Do you still love me?

or , the story of the foxtails. 

I took Yofi and Wally on a walk the other day.  In the course of "social distancing" when there was another couple of walkers coming towards us, we would step off the path and allow them to pass.  I didn't realize that one time when we stepped off the path the girls stepped into a patch of wild grass containing foxtails.  

I am sure that everyone knows about foxtails but allow me to elaborate a bit. There are some grasses known as foxtail, but what we call foxtails here really refers to the little seed pod or seed head that develop from grasses.  These little seed heads are barbed and very hard.  They easily get embedded into fur (or hair).  Then, the little seed head can work its way into a dog's ear, eye or nose or even the neither regions,  and can cause all sorts of problems if they aren't removed right away.  They can be very dangerous, not just to animals but humans as well.  

When we got home, I noticed that Yofi's tail seem matted.  I got the comb and brush out, but quickly noticed that her entire tail was covered in foxtails.  She had them all in her fur.  I checked Wally as well.  She had fewer, but still enough for me to call our wonderful groomer, Jamey,  and asked her to give the girls a cut and bath.   Between Jamey and I, we were able to get all the foxtails out, but it meant trimming the fur short.   And Yofi's beautiful long fur on her tail was gone.  She is now sporting the "bobbed" version.  

I never realized how sensitive my little Yofi was until she came home after her cut.  She has needed frequent reassurance every since.  Sometimes when she swishes her tail, she just looks at it wondering what happened.   This is of her looks that she gives me, as though she is saying, "Do you still love me?"