By far, one of the most rewarding things about being a professional groomer is the connection that we are able to make with so many different animals. It is like having hundreds of different pets that we can connect and bond with; but, we do enjoy the fact that someone else has to feed and care for them; it is a wonderful arrangement!
Many of these creatures we see a few times a year, several of them monthly, and then others we are fortunate to see faithfully every single week. It is no secret that it is very easy to become extremely attached to these fellows! The more we see each individual pet and get to know his unique personality, typically the more we fall in love with that particular animal.
Many years ago when I first opened my salon, I began grooming a very beautiful little Westie. From our very first meeting I just knew that Spencer was different. We connected with one another almost immediately, becoming fast friends. He behaved perfectly on the grooming table; and for such an exuberant little creature, this was a difficult task!
Spencer was very blessed from the beginning to belong to a wonderful, loving owner who takes incredibly good care of him. His mommy, Alice Ann, would comment to me each time when she brought him in for his grooming, that he would jump up in the seat and wag his tail as she approached my salon! And, when they arrived, he would then systematically drag her to my door every single time! Needless to say, this is the ultimate compliment for any groomer.
And, if the truth be told, Spencer is truly the reason that I expanded into boarding. Alice Ann would often leave him with me during her weekends away, and I soon realized that I needed a special place for him and little ones like him. Thus my pet resort became a reality.
As time wore on and I saw Spencer more often, our bond with one another strengthened and deepened. He would come to my place every week to be groomed, without fail. And, each time he was just as happy to be here and to see me as the last glorious time we were together. I can say with complete honesty that I love little Spencer as if he were one of my own pets. And, because of the time we had spent together, his actions and emotions were very familiar to me.
Then, one day, Spencer came in for his weekly grooming just like always. But this time, I noticed immediately that something was different about him. He wasn’t his usual sparkling little self, full of vim and vigor, anxious to greet me. He was lethargic and listless, almost oblivious to his surroundings. I was aware that he had been recently diagnosed with a heart murmur, and was taking medication to help alleviate the symptoms. But up until then, that hadn’t seemed to affect his personality. This day, however, he was very different. But, just like people, dogs have “off” days too. I thought perhaps this was the case, and he just wasn’t feeling that great. I mentioned his behavior to Alice Ann, who had also noticed a difference in him. We both agreed that perhaps he was just under the weather.
The following week, Spencer returned for his grooming. Well, at least I thought it was the same sweet, little Spencer. But it didn’t take me long to realize that something very severe had happened to him. The playful, impish little dog had been transformed into a lifeless shell of a body. Even his little brown eyes lacked the twinkle that they had always sported. What remained instead was a vacant, far-away stare from two murky, sad eyes. He just simply wasn’t there.
For the first time in our long relationship, he did not even recognize who I was. He had no reaction whatsoever to my presence. His head bowed grotesquely to one side, causing him to walk senselessly in circles over and over again. And even his little mouth was contorted to one side, giving him a completely different expression.
The next day, the veterinarian confirmed our fears; Spencer had suffered one or more debilitating strokes sometime during those two weeks. I found myself hopelessly asking Alice Ann questions that I knew only time could answer: would he get better? Would he fully recover? Would he ever be the same dog that he was before? So many questions to be asked, but nobody had any answers. As they say, only time would tell.
Over the next several weeks Spencer returned for his weekly groomings as always. I cannot express the heartache that I felt as I worked on him. He was just so different. It felt like I was grooming a completely different dog. My little Spencer was gone. He didn’t even look the same, and his bobbing little head was just so upsetting. His balance was greatly affected, making it very difficult for him to stand on the table, and the strokes seemed to have robbed him of a good deal of his sight as well.
He would regularly walk into things that normally he could have easily spotted. And still, he didn’t greet me with that sparkle of recognition. I had to come to terms with the changes. I loved him as I always had, but such a great sadness weighted my heart. It was almost like he had died, but in some aspects even worse. He was still physically there, but mentally he was very different.
After a while, I learned to accept the changes in him, and coped with the differences. I compensated for his loss of balance while he was on my grooming table, being extremely careful when handling him. I began grooming his little face in a manner that mimicked his old expression, making the stroke symptoms left behind harder to see. But then, as the weeks passed, and then the months, I started to notice little, gradual improvements in Spencer.
At first, I thought it was my imagination. But Alice Ann confirmed my findings. She had noticed slight differences as well. I noticed that he was becoming more alert and aware of his surroundings. His balance slowly improved. And, it seemed as though his eyesight was gradually returning as well. I was cautiously optimistic, but the signs were right there! I did notice a difference, and with every week he seemed to be improving.
As time went on, Spencer finally began to recognize me once again. Slowly but surely, the blanket of confusion was lifted from his little mind. He was once again more like his old self than I ever thought possible. Before the strokes, he had a ritual that he used to perform during every grooming session. After I finished brushing him out, he would flip right over onto his back, putting his feet straight up in the air, to make it easier for me to clip his toenails! I was so happy when he finally remembered out routine, and once again made it part of his grooming repertoire!
My precious little Spencer has returned from his incredible journey, and I am so thankful. Time will only tell the extent to which Spencer will recover. And some evidence of his strokes will always be visible, such as his little head bob. But for me, these will serve as constant reminders to be thankful, for every day truly is a gift!
Shannon Lynnes Heggem is an international speaker with a strong background in the pet care industry.
In the 1990’s, she established an upscale boarding resort and grooming spa in Havre, Montana. She then founded the Fast Track Institute of Pet Careers, a vocational school focused on pet-related careers.
Shannon quickly became one of the top experts in the pet care industry, as an educator, business consultant, speaker, and contest judge. She was the first Certified Master Groomer in Montana, and went on to become a Certified Kennel Operator. Only four people in the world actually hold both of these certification titles!
In 1998, Shannon’s life was forever changed when she narrowly escaped death. She was viciously attacked in her kennel by a Rottweiler, and amazingly, survived.
Since then, Shannon has overcome incredible obstacles to continue her life’s journey. The trauma was a turning point for her; she has now dedicated her life to writing and speaking, to help motivate others to succeed beyond their own experiences.
