Objects In Mirror Closer Than They Appear

The phrase "May you live in interesting times" is an idiom (often called a Chinese curse) that was popularized by Robert F. Kennedy a 1966 speech to describe turbulent times as fraught with both danger and opportunity. That turn of phrase certainly fits in tis Gonzo PR "year in review" for 2025. In January the year began with a rough patch of road when Moxie, our beloved English Creme Golden Retriever, suffered abuse prompted by neglect at the hands of a local groomer.

When Moxie turned 13 years old on January 9, she was happy and healthy until we took her in for a grooming at We Suds Em, a local canine grooming facility that we had used for many years. The attendants were well aware of the need for extra care and tenderness when grooming senior dogs. Despite their assurances, they failed to provide a safe place to dry, like putting her in a kennel. Instead, they put her in a choke chain that resulted in severe bruising on her neck.

Moxie's terrified look and persistent cough told us that something was wrong, so we took her to Westmoreland Animal Clinic, Dr. B. checked her neck area and told us:"Moxie has been choked." She shaved her neck area, revealing black and blue marks, and prescribed anti-inflammatory mediation. Apparently, the groomer had utilized a noose to keep her in place until we picked her up (we live five blocks away). Incensed, we developed talking points for further discussion.

We immediately put in a call to the groomer, who denied any wrongdoing and referred us to the owner, who refused to accept any responsibility for Moxie's injuries and offered video evidence of Moxie while she was on the groomers table. "We have video cameras trained on all of our gromming tables," he noted in his defense, and offered to meet us at a coffee shop to review the video footage. What he didn't say was that once the dogs are off the tables, they are no longer under video surveillance.

In an email to the manager, I responded thusly: "Yesterday, the groomer called and, instead of offering an explanation for the injury or even sympathy and concern, she assumed a defensive posture and said that Moxie had increasingly become a liability (this is the first we had heard anything like that in 13 years) and even accused Moxie of contaminating a co-worker with ringworm.At that point, we recalled that the groomer seemed quite tense and anxious when we picked up Moxie."

"Something did happen to Moxie at Suds ‘Em on February 17. Regarding the groomer's suggestion that Moxie is a liability, we don’t understand why the business didn’t reach out to us on this issue sooner, and why are we learning about this just now? The burden of responsibility for making the decision whether to groom is on the business. The groomer could have told us at any time that grooming Moxie no longer makes business sense. That decision is on you guys."

"As you know, we have been clients of Suds ‘Em for decades and have invested in your business loyally in grooming our dogs over many years. We’re just trying to understand your lack of transparency concerning what happened at the appointment. The point of our contact is to figure out exactly what happened, receive an apology, and solicit a promise to do better for all the older dogs out there who you might be grooming in the future. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks."

The owner's response was less than satisfactory:"Pet safety is our highest priority at Suds 'Em. After reviewing the video footage twice from the second Moxi (sic) entered our facility until the second she left, I am confident that Moxi received the highest quality of care and did not encounter anything 'traumatic' or sustain any injuries while in our care. We believe in 100% transparency and would be more than happy to arrange a time to review the camera footage."

At this point, it was clear the owner had no intention to admit that Moxie had been placed in a noose, offer an apology or promise to do better when grooming senior dogs. The next few weeks were pure hell, as Moxie began to both lose her appetite and control of her bowels. Her persistent cough grew worsened family members shared shifts to provide hospice care. One thing about goldens: they hide their pain to the very end. Moxie would pass away on March 21, the first day of spring.

Our next message to the owner would be our last: "While acknowledging your sympathy for our devastating loss, we must decline your offer to review your video footage. As we discussed, the footage is not inclusive of Moxie’s complete session. It would be a fruitless and painful exercise. We know that Moxie’s injury resulted from her trip to We Suds ‘Em. Therefore, our business here is concluded. I will now be obliged to summon the Rancor and release the Kraken."

The last comment was a not-so-subtle reference to turning the kids loose on Reddit, Google Reviews and other social media. Retribution was swift: "Your performative grief and self-congratulatory resume cannot drown out an undeniable truth: a dog died after being in your care due to injuries she sustained there. By the way Her name was Moxie, not “Moxi.” That you couldn’t be bothered to get that right, not once, but repeatedly, says more than any of your long-winded statements."

"No one has accused you of intentional harm, but Moxie was hurt under your care. Instead of reflection, you’ve chosen self-defense, victimhood, and an embarrassing amount of self-gratification to distract from the issue at hand. You've spent more time talking about yourself than you have about what actually happened.Your tone throughout has been one of denial and blame-shifting. You chose reputation over reflection. Moxie is gone. Not from old age. From trauma."