Should I feel flattered or annoyed?

Thurs: 7.46pm ..... "Leena, I've just sent Po Cai, Money and her puppies for boarding till coming Tuesday. Just wondering if you mind checking on the pups as I'm doubtful about Becca's experience?" While most may be swearing .... hey what the heck ....I ain't the operator no more and take offence,..... I feel otherwise. It gives me a sense of pride that they sought my assistance.

My only concern though is that Becca might feel I'm nosing while I'm trying my utmost best to ensure continuation of customers' support for her. She should understand and not feel churlish as TRUST is built through TIME and OBSERVATION of her DEDICATION! The least she can do is to maintain my already established clientele.

I gladly obliged and took several shots. How they have grown from my earlier post. As wrestling and horse-fighting is natural at this age, my immediate advice to Becca is to have their nails trimmed and filed to minimise clawing into the eyes resulting in ulceration.

Glad I made the decision!

I could hear the incessant barking of a dog when Becca called five-ish yesterday. It was Yuyu (poodle), a boarder, and was not surprised when Becca mentioned that its owner is hoping for someone to adopt the dog!

When my kids were young, the drumming on the table with their fingers, pens or anything at all, was enough to infuriate me! My sharp "STOP IT!" never failed to bring about an instant halt to their action......

I don't mind cleaning up the defecation in the absence of a helper....I don't mind the long hours, I enjoy grooming the furry kids....I love simply being around the dogs and everything about my business BUT I JUST DETEST the BARKING which drove me up the wall!!!

Split ends of canes were tell-tale signs of these canes' forceful landing on tables, chairs, cages, fences, just about anywhere but the DOGS to hush them up and in some stubborn cases to no avail!!

AND, as if it was not enough to TEST my PATIENCE, amidst the INCREDIBLY THUNDEROUS BARKING, there were the IDIOTS (pardon me) standing at the doorway, while I was at the other end of the shop, asking for HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT!!!! These fools probably thought I may have BIONIC EARS which I unfortunately don't and even if blessed with BIONIC EYES, I don't LIP READ!!!...all I could focus on were, their HATEFUL mouths OPENING and SHUTTING like goldfishes gasping for air in the aquarium!! To such people, unless they walked up to me, I, fuming inwardly, would just proceed with whatever chore I was doing and ignore them completely.

There was this soft spoken lady who used to advise me to STAY COOL amidst the deafening barking and it was not until she was at the shop to help out that she knew she was talking through her hat!!! Just within hours, she was SCREAMING at a dog she was trying to hush up and would have caned the poor barker had I not warned her against it!!

To state that I have no regrets giving up the place is a lie, however, though the above scenario was not the deciding factor, I am glad I made the decision........

Snuggle vs Rebecca!

Saw how unfriendly this little adorable canine can be when approached by Rebecca? Strange that a mere hello from Rebecca should warrant such animosity from her! Apparently, being around for 2 months is still not long enough for Becca to win Snuggle's trust over! In fact, she has already mellowed down by the time she was filmed! Otherwise you would have witnessed her ferocious snarls...an action....her mom claimed never to have seen!!

I hope by now, defensive Snuggle takes to Becca without resistance. Snuggle, you had better be a good girl, ya? Muaks from Auntie Leena!

My successor deserves a chance!

"Leena! Sure you're not operating anymore?" Button's daddy (sorry, all owners are registered by their pets' names in my list!) lamented in despair! "Something wrong with Button?" I felt concerned. I was actually having a nap when he called. It has been nothing but food and sleep (making up for all the sleep lost while at work!) all day since quiting.

Button's daddy went on to complain about ho badly infested Button is with ticks, something he never picked up when boarded under my care. He felt my successor is not experienced enough to see to the sanitation of the kennels and sought recommendation of another pet shop! We spoke for a full 20 minutes before he let me off after promising to look into his complaint!

Since informed of the handover of my business, many of my regulars protested, expressing disappointment. Many who came from as far as Perlis, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Kulim, Sungai Petani, Butterworth and, others, competitively nearer, within the island, expressed that they won't be patronising the pet shop anymore....that they travelled the distance all these years just to SUPPORT ME!!

I felt TOUCHED, that there is RECOGNITION of the DEDICATION I put into serving and caring for the four legged furry kids all these years..... I FEEL deeply honoured and flattered too that most of you prefer having me around to serve you, and, it IS with a heavy heart that I gave up my flourishing business built up from nothing, save for my passion for these innocent canine....... With my exit, owners of the more aggressive dogs are now caught in a dilemma..... my successor will not be attending to them for fear of being bitten! My last day at the pet shop saw me telling 4 disappointed owners to seek grooming services elsewhere!

To all who have complained, whether it be about grooming, boarding or whatever services since my absence, please give Rebecca a chance to prove herself. As I have advised Button's daddy.... do set your prejudice aside to enable fair assessment of my successor! Though relatively new to the industry, I trust she will be able to deliver her best, especially, having been guided by me, 3 months prior to the handover. Ahem, I know I'm GOOD but I believe given time, she'll be just as good if not better!! Prove yourself, Becca!!

Hurray! I'm richer by Rm19,xxx

"Hand you the cheque or bank into your account?" asked Kim, my sis-in-law, my husband's sister, awhile ago. "How much?" "Rm19,xxx and another list of items yet to be accounted for since I don't know the cost." replied Kim. "What?!! Stop kidding!!" I demanded. "Serious." insisted Kim.

Little did I realize that, items her husband took from my shop could have accumulated to so much over the years! He never bothered to list since I told him it's not necessary and I never bothered to keep track! That's the kind of trust we have between us and also the kind of trust which led to the stealing of my cash etc by my maids last year!!

I guess from now on, there won't be any more such tale to share. The wrapping-up of my lucrative business on 01/02/11 leaves me with no money to be careless about!! sigh......

Water Disruption!

I woke up @ 6am, earlier than usual, having been forewarned about the water disruption from 7am till 7pm. I headed towards the bathroom for a quick shower and scurried down the stairs to the backyard and garden and CLEAN UP & FLUSH OFF whatever defecation left by my rotty, gsd and the golden retriever while my maid dashed to water the plants!!

MISSION at home accomplished, I sped to the pet shop and ..............was ..... aha... fortunate not to be greeted with these SIGHT!!.......

NEVER BELIEVE the owners when they claimed that their pets are house-trained or paper-trained! One even brought her own "toilet" as in picture 1 but see where this cheeky one choose to poo?

These batch of "boarders" are more disciplined and did not soil all over the place thus cleaning was made easy. It was eightish when water from the tap turned into a mere trickle so I decided to ......CLOSE FOR THE DAY!!

Tokens of Appreciation!

Well, I am so glad to see the delighted faces of owners when presented the mugs with faces of their MUTTS (ha..ha,merely jesting) looking... smiling...staring back at them! Oh!...squealed some of them...."When was this shot taken! How cute..bla..bla...?" Gosh! need I say further? Of course, the time when they sent their dogs in for grooming, dude!! Will probably post more mugs of those taken of owners n pets together... with owners consent!

Some even requested for more!...but of course, the extras ..... on their bill!

By the way, if you are someone who happen to know my daughter, please don't tell her that I have conveniently posted her up there .....ssh....ssh... t.. h..anks!

Welcome To Poochville!