The days are gone when we can assume that emergencies and disasters happen someplace else. Weather patterns have changed dramatically over the last several years. Large cities built on fault lines are growing. We are overdeveloping land, which reduces or even eliminates natural protective barriers.
No one leaves their house in the morning expecting to have a medical emergency, be in an accident, or be the victim of a crime. But these occurrences can and do happen every day. The majority of groomers work alone.
If you have an emergency, being able to get immediate assistance can potentially be the difference between life and death.
We all have a couple of grooming clients we will remember forever. Some clients are reminisced with fondness, others not quite so affectionately. Casey falls somewhere in the middle. She was an adorable, well-behaved Golden Retriever who inspired my love of the breed. Casey would rest her head on my shoulder during grooming and just loved to give kisses.
Last fall, Superstorm Sandy devastated the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Earlier this year, parts of Canada experienced massive flooding, and a massive tornado tore through Oklahoma, carving a path of death and destruction as it went. Many groomers were hard hit by these events and saw everything that they had worked their entire lives for disappear in an instant.
Keeping Them Current
Grooming Rosie (AKA The Vibrating Wonderdog) was always a challenge as she vibrated as if she was standing on a washing machine with an unbalanced load during the agitator cycle. Rosie suffered from a neurological disorder and I was always on guard when using any sharp tools around her.
As I was driving down the aptly named Long Mountain Road just after another snowstorm, I looked to the side and half jokingly thought, “If I drive off the road and land in the ravine, I won’t be found until next spring.” The next thought that crossed my mind was, “ Oh crap, if I drive off the road and land in the ravine, I won’t be found until next spring.”
What is your recourse in the event of a disaster?
There are many resources that may offer assistance.
Personal Emergency Fund – Adding $20 a week to an emergency fund amounts to $1,040 a year. In ten years, that is over $10,000. Seems like a lot of money to put away, doesn’t it?
Presidents Day is a holiday for a lot of people, but not for mobile groomer Brandon Boyer. For the last ten years Brandon has owned and operated Splish N Splash Mobile Pet Grooming in the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania area.
Any given emergency event will have its own set of unique circumstances. One instance may require evacuation while another requires remaining where you are. There are many studies that conclude that people who plan for emergencies fare better than those who do not.