly this woman was not an owner and she didn’t care if I ever came back.
At this point I turned around to pay and the the assistant looked mortified. She was on the phone trying to get a hold of the manager. She did and got the extra “de-shedding” charges waived. She then kept apologizing for the groomer’s rudeness. She was obviously embarrassed. She was being very helpful and polite. I paid the original quoted fees (plus for the dogfood) and I gave her a cash tip and told her it was for her. No tip left for the groomer.
Later this evening, the manager called me. She said she had heard everything that happened today when I picked up my dogs and how the groomer had been to me. She said she wanted to apologize for everything and let me know that she was leaving a gift certificate for me to use there anytime I wanted. I told her that was very nice but unnecessary as the grooming assistant had taken the charge off and apologized. She insisted I use it and said that she really wanted to make sure I was happy with the service and to let me know that she had sat her staff down and went over this situation as it had come up before and it was not acceptable. I told her I was happy with the dogs and appreciated the call. I hung up thinking that was really a good way to handle a customer.
So folks, note to business owners and managers – customer service is key. I walked out of there this afternoon thinking I would likely not go back if I had to deal with that groomer again but now I would consider it. And the buddies do look and feel great :) The grooming assistant said Storm did howl & talk quite a bit (I did warn them) but she said quite normal and even on the “quiet-ish” side compared to other huskies! And Angelus was a perfect gentleman the entire time…what a buddy :)
Angelus all clean!
Stormy all clean!
I had to take my huskies to the vet today. They needed more Heartguard and they were due for their every 3-year heartworm test. So before the vet would sell me more, I had to bring them in for their test. But they said go ahead and save the office visit fee and bring them during them the Tuesday evening shot clinic. Nice…save $45ish times 2 dogs. Sold!
So I left work at 6:45ish for the 7:00pm – 8:00pm shot clinic. Pulled into parking lot and saw a line of 10 dogs/customers in line. Funny thing I first noticed…all the guys had the little dogs and the women had the bigger dogs. I smiled.
My error – when I got dressed this morning I was not thinking of the vet visit. I dressed for work in jeans, cashmere sweater and 4.5″ heels. At 5:00pm when I took the buds out for their potty break before dinner, I realized the error of my ways…as I almost slid down the hillside by my office.
So I got in line to check the buds in at the vet. Once checked in, you wait in line to be called in, pay for your services and then be seen. I was waiting in line when the pit bull family pulled up. Stereotypical. Whatever. Yet annoying at the same time. But I never blame the dogs. Also..to the girl in this family…you don’t know what ‘hydrid’ or ‘altered’ means? You look to be about 25-28 yrs old – buy a dictionary.
But Angelus was attacked by a pitbull as a puppy and he simply does not forget. Anyone that says dogs have little to no memory is an idiot. Angelus knows when a pitbull is anywhere around and remembers that he doesn’t trust them. When he was a puppy he was attacked at the dogpark by a male pitbull – the only reason he was ok is tht he is SO dang fluffy, the dog couldn’t lock onto his neck before he got pulled off by me and the pitbull owner. That was one of the scariest few minutes of my life as I felt SO helpless as I was just physically unable to drag the dog off. Now I (theoretically) know what to do.
Angelus also had to defend his little brother Storm when he was a puppy. We were at a SuperBowl party and people could bring their dogs. One of the dogs there was a pitbull/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. Storm was a tiny puppy. He walked past the food tables and the other dog freaked and attacked Storm. Angelus responded by jumping on the dog. Ended up putting a hole in his (puppy attacking dog) head and he was bleeding. I didn’t like to see that but he (other dog) attacked my puppy. And his big brother defended him. End of story.
Another more recent incident was where a a guy had his pitbull off-leash on the street by our house and he came running at me/us. Angelus jumped in front of me, and bit the butt/tail of the dog as he came running at us. Made the dog turn tail and run away. Angelus defended us. Nothing more to say about that.
So anyway, this couple walked up with their obviously very strong dog pulling them. She was in a harness and the woman was walking her. It was quite obvious in the first minute that she was not in control. At all. Once I realized it was a girl, I knew Angelus would be fine. He is ok with female pit bulls. My biggest issue was the glaring fact that the woman had no physical control over her dog. At all. I don’t get why people can’t learn this. It’s actually not that hard. And when you have a dog that is stronger than you, you need to pay even more attention to this. Annoys me to no end as people will end up blaming the dog when it’s a doggie parent issue. Same thing with unruly children.
But then I really noticed that all the people there with big dogs (by now, 1 guy with a giant lab came) had no physical control over their dogs. And their dogs were pulling, barking, growling, etc. Basically = being doggies. But the thing is, this isn’t the dog park. And there were people with tiny dogs there that were obviously a little stressed. Plus I didn’t want my dogs to topple me over in my ill-thought-out shoes…
BUT, my dogs were just sitting there. Or laying down. They were being very well-mannered which I appreciated a lot at this point since between my shoes and the craziness of the other dogs, was totally expecting something to happen that involved me getting knocked down :) I have nothing to say but awesome compliments about my dogs’ behavior. But the pitbull (sweet but crazeee), pitbull puppy (x3), Golden Retriever and Lab, (oh yeah that tiny poodle was a spaz!) well…they were all very sweet but…:)
But the staff were, as always, extremely friendly, efficient and quick once with them. I found them when I lived in San Bruno years and years ago, and my cat was sick on a Sunday and needed a vet when mine was closed. Found them, brought Jack in and I have been a client ever since. They offer a shot clinic every Tuesday between 7pm-8pm. This is very helpful and cost efficient for puppies!! And for all dogs really. Plus the doctors there are not the “give them meds and send them on thier way” type of doctors. I appreciate this.The buds’ main doctor is Dr. Cucaro and they love her. Angelus doesn’t like just anyone…and he really likes her :)
If you live anywhere nearby, I highly reccomend the Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital:
Tonight I found out that huskies (and german shepherds) have flat/small veins so it is harder to draw blood. But they were both very brave :)
Oh, and since we didn’t get out of there until 8:30pm, and the buddies were so good about their blood drawings and the other doggy craziness, I took them to McDonald’s to get them their favorite after-vet treat…a 6 piece Chicken McNuggets that they (grugdingly) share. :)
Got home after work and an after-work hike around 8:30pm. My huskies have been at home all day by themselves. I have come to the conclusion that I have more separation anxiety than they do as I missed them all day long and ditched an after-hike dinner to rush home and see them. Certainly more than my older dog, Angelus, who I know loves me to death but also is pretty husky-like and likes to stay a cool customer :) (Although he did run up, ears back, tail wagging with kisses when I got home :) ) The feeling of all that love coming at you when you walk in the door is pretty darn awesome :)
Angelus is, was and always will be, my guy. On his first night with us, first night away from his doggy mom and siblings, I slept on the floor with him in the kitchen (he was 7 wks old – not potty trained yet.) That first weekend we picked him up, I was sick but I stayed with him the entire time – hanging out in the yard, walking him, sleeping by him. He is my bud. But he was not prone to hugging and skooshing – I had to break him down by constant hugging :) Now he’s like ‘fiiiiinnne…..as long as no one is looking.’ Unless it’s the pre-walk/breakfast morning time – then he is a huge love bug (or if you have chicken in your hand!)
My younger guy (by 1.5 yrs) is Storm. Hoth Stormtrooper officially with the AKC :) He loves his momma. I guess it wouldn’t be far off the mark to call him a momma’s boy. He cannot let me out of his sight for very long. He follows me room to room at home if he notices I’ve been gone from where he is after a short while. And he waits for me by the door if I leave him at home. I love the fact that he loves me so much but want to make sure he still has fun and is happy even if I’m not there! But I don’t think he truly does/is…
When he was a puppy he was supposed to be my husband’s dog (in hindsight this was like allowing your kid to get a pet ;) ) He wanted a puppy who loved him as much as Angelus loved me. I told him that with pets, they respond to who cares for them the most. Since I took care of Angelus 99.9% of the time, of course he loved me more (he better!!) To be fair to husband, he did start the puppy process by caring for Storm all of the time. He fed him, walked him, took him to work. I was not allowed to carry him to bed (I carried Angelus down to bed every night until I simply could not physically – he weighed like 60lbs!), feed him, skoosh or hug him. He was husband’s puppy!
Then Stormy got hurt. He crashed into a Rottweiler at the dog park and got up limping. He shook it off but then over the next week, he started limping more and more. His knee was never the same. It would pop out (called luxating patella) and back in. So we found the best surgeon and got him his surgery. The first weekend was going to be tough as we have 2 flights of stairs in the house and Storm needed to be carried or at least helped using the doggie sling to go potty. And then hung out with to monitor, etc. He got his surgery on Thursday and we picked him up from the hospital on Friday morning. He hung out in my office with me that Friday.
On Saturday morning my husband said he was going for a “quick surf” at Ocean Beach and then would be home to help with Storm. I asked him not go. He said he “had to” – was “really good surf”. Fine….(this is girl code for’ it’s not fine but I’m not going to argue about it’ – men should really learn that.)
About an hour or hour and a half after he left I get a call…he hurt his knee surfing, had to be helped from the water and could barely walk/drive home. And stairs were going to be hard, needed to go to a doctor, etc. Nice. He wasn’t eaten by a shark so I felt justified in being more annoyed by the fact that I asked you not to go and you ignored me and now you were hurt just enough to be a pain in the a**.
Sure enough. He hobbled in. Doctor would tell him to stay off his leg. Possibly needed physical therapy, blah, blah….Of course, this also meant that he couldn’t help me with Storm. Like carry the 50lb dog up and down the stairs or in and our of my car…for the next 6 weeks or something.
So I took care of Storm from that day on. He came with me and Angelus to work now. Stayed with us in my office. I took them for walks by myself. He became my dog. I cared for him when he was hurt. He knew it. Very simple in the dog world.
I know he loves his Dad. But he can’t live without, or stand being apart from, his Mom. These guys mean the world to me. They make every day a good day. :)
You can follow their exploits on twitter: @mr_angelus and @stormdevil
Or on dogster:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/114743
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/114778
This is Storm with his cast on and a pic of Angelus & Storm together (they don’t do THAT often!)
Storm with his cast
Storm & Angelus
