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2002 Essay Contest
Entry Archive |
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"When you grow up, you can have all the animals you want." My Mother said this all through my childhood. I used to pray every birthday, Easter and Christmas that I would get a puppy. Each occasion I was terribly disappointed, the closest I would come to getting a dog was a pet rat and a budgie. When I was fourteen, I got a job cleaning kennels in a boarding and grooming facility. I was in my glory! I didn't care that it was a dirty job, I felt so lucky just to be near the animals. After work I would hang around watching my boss groom the dogs. I didn't even know that there was such a job. I wanted to learn to groom but there were only two professional schools in North America. I left home early and when I was sixteen, I saw an ad willing to train someone to be a groomer. I wasn't going to apply; I had low self-esteem and thought no one would hire a sixteen-year-old. It was off the bus route, but I thought I could walk it. Well they called me for an interview, and I walked from the bus. It was much further than I thought so I was late for my interview and felt for sure I had blown it. I wanted the job so badly that I believed it couldn't possibly happen. Although San Souci did grooming and boarding they also showed and raised Standard Poodles. One of the dogs didn't like anyone, but she came right up to me wagging her tail. So that was it I was hired. I loved my job; I arrived early and stayed late. I was glad when the weekends were over so I could get back to grooming. I can still remember my terror at having to do my first poodle topknot. I remember one little white dog who was so badly matted, and infested with fleas that I had to scissor split the mat on her back. She kept getting down and rolling on the floor, as if she was relieved to feel her skin again. Well I traveled out west, never having a problem finding a job as a Groomer. I got married, had 2 children and left my husband at 20. Then I completed 4 years of university, obtaining my teaching degree. There were no teaching jobs available after graduation. In 1985 I noticed an ad for a Groomer in a local pet store. I was so scared I hadn't touched a dog in eight years. But grooming is like riding a bike, you never forget. The more I groomed the more confidence I developed and the greater my clientele base grew. I've been grooming ever since and most people can't understand why I don't teach. I love what I do and I never feel like I'm going to work. I get so much intrinsic gratification from seeing the dogs groomed, seeing the pleasure in the owner's eyes and I get paid every day. My greatest pleasure is when I have booked all old time customers and every one of them is good. I'm all alone grooming and listening to the radio. I know dogs respond to music because I sing my favorites to them and I feel so centered and so right. This is really what I am meant to do. Grooming has its down side too. The urinating, defecating and vomiting happens, but just like a mother doesn't think about changing her baby's diaper, the Groomer just accepts it as part of their day. The most frustrating thing I've ever found is when I train a Groomer, and she fights and argues with every dog she grooms. I let these groomers go, as they are probably part of the class of people that think grooming is all play. I believe every dog has something that they don't like. I'm surprised that they let us do what we do. If I don't expect a dog to be perfect then I'll be pleasantly surprised when the dog behaves. Let me end with this. Grooming is a physically and emotionally demanding job, but I receive many rewards through my dogs and customers. In many ways if my mother had allowed me to have a pet, I may not fully appreciate the joy and sense of fulfillment I receive from the job of grooming. Jan Perry |
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