I was rethinking the honey idea...maybe it wouldn't fool them. But, how about this idea..."my friend is in vet tech training and needs to really work on her grooming skills...and since "missy" is so severly matted, do you think we could work on her?" That way, you are letting THEM help YOU, and who doesn't like to help? Maybe that would work. That could be the reason why you call them out of the blue...you know, "she really needs to practice, the test is soon, and I thought of you"??????