"He'll be more comfortable if we get some of these mats taken care of. "
"Oh, okay. Yeah, let's do that."
I set up the puppy in my station and have Tristan hold him. He whispers into the dog's ears and tries to get him to stop shaking. It's a beautiful sight, and I hope he gets to foster the dog while they find a home for him.
"Okay. I'm going to go for the areas that are more matted first. If he gets too uncomfortable, I can change to another area. This will take a while. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes, I don't want to leave him."
I brace myself for the work that is to come and remind myself that I do this because I love animals. This little one is in need, and I can make a difference in his life. I work in silence mainly because I'm a little shy around handsome men.
"How did you know you wanted to be a groomer?"
I'm startled by his sudden words after we've been silent so long. It's an easy enough question to answer so I do.
"Me and my sisters always knew we would work in pet-related activities. Our father was a veterinarian, and we grew up around dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, you name it."
"Is it hard?"
"It can be challenging. Especially when clients bring dogs like this as if it's nothing bad. I have to choose between giving them a lecture or getting the animal some help. In the end, I just push them into making an appointment for a few weeks later to make sure the dog is happy and healthy. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they wait until everything is about to explode, like this little guy."
"Can't you report them?"
"Sometimes things get worse for the pets."
"What about aggressive pets?"
"We get all kinds here. It takes patience and perseverance. They learn and sometimes go home with a belly full of treats that they get when they are good."
"Hmm."
"What about you? Is this the first time you've found a pet like this, or does it happen more often?"
"It's not common in a town as small as Storyville. The community watches out for things like that. We're lucky that way."
"You should apply to foster this little one. If you'd like."
"I need to look into that. For now, I'll just take him home with me."
"I don't know if you're going to be able to do that."
"What do you mean?"
"Go to the other room and check out the storm through the window."
He lets go of his hold on the puppy and gets up to go to the other room. I hear a curse coming from there and smile to myself. Then I realize. Oh no, I'll have to invite him upstairs. What will he think of me?
"Doesn't look like I'm going anywhere."
I run the blade through the puppy to even him out and finish all the little details with scissors. He looks so thin it breaks my heart.
"You guys can stay with me."
"I don't think we're going anywhere until the snow stops."
"I live upstairs in a one-bedroom apartment. You don't even have to leave this building to get there."
"Oh, are you sure? I mean we could snuggle up in one of the chairs out in the waiting area."
