Many of our beloved pets suffer setbacks and injuries, which place them in a “special needs” category. Whether it’s a disability from birth or an age related ailment, it is an honor and a privilege to aid these special pets. Provided it is medically safe, groomers should be more than willing to tackle the challenges faced by attending to these clients. If given the opportunity, these pets find a special place in our hearts and remind us of why we pursued grooming in the first place; to aid pets.
One such pet that has touched my heart is Mazie, a 4 year old wheaten with a birth defect. Born with an incomplete urinary tract, Mazie is entirely incontinent. Left at a breed rescue, she had little chance of being placed in a home with such a malady. Talk of euthanasia had begun. Finally, the rescue, as a last resort contacted a couple who had adopted several wheatens from them in the past.
Upon hearing about this special girl, they decided to bring her home and aid with her medical issues. The initial option was to surgically repair the defect, which in turn failed. This did not stop Mazie or her family. They accepted that she would remain incontinent. Now it was time to develop a strategy to cope with the situation. In the beginning, due to cost and availability, human diapers with a tail hole cut out were implemented. Then eventually a new product was found by Simple Solution; diapers made especially for incontinent dogs. The cost however, was an issue, so they decided to write the company and explain Mazie’s special situation. Simple Solution responded and offered their product at wholesale cost for the duration of Mazie’s life.
I met Mazie after her regular groomer changed jobs and was unable to be reached. In the past, Mazie was not a favorite at local groom shops. To many groomers, she equated an abundance of time and effort with not enough financial return. Either she would be recommended for another shop or if taken in, a less than satisfactory groom was preformed. Due to constant friction from the diaper, sores/calluses have developed that require cleaning and shaving. Also, the continual leakage can be a challenge. However, with a proper routine, the accidents/issues are simple to overcome.
After meeting Mazie, it’s been love at first sight. I cannot imagine my Tuesday schedule without her. As soon as you pull into the driveway, she’ perched by the window shaking her entire rump and bouncing. During the entire groom you are showered by a plethora of kisses. Every time I gaze into her loving brown eyes I’m reminded of all the other groomers that refused to tackle a challenging groom and what they truly missed out on. Mazie may be a special needs case, but that does not negate the fact that she still deserves a quality groom with compassion. Yes, the majority of us work on commission and time is valuable, but I would like to believe that groomers have not lost their love of the animals that they serve. So when the next opportunity arises to aid a disabled or special needs pet, I implore you to at least give them a chance. The joy you’ll receive will far outweigh the time and effort required.
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