Great Transformations! R. Noftall

October 9, 2022

Raylene Noftall, AVC 2023, travelled to Port Hope Simpson as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of reflective writing.

Bubba

I certainly didn't expect that my most rewarding experience would be dog grooming, especially since I am a horrible groomer. Bubba, a senior shih tzu mix came to us in desperate need of a haircut. Because of the pandemic, grooming salons were forced to close in the months prior to our visit. As time passed and Bubba’s long, silky, continuously growing hair only got longer, it became more and more unmanageable. Because of Bubba’s anxiety and aversion to being groomed, his owners were unable to groom him themselves. 

Ray shaving Bubba

Bubba was on the schedule one day for a “sedate and shave” with a note that said “caution - aggressive”. I met him and his owner outside the clinic with a blanket to wrap him in for protection. Although it seemed Bubba was unable to see, he still had oodles of fight in him. He was sedated and placed on an exam table when I started his marathon shave. I was surprised to see how small and well conditioned he was under all that hair. In hindsight I wish I had taken a photo of all the excess hair he had been carrying around with him. Upon waking from sedation, Bubba was confused - which is normal - but it also seemed that he was no longer bumping into walls. It appeared as though Bubba’s hair had grown past his eyes and had prevented him from seeing properly. His eyes were still in great condition. Bubba’s owners couldn’t believe his transformation when they came to pick him up that evening. I’d never felt so appreciated for doing what I considered to be a simple task. 

The next day, Bubba’s owners came to visit the clinic to bring us all Labrador keychains with a special guest - Bubba proudly donning a new sweater. Today he was calm, inquisitive, and approachable. My eyes welled with tears. The entire community of Port Hope Simpson had been overly generous and appreciative, but this visit from Bubba was special. Grooming Bubba had not only helped him become more comfortable but had also helped restore the bond with his owner. I’m forever grateful that Bubba’s family popped by to share that with us.