by Anjie Coates
Photo by Anjie Coates
jax is a Furloughed Favorite lab from the New England Assistance Dog Services who comes in regularly with his sister, Stirling. He’s normally pretty lazy and likes his naps, but this day he was a little slower than usual.
Ajax: “Hi Anj! I’ll be in bed,” as he walks down the hall to the crate he usually uses, goes in and lies down.
“You’re going in the tub in two minutes, buddy,” I tell him.-
Ajax: “Take Stirling first.
I’m napping.” -
A moment later, he’s sleeping comfortably, so his sister gets bathed first.
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“Hey, buddy, time to wake up,” I say as I give his head a rub to wake him.
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Ajax: “Huh? I’ll go after Stirling.”
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“You are going after Stirling; she’s done. The tub is ready. Come on,” I tell him.
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Ajax slowly gets up, stretches, shakes, and then dutifully heads to the tub, walks up the ramp and stretches one more time: “Ready!”
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His bath goes as always, with happy grunts and tap-dancing back feet when his back end gets washed.
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“OK. Toweling, oils, and then the table,” I list.
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Ajax: “And rubs!”
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“Yes, and rubs,” I assure him.
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After applying his coat oils and massaging them in, I take him back to this crate so I can clean the tub for the next dog.
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“Off to bed for a few minutes and then we’ll finish you,” I say.
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Ajax: “Don’t forget my towel.”
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“I would never,” I quip as I grab his heated towel and lead him down the hallway.
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I crawl into the crate and make sure the towel is completely spread out, but am unable to get out because Ajax is blocking the doorway.
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“Umm, buddy? We both don’t fit in the door here; you need to back up,” I tell him.
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Ajax: “I was checking to make sure it was all nice.”
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“It is, but you need to slide over,” I say.
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Instead, Ajax shoulders his way past me, turns around in the crate, gives me a kiss, plops down and begins rubbing all over the towel, kicking his feet in the air.
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“I’m so glad I made it all nice,” I quip.
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Ajax: “Me too. Thanks, Anj,” as he settles in to the mostly balled-up towel and falls asleep.
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After the tub is clean, I return to wake him again.
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“C’mon, I have to finish you,” I say.
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Ajax: “Sleeping. Come back later.”
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“I’ll give you a treat,” I taunt.
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Ajax pops up like he was shot out of a cannon and runs to my table.
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I give him a treat and help him onto the table, which he’s never needed help with before, so I ask, “You’re awfully tired today. How come?”
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Ajax: “Just sleepy.”
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“Well, you’re normally sleepy, but not quite this sleepy,” I say with concern.
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Ajax wags as I dry him and then begin to do his nails.
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“You are the best boy. You know that, right?” I ask.
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Ajax: “I heard you say that to that other dog.”
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“Uhh…well, you’re the best boy on nails,” I manage.
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“Hey, how come your nails are suddenly all flakey and brittle?” I ask.
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Ajax: “You always say it’s like cutting rebar.”
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“Yeah, because normally they are. Today, though, they aren’t. I have to tell your mom about this,” I say.
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Ajax: “You said I was good!”
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“You’re the best, buddy, but something is happening here between you being so sleepy and your nails being so different. Your mom needs to know something is going on,” I say.
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Ajax: “As long as I’m still the best boy.”
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“You are! You’re also by far the cutest black lab boy I groom,” I tell him as I kiss his nose, but don’t mention he’s the only black lab boy I groom.
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Ajax: “The cutest boys get more treats, right?” as he returns the kiss and grins.
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And I reply,
I did let his mom know what was going on and she took him to the vet that very day. It turns out Ajax had a porcupine quill that migrated and caused an infection, making him sleepy and his nails brittle. After a round of antibiotics and a quill removal, he was as good as new.