One Tidy Bearded Collie!

It's been more than two months since Stella visited Sydney for a Spa Day. She usually goes every three to four weeks on average, so you can imagine what the situation was after so long a time. (See previous post pic, for example . . . ).

Tangled hair, mats, toe nails four inches long, hair in her eyes - just plain groad-bomb.

Sydney took one feel through Stella and said something to the effect of, "Oh boy, I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to comb through those mats." I knew that was true, and it was a kind and gentle understatement on her part. We knelt together on the floor and I showed Sydney all her souvenirs - where the pacemaker was, how the wiring ran down her neck. And because Stella was lying flat between us, I didn't turn her over but explained the stitches scar from stem to stern on her belly.

Me: "What's the solution?"

Sydney: "Shave her."

[Long pause]

Me: "I know, but I just can't do that. I'm not sure how long she'll be around and I need to always know her with her Stell Dell bearded collie hairy monster looks.  What else can we do?"

Sydney: "The mats will start to cause pain as they continue to tighten up and pull her skin, so . . ."

Me: "Oh boy. Well, I don't want that. She's been through enough. I'm okay with shaving the backs of her legs to get rid of those mats. They're really bad. And I guess I'll just leave the rest up to you." 

Sydney: "I'll do my best."

And I knew she would.

And she did. . .

Stella Before

Please note the paws especially. And you can't even see the other side of them where the real trouble was. Groad-bomb. Lovable as ever, but groad-bomb.

Stella After

Night and day? Oh yeah...

The Transformer

The woman of the hour, Stella's bud and mine - Sydney. Sydney's been keeping Stella trimmed up and tidy for 13 years. She owns Petit Paws Pet Parlor in Eugene. This afternoon she transformed Stella from her post-op, recovery, and groad-bomb self to the beautiful bearded collie I love.

Stella will always be a work in progress. And Sydney reminded me that that's what we all are - works in progress.

Amen.