Spring is finally here!
March Recap: Winter really didn’t want to leave us this year! We hope everyone was able to stay safe and warm during all of the crazy weather. We are definitely looking forward to some more consistently nice days! Thanks to you, we have made the cut for the finals in The Valley Breeze’s Voices of The Valley!!We appreciate all of your support and we’re anxiously awaiting the results for the Providence Journal and Rhode Island Monthly Listings. As a young business it is an honor just to be nominated, so we truly thank you for your support. Voting for the The Valley Breeze Finals begins April 29th. Don’t worry, we will remind you!
We had a great time hosting our Pet CPR and First Aid Class on the 22nd, we had a wonderful turnout and look forward to more events! Thank you to everyone who attended and shared the info with your friends. We truly feel that every pet owner and pet professional should have these life saving skills in their toolbox, which is why every single employee at Underdogs will always be certified.
Speaking of employees, Mathilde is settling in here at Underdogs and we’re so happy to have her, and are enjoying the opportunity to welcome all of the new people and pups that have followed her from her previous job. We hope you all love it here as much as we do!
Coming in AprilFirst things first, Samantha’s surgery is set for April 8th. As a reminder she will not be able to groom for at least 6 weeks after that, but will be back in the building as soon as she can. No grooming, just administrative duty and probably will continue to make ridiculous social media posts, so we all have that to look forward to. If you’re not following us on socials, you should be! (If for no other reason, today’s April Fool’s Day post is worth seeing!)
Our Tiktok
Our Instagram
Our Facebook
In the meantime, Kayle & Mathilde are here and looking forward to the opportunity to meet some new friends! Once again we are strongly encouraging everyone to book as far in advance as you can as we move into Spring.In other news, the Lincoln Water Commission is planning a large scale project here on Front St. to upgrade our systems and improve water quality. Plan for delays due to construction, and there is a possibility that we will have a day without water supply. They have assured us that they will notify us “in advance” if that will be the case, but how far in advance is unclear. Of course, we will do our best to minimize the impact to our operations, and will notify you as soon as possible if plans change. Also we are taking into consideration the potential for construction noise, which most dogs can be pretty uncomfortable with, so we will definitely reach out if this becomes a concern. This construction will probably impact your travel time to and from Underdogs so prepare accordingly.
Warning: The next section is information regarding fleas and ticks. If you’re not ready to read about bugs today, that’s ok! Just scroll on down to the cute dog pictures!
As the seasons change, so does the local wildlife. We are already seeing an “uptick” in unauthorized passengers. If your pets aren’t on a quality Flea and Tick Preventative, it’s time! If you’re unsure which variety of preventative is best for your pets, we recommend having a conversation with your veterinarian. Topicals are medications and should be treated as such. As a reminder , we will remove a few ticks if we find them and it is safe to do so, but we do not treat for fleas. If fleas are discovered during the course of grooming, we will discontinue services immediately and you will be asked to pick up your dog. A $50 cleaning fee will be incurred. So preventatives are obviously a much better option! Tips & Tricks for Ticks: Keep a lint roller in your car or near your door and when your dog is done with outside time, give them a quick once over with the lint roller, it will grab any creepy crawlies that are hitching a ride in the hopes of finding their new home. Remember, preventatives do not always act as a repellant, some kill when the pest actually bites your pet, so even if they’re on the best preventative, you might find hitchhikers after being outside for any amount of time. (It’s also a good idea to check yourself thoroughly, because unfortunately they do not make preventatives for people yet.) Here are some common spots where ticks like to hide:
If you do happen to spot a tick that has attached itself to your dog, do not panic! And please, please do not attempt any of those old school ideas like kerosene or burning the tick. That’s so unnecessary! A pair of tweezers and some rubbing alcohol is all you need! Soak a cotton ball with the alcohol and press it onto the tick for a minute, this will cause it to die and therefore loosen it’s grip. Sanitize your tweezers with the alcohol, then just grab the little monster as close to the skin as possible, twist and pull directly outwards in one smooth motion. There is no need to burn it! The most surefire way to dispose of it from this point is to just flush it down the toilet.
There may be a small amount of irritation or wound where the tick was and you should monitor for signs of infection, such as redness and warmth around the area. Always call your vet if you’re unsure, or if you’re concerned that you didn’t retrieve the entire tick from the skin. If it is a deer tick, the smaller variety, these can be carriers for disease and it’s a good idea to put it into a small bag with the alcohol soaked cotton ball, your vet may want to monitor and test for these things. Here is a link to an informative video showing the differences and what they look like in real life. Warning: Shows actual bugs so if that’s going to ruin your day, maybe skip it for now.
Informational Tick Video Fleas are a whole other beast, we will discuss that in May’s newsletter!
Without further ado, it is our pleasure to introduce May’s Employee of the Month: Cody
Chief Accommodations Analyst & Size Inclusivity Consultant Cody is a 7 year old Bernedoodle and his large frame helps him fill this role perfectly! At Underdogs we believe in inclusivity, comfort and safety for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Cody is excels at identifying points of potential danger and discomfort for Dogs of Size. We knew Cody would take this role seriously when he courageously helped demonstrate that a few breakable planters had been unknowingly placed in a location that was not as safe as we thought! Without hesitation or regard for his personal safety, he heroically swept the dangerous objects onto the floor, destroying them before any other dogs could be harmed. A casual observer might have mistaken this as an unfortunate accident, but we are trained professionals, and immediately picked up what he was putting down (pun totally intended). With this heroic act of selflessness he was actually notifying us that Underdogs was not the safe and inclusive space we strive to be!
Cody continues to work hard every time he comes in to ensure our tables, tubs, kennels, stairs and ramps are sturdy enough for accommodate Dogs of Size. He is incredibly brave, thorough and inarguably a VERY good boy. All of our dogs are safer because Cody ensures that our equipment is stronger, and that nothing will impede even the tallest of tails from wagging freely and safely. We thank you for your service and your dedication to our core values Cody!
