Since we've been back from summer break, Wednesday's are usually mother's day at the den.  Bea and I get to sleep in, and then wait in our cozy cave while mother leaves, then comes back, then leaves again.  Always carrying in different bags or books, and rarely, a special treat for us.  But today was a different Wednesday; we spent it at the clinic.  At first it seemed like business as usual.  Several nervous, shaking dogs in to have sleeping work done, getting tubes put in their legs.  Pretty soon, more and more dogs started to arrive.  Each one came in with hair longer than Bea's and I thought it seemed strange that none of the hairy dogs were getting the tubes.  Then Bea spotted her out of the corner of her eye -- Bea threw her head back and barked an announcement long before I knew what she was talking about.  No-more-hair-ica Erika was at the clinic.  I'd seen her once or twice, but Bea knew her well.  A few times Bea went missing for the day, and when she came back she looked and smelled like a different dog.  Today, I saw first-paw exactly how that happened.  I got to see No-more-hair-ica Erika in action.

Bea was not the only dog getting the hair removed, and each one got a soap treatment, too. The smell of fear was everywhere, but by the end of the day, the only thing I smelled was soap and toe-nail dust, with just a hint of anal gland essence sprinkled in -- subtle, yet magnificent!

One of todays visitors to have the hair removed, was a Yorkie puppy named LadyBug.  She was a demure, well-behaved girl that endured all of the hair brushing and trimming and soaping and bow-pinning like a champ.  So I was really surprised when I heard Vocal Vonnie say, "She gives new meaning to the term 'land shark'.  Just look at how many extra teeth she has!"  My dad took a quick peak and said, "Wow, I don't think she's lost even one of her baby teeth, but all the adult teeth came in anyway!  Her poor little mouth is so crowded now.  Let's talk to her mom and set up a time to remove those next week." he instructed Vonnie.  I listened with interest because usually barking about 'land sharks' mean that some little dog is about to launch themselves teeth first at one of mother's helpers.  But not Ladybug, she was as sweet as ever.  I'm glad I get to see her again next week, and happy that after her sleeping procedure no one will think of her as a shark ever again.  Us little dogs have to stick together you know!