30/08/2026
💙💙💙💙 Vale, Sweet boy 💙💙💙💙
Dear Leo,
(YES I’M FU***NG CRYING AGAIN!!!)
I didn’t have the privilege of grooming you for your entire life. Only the last few years of it. And what a ride you and your human took me on.
When your mum first called, I’m not going to lie, i genuinely thought she was going to be a drama queen client who would drive me insane… but the more questions I asked, the more i discovered she was just a frustrated human who kept getting crap advice and spending hundreds of dollars on grooming tools that weren’t designed for your coat. She fast became one of my favourite human visitors to the salon. We have shared so many laughs (and tears), talked outside of work hours (mostly about you, there may have been some non professional conversations thrown in there 😂)
And then the phone call I never wanted to get came on Tuesday morning, your body decided it was time, regardless of your age and activity level. 😞 you played in the yard and then decided to take a nap in your favourite spot outside, and didn’t wake up.
No one understands the how or why behind it, it was an awful shock that took everyone by surprise. And to think i had just groomed you days before, and it was one of the best sessions we have ever had.
The mad obsession you and your mum had for each other was beautiful, only you two could understand it. You knew when she was there without her ever saying a word or even making it through the door to pick you up.
Nick named “the town crier” for your over the top theatre performances, those appointments were never dull. Sometimes you’d refuse to get out of the car… now insert the memory of me coming out to the loading bay to bring you in because you refused to come in with your mumma 😂😂
Besides your ability to sing, you also had the ability to listen to my singing. I’d just pick a random song, no music and just bust out ridiculous lyrics for my own amusement and every time you’d shove your tongue in my ear in a desperate attempt to shut me up 😂😂 it never worked, I don’t shut up ever.
Our last appointment was one I will never forget. For the first time ever you didn’t try to fly kick me in the face when i worked on your feet and nails, the usual GSD whine was quieter than usual and i remember telling your mum how well behaved you were (you were rarely naughty, just super cheeky which always had me laughing)
I’m genuinely grateful to have been given the opportunity to have been your groomer. You and your owner hold such a special place in my heart (and your never ending hair in my salon)
Rest easy my beautiful boy, you’ve left a massive hole in the hearts of anyone who knew you, most of all your gorgeous mum who I will absolutely miss (we all know we could spend all day talking because neither of us know how to shut up 😂)
To your owner, I am so sorry, there is not a single person on this earth who will understand it from your perspective, we all grieve in different ways… humans might relate to the pain but we all navigate it in such different ways… know that no matter what that boy will never be forgotten and forever missed by me and remember, there’s no time limit on grief ###
For anyone reading this, go and hug your dogs, and remember we never have them long enough so don’t waste a single moment of life… grab it and enjoy the ride no matter how long or short it may be.
