Contractors’ best friends

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/12/2022 (636 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of the great joys of my life is meeting my clients’ pets. On the jobsite, it’s usually just me and my thoughts, pondering the impending tasks at hand. Fortunately for me, the homeowners often have a furry site supervisor to keep me company throughout the day. Little by little, a bond begins to emerge and the start to my day becomes more than just the project — I look forward to seeing my new little friends. As it is the time of year to rejoice and be grateful, what better time to share a few stories about my favorite pet encounters.

The first one that comes to mind, is Smilin’ Willis. This older golden retriever at a house whose owner wanted an entire gut and remodel of the bathroom. It was the only bathroom in the house, and although she mentioned her brother only lived three blocks away should nature call, it was evident that the toilet should be functional throughout project timeline. So that became the ritual – every afternoon before I left, the toilet was remounted so it was available during the night. Needless to say, I went through dozens of wax rings during that endeavour. Fortunately, every morning another ritual came to pass — the greeting at the door, and this made it all worth it. While grabbing the house key from the lockbox, the thumping would begin — Willis’ tail would slap against the door until I entered. And upon entry, Willis would literally show his teeth in a series of grins. Smilin’ Willis always made my day, and still puts a smile on my face when his grin comes to mind.

At a jobsite near Hazelridge a few years ago, the homeowner’s husband had been hospitalized, and she wished to visit him in the mornings. Although the two bathroom projects would continue, it was likely that upon arrival at the rural property, no one would be home until later in the day. It became my pleasure to let the six of their dogs out the moment I got there, to run outside within their large fenced-in back yard. After about a half an hour or so, one by one, each of the four dachshunds, the small boxer and elderly terrier would come back inside to then watch me work. This became my routine for several weeks, until the job was done. It amazed me how easily identifiable each of the dogs’ personalities became as the weeks went by.

And I’ll never forget the big boy, during a site North of Winnipeg. The homeowner asked “do you like dogs?” My response obviously prompted him to say soon thereafter, “come here, boy”. All I saw was a dog’s shadow coming from the house, a large shadow. This guy was huge, at least 160 pounds and all muscle. To put things into perspective, his ‘stick’ is a four-foot 6×6, proportionately chewed down the center. I was warned not to attempt to take his stick away — big-eyed, I confirmed that wasn’t going to be an issue. By the end of the deck build at this property, this big boy and I had become buddies — I think about this gentle giant often.

There have been so many dogs I’ve grown to love and miss. During a bathroom ensuite remodel just South of Winnipeg, Sammy, a loveable German-Shepherd was young and very energetic. But once she calmed down, she would just hover nearby as if to keep an eye on my progress. Buddy, a smaller black poodle had leaped off the unfinished deck replacement assuming the steps were still there — fortunately, Buddy wasn’t hurt, despite having landed on his face. Of course, there is Macho, a beautiful black lab-cross I met recently. Although he is hesitant with strangers in the beginning, the bonding process happened quickly, and we have become life-long buds. I was fortunate enough to visit the jobsite a few months after completing the kitchen renovation. Macho recognized me instantly, and it’s as though no time had elapsed since we last saw each other. A young German-Shepherd named Zeke had been adopted by homeowners near Lockport. Zeke could hardly remember to do his business outside if he saw me without first getting the Marc-love as a front porch, rear deck, and subsequently a full basement renovation were being tackled. It was fun to watch him grow over the course of a few months, and I look forward to seeing him again.

There are even a few cat stories to share. Most recently, “Eric the cat” has provided endless entertainment during a main floor facelift project near Polo Park. While perched at the edge of the counter, his little paw and sharp claw will catch me as I’m swiftly passing by amidst my daily tasks, as if to say “hey, I need some of your time”. And of course, Eric the cat gets his rub downs and “purrs” with enjoyment.

Although there haven’t been as many cats in my renovation history, Eric did remind me of another tiny feline from two summers ago.

While finishing a large composite deck on the final morning at the jobsite, I thought I could hear a faint high-pitched “meow”. There were several cats on the property, and a slew of kittens from a recent litter. This meow was coming however, from an opposite direction. Before closing in the bottom of the deck with skirting, it seemed wise to crawl underneath to ensure this poor little guy hadn’t gotten in and couldn’t find his way out. And wouldn’t you know it, there he was — at the farthest corner of this semi-low-level deck. Inch by inch, I crawled towards the kitten. It was evident he was terrified, calling for his mom. And although I thought he’d be happy to see me, he was not! No matter, it was now my job to rescue him. Every time I reached for him, he managed to wiggle away. Finally, after several attempts in a very crammed area, I had him cornered and slowly reached for the scruff of his neck. Despite getting swatted a few times, I was finally able to grab him and carefully make my way back out from under the deck. The multiple scratches were quickly overshadowed by how good it felt to hand this little guy back to mama and witness the sweet reunion.

I believe the more time spent with animals, the better we are for it. And although my Milo briefly sniffs me after a day at the jobsite, as if to say “you’ve been cheating on me again, haven’t you?”, it is soon forgotten as we fall into our evening routine of mealtime, playtime, and cuddles. I can’t imagine life without these wonderful furry experiences. We lost our Molly just over three years ago, and not a day goes by when I don’t think of her sweet, gentle and loving disposition. Our pets’ time on earth is brief, and we must afford them as much of OUR time as possible. I feel privileged to have been bestowed the chance to make new furry friends at my various jobsites, and share time with them as well – every one of them has touched my soul, in some way. I hope they feel the same way about their “Uncle Marc”.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season. Give your pets extra hugs and cuddles!

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com