Bella

Bella is a 13 year old Chow chow. It would be easy to make up some story about how terrible she was, how she tried to bite me but I persevered, but the truth is that Bella loves me. Bella and I go way back, you see, I actually named Bella. Her full name is “Ciao Bella” (Hello Beautiful/Goodbye Beautiful) and she belongs to the veterinarian that I used to work for up until 10 years ago (this veterinarian went to veterinary school in Italy – so it was fitting). Bella was bred by a backyard breeder. She was sold to a family that neglected her. At 4 months of age she came down with Parvo, accompanied by maggots. The breeder, who took her back from the people who 1st neglected her, made a deal with the veterinarian that he could keep Bella if she lived. He agreed. I was a veterinary assistant working for this vet and cared for her through her Parvo. I even went to court with the breeder to testify as to the state Bella was in when she took her back from the 1st owners. During the time I was working for this veterinarian, I decided to go to grooming school. I took Bella to school with me to work on. They all thought I was crazy for bringing in a chow chow, but Bella loved me. After I started working at a grooming shop, I groomed Bella there off and on for 5 years. Then I didn’t see her any more. After I quit working for him I found out the veterinarian bred her to a chow that was later euthanized for severe aggression. Last year I got a call from the vet, would I groom Bella? Of course! I found out he had been taking her to another groomer but that one of his technicians had to stay with her to keep her from biting the groomer. Bella was not comfortable with strangers and would be a typical chow chow with those she did not know. When he brought her in and I saw her condition, I could have cried. She looked at me untrustingly. All I had to do was say “Bellawomaaaan!” in the same tone I had used with her since she was a puppy and her tail started wagging. She came right over and kissed me up and down. She recognized me and trusted me. That was the best feeling. She remembered me. Because of the shape she was in I had to shave her down. She didn’t give me a single problem. She was an angel. I told the vet to bring her back in 2 months and that if he didn’t, I would put her pictures up on my website and tell everyone who owned her. I even called him 2 months later to remind him but his staff informed me that they were “grooming” her. They were hosing her down and letting her cage dry.

He brought her in a few weeks ago in the same shape she was in last year. He claimed he doesn’t get her groomed often because he doesn’t like her cut short. (No, the condition she is in is MUCH better – sorry – sarcasm) and (this is the kicker) he can’t justify spending the money (You see why I quit working there – right?). I told him that bringing her to me in the shape she was in was like someone bringing him a pet in the end stages of kidney disease, there wasn’t much I could do and that he needed to bring her more routinely for professional grooming. He promised to bring her in more often. When I uncovered her pelt I found sticks imbedded in her fur that had caused wounds and patches of unhealthy skin. I told him I took more pictures this time and I was going to put her pictures in a before and after Miracle pet makeover contest and he just laughed. She kissed my face all over when she was all done and all I could do was watch her walk out the door and hope he will keep his promise. Caio Bella.

P.S. I owe Bella a lot. If I had never known her and grown up with her, I would not be as comfortable grooming chow chows as I am today. I groom chow chows that come as far as an hour away because they have been refused by other groomers based strictly by their breed. I don’t blame them, I don’t think you should groom a chow if you aren’t comfortable with it. But I thank her for that.

Groomer: Justine Cosley
Location: Munhall, PA