Who Gave Fritz a Bath?

A few weeks ago I mentioned to my mom that I had taken Frank (my wiener dog) to get his teeth cleaned. I take him to a place called SmileTech where they do anethesia free cleaning. The woman who owns it (and also does the work) is, in my opinion, just as awesome as Cesar Milan. She lays the dogs on their back in her lap and cleans their teeth with some sort of a laser tool. None of them protest. She is a true alpha dog!

Anyway, Fern’s response was that we all spend too much time on our pet’s hygiene. “Years ago, she said, no one got the dog’s teeth cleaned.” So, I asked, who gave Fritz a bath? Fritz was our wiener dog from my childhood. I think I was in the sixth grade when we got him. I asked her if she remembered ever giving him a bath. We had the dog for about 12 years. In that time, I personally have no recollection of doing anything but occasionally feeding him some Alpo. But come on, he had to have a bath in 12 years, right?

Fern could not remember ever giving him a bath! She feed him, let him in and out and even took care of him when she accidentally ran over him in the drive way. I asked Tina and no, she had no memory, nor did Gina and Vince had a vague memory…something about the stationary tubs in the basement. Hmmm, such a mystery.

We were all stumped. That’s when I found this amazing photo. Seems that a least one time Dad gave Fritz a bath. In the stationery tubs. While Vince watched! I’m pretty sure their was a photo taken because this was a highly unusual event. Dad never did anything except work. He hardly changed the channels on the TV (pre remote control) if someone else was available to do it for him. And I never remember him going to the basement for anything.

He was not the sort of Dad that watered the lawn or cleaned the gutters. He was a dad who always “knew a guy” who could do whatever we needed. I guess on that day he was without resources. I’m guessing he was home, the dog was dirty and Mom said, Lou, give Fritz a bath and on that day, he said ok. A true Kodak moment!