"K 1...2...3... Shimmy shake!,"

There is a very precise skill that every dog rescuer or avid volunteer learns very early on in the rescue process. It's not avoiding dog &@$" in the dark or turning a deaf ear to incessant barking or shrugging off their ill behavioral skills in social environments... It's not even subtly ignoring the inappropriate humping in public or blaming the hair on the furniture on the local neighborhood cat. 

No the skill that animal rescuers in general have to acquire and master very early on is parallel to the karate kid- mr Miyagi- wax on- wax off level of importance. It is the staggered bass tone we associate with Tom cruise in "Mission Impossible".

I am talking about the very crafty skill of closing doors. Yes, generally an easy ,care free task-  in rescue the closing of a door/gate becomes a very intricate, pre planned affair

It involves a number of  precise steps:

Step 1 is  the art of distraction. Usually the throwing of a treat and/or toy to the opposite corner of the room.

Step 2 is the silent handle latch pull

Step 3 is probably the most important- the shimmy aka the art of turning ones body into a paper thin strip and getting up close and personal with door often having a snagged t shirt or scratched elbow as a result!

Step 4 is the humane "shove" whereby if the animal in question has out smarted you, your task is to gently yet definitely push them back into their space.

Finally step 5 involves much heavy breathing, a well deserved sip of water, an apology to the animal in question through the door and occasionally a concerned peek to ensure they are content. Unfortunately this often leads to the process having to start again.

An inexperienced first timer often has to deal with the ill effects of the whole ordeal going awry in which a frenzy of awkward running behind is juxtaposed with a chuffed, smiling, tongue lolling pooch ahead and a team of catchers poised ready to strike in a moderate squat- arm out stance in preparation of the entrapment.

Yes, we live in a compartmentalized chaos but we absolutely love it and wouldn't have it any other way.