02/23/2025
Oh my sweet, sweet Sophie girl. I am still reeling at the thought of you no longer being in this world. I can't believe you've crossed that rainbow bridge. But how lucky am I to of been your favorite auntie for so many years.
Alright buckle in, cause I got A LOT to say about this cool lil' havanese.
I got a chip on my shoulder that I've been the only groomer that's ever laid a clipper on Sophie- since she was four months old! Every four weeks on the dot, Friday at 8am, I got to spend a few hours with her. I felt so honored every time her mom would upload a post-groom photo on Sophie's instagram- she has 10k followers, mind you! With brand deals! I groomed a C-list insta-dog ! (she was A list in my heart though 😜😂) for whatever reason she was very camera shy and bratty when mom tried to take photos of her. But as you can tell from these glamour shots, she loved being a model for me 🤩📸
I'd like to say I'm a pretty good pet owner. But her mom, Rebecca, was out of this world. What an enriched, spoiled life this dog had.Sophie was a world traveler. Well not the world, but she flew all over the US with her mom on vacations. Coast to coast, the Havanese who saw the most! She was a barn hunter (it's a super cool dog sport, look it up!) winning her masters title and is USA's #1 in her breeds category! (And she's still undefeated to this day 🏆
She had to retire early though, and it was heart breaking. Because a few years ago, Sophie was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease-a degenerative and terminal heart condition. Prognosis varies as far as lifespan, and her poor little heart took quite the beating.
She got all the best treatment under the top canine cardiologist in the Midwest. We adjusted her grooming regime to help alleviate any stress she could face (she had none, but just a precaution) during her spa visits. She stopped traveling. Her mom adjusted her life around to make her little girl's as comfortable as possible.
I love my human clients, but I try to maintain a healthy boundary with them as a professional. Rebecca though, became my friend. And she still is. I was the first to know about any developments with Soph's health. I stood on the sidelines wanting to help her any way I could, but not being much help. I'm just her groomer, right?
Until last month. Due to a mandatory work commitment, Rebecca had to leave town for a week. She never left her side once Soph's heart got bad. I am not a pet sitter but this was a different situation as Rebecca and soph both really needed me. I felt so honored that I was chosen to be the one she trusted to watch her.
She was at the point with her heart issues, medicine regime and the stress of mom leaving her, that I took the week off work and became roommates and snuggle buddies with her for five days.
I think I know these pets I groom from all the hours spent on my table. But boy, did I get to meet the TRUE Sophie that week 😝
At first, I could tell she felt like she was seeing a teacher outside of school. "Umm, you're my groomer, why are you eating a snack in my kitchen??" But that lasted about roughly ten minutes before she became my shadow and bestie 😂
Rebecca's apartment complex is a huge labyrinth with multiple entrances. She said "Sophie will lead the way and tell you which door she wants to go through." She was right! I laughed my butt off the first time Soph trotted me down the halls, getting lost and when I went towards the first elevator she stopped in her tracks looked back like 😒 and continued to politely yet firmly walk me to the other one across the building, like the peasant I was, doting on queen Sophie 😂
My fiancée now wants a havanese after spending time with her. I told him "yes they are a great breed, but it's Sophie you want. She could be in a pug's body and you'd want a pug after meeting her."
She was a brilliant, hilarious, beautiful and talented little dog. I could go on and on about this magical girl. I have so many photos of her over the years, this is only a small collection of them.
Sophie, Miss Sophadoph, I will never meet another dog like you. So blessed that I got to spend five days with you crooked under my arm while I read and watched Netflix during one of your last weeks one earth. I'll miss you forever.
1/8/2015 ~ 2/12/2025 ♥️🌈🐾
