Tank the wonder-Springer was looking scruffy.  More than that, he was dragging in bucket loads of mud on the fur of his paws, and his nails, which had already removed most of the Swedish Finish on our hardwoods, were beginning to gouge the concrete of the sidewalks.

It was time for a grooming.

On Friday, I called Soulful Tails to make a Saturday appointment, only to hear, “the mailbox is full.”

Ditto Saturday; Sunday I didn’t try, and then Monday and Tuesday were hairy in terms of life juggling.  So then on Wednesday, I tried once again to make Tank an appointment to be beautiful, only to get “The number you have reached has been disconnected.  If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please try the number again.”

I did, and I got the same damn message.

Tank’s hair and nails weren’t getting any shorter, so I brought him to Tacoma’s Best Pet Grooming, where I found a friendly staff that put me and Tank immediately at ease, and where Tank found a female Springer Spaniel with her tail-stub waving.

He was stoked.

I was later stoked with his fabulous new ‘do (he got to keep the Mohawk!) and his short-haired paws.  Sounds like Soulful Tails closed unexpectedly, though I can’t call to reach anyone to confirm anything.

As a treat for being handsome, Tank received a bully stick and a fab new collar next door at Lucky Dog Outfittersâ€"and we brought Bill home the same items for being a patient and naturally short-haired brother.

[Tacoma's Best Pet Grooming, 3411 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.7385]
[Lucky Dog Outfitters, 3411 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.761.4486]