Something scary happened to me at work the other day.

Hi, I’m Jonathan and I’m a dog groomer; so something scary happens every so often, but nothing like this. As far as an introduction piece on a dachshund lover’s website this isn’t going to include anything about my two guys, Jackson and Jefferson. Until the end, that is.

So back to the incident as I shall call it. I was checking in this adorable little Shar Pei puppy for a bath when I got a little light headed. Other groomers were already ahead off me; calling managers asking customers to leave. It became apparent that there was a gas leak of some kind in the store. I regained myself and escorted a few customers out of the salon. Less than a minute later all seven of us had gathered up all of the dogs in the salon and kennels, about 20 or so, and were heading out of the store.

It was pretty comical, looking back at it. There were big dogs, small dogs, dogs on leashes, dogs in crates and in the arms of the groomers. We were like a gang of dog walkers out looking for trouble. People literally got out of the way. Once outside we all took plenty of deep breaths and composed ourselves. All of the dogs were okay and we could do nothing but wait. We chatted with customers and each other. Some of the pet owners arrived and hung out with us. There were seven fire trucks, three ambulances and a lot of commotion. About a half hour later we were allowed to go back in.

When we had settled back in at the salon, making sure all the pups had water and were accounted for, we went back to work. The store manager came in and thanked us all for what we did. He shed a little light on the conversation he had with his bosses before we started to evacuate. When he had asked what about to do about the pets, the bottom line was to leave them. Our manager never even had the time to say that to us, not that we would have listened anyway, we were ready to go by the time he got to the salon.

We told him that despite what the higher ups had said, we would not have left with out them. My store doesn’t sell dogs or cats, we have adoptions. Thankfully, there was a game plan for the cats up for adoption and no dog adoptions were going on that day.

The dogs we took with us already had homes and were a member of families who cared enough to pamper them at the salon. They were loved. It was obvious they were going out with us.

When you work in a field like I do you have to love animals, if you don’t, you don’t last long. I work with a great group of people.

When I got home, I scooped Jackson and Jefferson in my arms and hugged them and let them love on me for a bit. I took them for a long walk that night and gave them many treats. I have never kenneled them and groom them myself, of course. I just hope that if they were in the same position I was in today, that somebody would know how much they meant to me and take them with.

I also got to thinking; would I run into a burning building for my dogs? Heck yeah I would! They’re my kids. What wouldn’t you do for your dogs?