March-ing towards spring!
(Please!)
Shoutout to February for really making the most of just 28 days!
Rhode Island took some pretty big hits this month, and here at Underdogs we are very much looking forward to spring. We are continuously amazed by the generosity of our community, and are proud to say that our Paw it Forward Mutual Aid Fund is growing and we are looking forward to being able to help those in need to keep their dogs groomed without having to sacrifice basic needs like food, shelter, healthcare for themselves or their pets. We strongly believe that dog grooming goes beyond looking cute; it is a cornerstone of a pet’s overall health. Heavy matting can cause a variety of health problems, some as minor as hot spots or skin infections, but can become so severe that it cuts off circulation to an appendage that becomes necrotic and must be amputated. A groomer that knows your dog well can spot new lumps, bumps, parasites, skin problems, potential ear infections, dental problems, or even changes in behavior that may indicate a more serious concern. When we have the opportunity to see a dog regularly, we come to know what’s regular for them. Our commitment to Fear Free one on one grooming means that we are able to take our time and pay attention to every detail, so that if something unusual presents itself, we can relay that information to you. This is why we feel so strongly that regular grooming is not just a luxury. Although, here at Underdogs we do make every effort to make it feel very much like one for the dogs in our care, and we think that every dog deserves that! So thank you so much for all of your donations! If you would still like to donate, you can still do so in person during your next visit or via Venmoand Underdogs will match your donation, dollar for dollar all throughout the month of March!
Further, this month we bore witness to this community’s incredible generosity of kindness and flexibility. Our Pet First Aid & CPR seminar was slated for March 1st, but in addition to the snowballs the entirety of New England caught, we caught an additional one, and regrettably had to reschedule the Pet CPR & First Aid seminar for March 22nd . The owner of All 4 Paws generously offered to host the class on March 1st at her location in Exeter, and we are so grateful for her willingness to assist so that everyone who would be unable to attend on the 22nd can still have access to this education.
The good news is that you now have another chance if you couldn’t make that day work! All of the staff at Underdogs is CPR Certified through Pet Emergency Education, and we can say with confidence that even the most seasoned of us learned new things, and these classes are a worthy investment of your time and money. We hope that even if you cannot attend ours, you will consider attending an online class or one hosted at another location. Click here to register for our class!
Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude for your kindness as we were forced to reschedule quite a few appointments due to not just the weather, but an additional complication. It turns out that much to her own shock and dismay, Samantha, the owner, is actually a human being, and like the rest of us, is sometimes forced to accept that she is at the mercy of the earthly vessel in which we all reside. We would like to take a moment and let her tell you directly what’s going on. Dearest Gentle Reader: Okay yes, I might have watched too much Bridgerton while my body heals and the snow held us all hostage. I am extremely blessed to have so many clients that have been with me for well over a decade now. Some of you have known me since I was pregnant, and my son is in high school now! While I know that I am not obligated to disclose my personal health, I am grateful that people genuinely do care about me and I want to reassure you that I am ok! I also would like to spare my coworkers from having to hear the story over and over, so I thought offering a short explanation here would be helpful.
In early 2020 I was diagnosed with late stage cervical cancer. Before I say anything else, I remain in full remission. My oncology team is closely monitoring me and assures me that there is no sign of that monster on the horizon. I underwent a very aggressive treatment protocol; chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries. Several lymph nodes were cancerous and had to be removed. Lymph nodes are fascinating little things that we never really think too much about, but they our bodies’ filters, catching things like cancer and keep it from moving further. When they’re removed, the surgeons clip off the route to where the nodes used to be, and a little bubble formed on one of those routes that’s called a lymphocele. This little bubble remained small and harmless until early 2025 when, for reasons still unknown it grew, and I landed in the hospital with sepsis. This once tiny bubble had grown to 9 cm and had to be drained surgically. I was given a strong round of antibiotics and I was back to work in a few days. However, it came back 3 more times, and 3 more times I had surgery between February and May.
During the summer it became evident that that little bubble had blocked the exit route for my right kidney for so long that permanent damage had been done. I had 3 more surgeries to attempt to repair it, but they proved unsuccessful. There are no viable solutions to replace or repair, unfortunately, so in April, I will be having surgery to remove my right kidney entirely. I am assured that attempts at lesser measures will only be prolonging the inevitable, and if we remove it now, it is likely still in a condition that it could be donated, as it’s only the tube that is damaged, the kidney itself is still only in “gently used” condition. I’m choosing to focus on this silver lining and hoping that perhaps this will help someone who needs it. Last week I was scheduled for a relatively minor procedure to prepare my body for that surgery, and it turned out to be a little more difficult than expected, and I spent a few days in the hospital. I was released just in time for the snowstorm.
I need to commend my team for working so diligently to get everyone rescheduled during my unexpected absence and during the snowstorm that immediately followed, and thank all of you for being so gracious and understanding. The will of course require me to take some time off. The recovery time in which I will not be able to groom is expected to be between 4-6 weeks, though I hope to be back in the building as soon as possible, even if all I can do is water the plants and answer the phone. We will be reaching out to you this week if you have an appointment during the affected time period and will work together to ensure that your dog is taken care of. For the rest of 2026 I will have limited availability for large dogs, and in an effort to prioritize my existing clientele I will not be accepting new dogs that are or will be over 50 lbs. Therefore, we are strongly encouraging anyone with a large dog to consider booking further in advance than usual, even if I am not your usual groomer, because this will affect everyone’s availability. I’ll wrap up by saying that my team is exceptionally capable and I trust them implicitly to give your dogs the same quality of care that I have during my absence.
Once again, thank you all for your concern and for trusting us with your pups. -Samantha
In other news... Last year we placed 3rd in the Valley Breeze Voices of The Valley list, which means so much to us. This isn’t something we can buy, this list is composed entirely from your votes, and to place so high when we were still so new was such an incredible honor. So if you’d be so kind as to give us a few clicks we would really appreciate it! You can vote every day until March 11th, and all you need to provide is your email address in order to vote. We know you don’t need any extra incentive to show your support but every vote does count as an entry towards a $250 sweepstakes prize from The Valley Breeze. Click here to cast your vote for us as Best Pet Groomer.
Now without further ado, let’s get to the real stars of the show:
This month we are highlighting a triple threat: our C-3 Security Team. All three members of the team are Havanese, a breed originating from Cuba. The breed profile on akc.org notes that they make excellent watchdogs and we wholeheartedly agree! Senior Department Leader Ella runs a right ship, and she has taught her two younger team members well. Myshee (pronounced MEE-shee) is the smallest, but by far the mightiest. She excels at her job as Threat Analyst. Combined with her discernment training that Ella has provided, she has a natural talent for identifying and announcing any and all potential threats, be they human, animal, vegetable or mineral. Don't make the mistake of thinking that she is all talk, she stays ready to jump into action. Rounding out the security team is Jace, with his imposing frame he provides the brawn of the team. His fierce loyalty to Myshee emboldens him to fear no enemy. Well, except the blow dryer, but Ella has given strict orders that that particular threat is far too dangerous. Myshee stands tall against all enemies, however and her incredible bravery deserves extra recognition. Thank you for all of your hard work!