Some people say a dog’s face turns white because we’ve been kissing the color off over the years. Others call it a “sugar face,” as if all the sweetness they’ve given us slowly settles into their fur. And honestly? After years of grooming dogs, there might be some truth in that.

Working with dogs means witnessing tiny acts of bravery everyday. Benji, rescue senior pup with an unknown past, reminded me that grooming can be something bigger than maintenance — sometimes it becomes part of healing.