A new dog...

Well...looks like maybe just another week to go in 'sunny' Alberta (it's been raining off and on today...and I heard a forecast for snow this weekend). So many little things to get out of the way. A has usually been sleeping mornings, so this leaves the afternoons to get things done. Today's task was getting Phinn ready for the move, with a trip to the groomers. I posted a request on Calgary's kijiji, looking for dog groomers in NW Calgary. Claudia's came highly recommended (and it happened to be very close to my brother's house). So, off we went.

Turns out, Claudia is a Mexican lady, who just happened to live in Oman before she moved here 6 years ago. She was very excited about our move to AD, and thinks we have chosen one of the best places to live in the Middle East. She mentioned some places we MUST visit (the revolving restaurant for starters), and passed along a referral for a groomer in Dubai.

I thought Claudia was great, and didn't hesitate to pass over my beloved Phinn into her hands. I felt she knew exactly what style he would need for our new home. Additionally, she also had a pomeranian, so...another point in her favour. I asked her to shorten his nails, take some hair off his belly, and to trim up around his bum.

When I picked him up two hours later, she told me she had given him a teddy bear cut. He had one before, so I wasn't too concerned, until she opened the door, and my formerly beautiful long-coated pomeranian came out looking more like a CAT than his previous lion-like alter-ego. For his sake, I didn't wince, but told him he looked beautiful anyway. I told Claudia that I had not expected Phinn's hair to be so SHORT!

Claudia felt that the shave was necessary for Phinn to adjust to the heat over in AD. She assures me that (despite everything I've read on the internet to the contrary) it will grow back to it's former chocolate glory. She sold me a new grooming brush, which she tells me will help me to keep his locks in great shape, while they grow back.

When I got back to the car, my mom thought I was bringing the groomer's cat to show her...poor Phinn!!

It is now hours later, and although I've adjusted to the new cut, I still miss his beautiful, long coat.

Tomorrow's goals: talk to the Feds and fax off Phinn's travel documents