04/27/2024
I did NOT write this. Another groomer did BUT this should be shared with all groomers, veterinarians, small business owners and especially pet parents!
Memoirs of a mobile dog groomer in New York City.
I feel like I spend more time then I care to admit, writing difficult text messages and emails. I feel that breaking up with old flames was easier then letting a client go. Some subjects can be on auto script, so I can take the emotions on my end out of it. Copy, paste, and send. donāt even open the response when comes in, donāt do it just let it go. Jesus it sounds awful reading that after I wrote it. What am I? Some kind of monster, with no more compassion for difficult human clients in difficult situations beyond my control ? No. I canāt be the only one.
Ugh the ones that are not as easy to have pre written are the ones that sometimes take me an entire day to write. Iāll sit at my desk with a glass of wine. Writing responses and deleting and confiding in Colleagues, and rewriting and pouring more wine. I canāt be as horrible as I think I am, I wouldnāt be putting so much energy into this if I didnāt care.
Alright final draft. Jesus my grammar is terrible. Why didnāt i put my effort into school. Time to get adult to proof read this so I donāt look like the GED having small business owner that I am. Alright, send. Thatās all I have to do is hit send. Iām going to reread one more time. I hang on every word rethinking what Iāve written. Is this too much? Is this hurtful ? Is she going to attack me ? My business ? Is she going to go on yelp and ruin me? Nope this feels right. I cannot to be her groomer anymore. This isnāt about her. Itās about whatās best for her dog. I canāt care for him in these final years anymore. He needs a vet. This is for the best no matter how angry she gets.
Send.
Jane Doe,
Thank you. I am still off for a few days but I always monitor my emails over the weekends.
I think your expectations versus what is actually possible are not on the same page. I share all of your frustrations and wish I had better solutions. I have broken every personal and company policy to continue to care for John Doe including being bit, Because I never wanted to give up on him. I went to urgent care at the end of my day, and canceled half of my work week because I couldnāt open and close my hand properly after he bit me- and even after that I didnāt want to give up on him. But as you have pointed out yourself he is not tolerating anything anymore. I am getting hurt and anything that I avoid doing that doesnāt look aesthetically pleasing is to avoid John Doe getting hurt. Which makes you unhappy.
When you pay for your grooming services with me, you arenāt paying for the minutes, your paying for the years I have put into continuing my education so I can provide your baby with the safest, best care that can be provided in a grooming setting.
I think at this time all John Doeās care should be in the hands of a veterinarian. As for groomer referrals I have no one I can refer you to that would be able to handle him outside of a veterinarianās care.
I am making a very difficult decision for the two of us, and I feel that you understand and will agree that this is for the best for the most important member of your family- John Doe. I am going to cancel John Doeās grooming appointments going forward and I will do some research to find the best veterinarian groomer, or veterinary technician, or veterinarian to help John Doeās in these more challenging years. I never wanted to give up on him, or you for that matter but I donāt think anyone is going to be happy if we continue down this path.
It has been a pleasure to care for him even when it was challenging, and itās been a pleasure getting to know you, and always appreciated your trust in me. We will find the best person to take over his care.
Thank you for your trust in me,
Laura Jayne
She responded. I canāt bring myself to look at it till tomorrow. Johnny Doe I never wished to have to give up on you, but you deserve more then I can give. I know you hate the vet. But they will able to give you the best care in these harder years. Iāll never forget you. *Pours more wine
No i donāt play with puppies all day, sometimes I wish I did. Thereās a lot Of people-ing in this line of work. Some of its good. Some of its hard. Iāve said this a thousand times but I feel like it means more now then it ever did. We donāt choose to be dog groomers. This line of work chooses you. Once it has, its in your blood for life. I wish people realized how much of our hearts goes into everything we do. Even when we have to let a client go.
