Day of the Dog

Vet Micheal

Dad opened the door with a tissue in hand. "Cassidy?" he croaked. "What is this?" My words came out in a slew. "I found this puppy in the forest no collar we have to take it to the vet hunter’s trap blood too much blood!" Panting, I caught my breath.

        Dad looked at me. "No collar? I'll call Vet Micheal." He rushed to the phone.

        A few minutes later we were in the car. Dad was careening past all the other cars, a lot like when the doctors called to say Mom was dying.  The puppy started whimpering. I held it tightly. "Its OK buddy" I cooed. "Shh...”

        Finally, we arrived at the vets. I practically ran right in. Vet Michelle greeted me with a smile. "Hey Cassidy! So who’s the animal-in-need today?" When Mom was still alive, we used to bring sick and injured animals in all the time, so Vet Micheal knew me pretty well.

        "It's a puppy." I told her. "I found it in the woods, whimpering. It must have been a hunter's trap. They are so careless!! Why do they even set those traps?"

        "Its okay." said Dad “It'll be OK." We sat down in the waiting room as Vet Michel took the puppy to the examination room.

        I was fidgeting so hard I felt as if I'd fall off the chair. Finally, after what seemed like hours (but was actually 30 minutes) Vet Micheal was back, tenderly holding the puppy, which was wrapped in bandages.

        "Good puppy you got here" she said. "Not much squirming. “Whose is it?" She checked the puppy’s neck for a collar and nametag and found only fur. “Stray?" she asked. “Well, I think you should adopt it." I stared at Dad, and gave him the most pleading face I could muster.

                “Well, Cassidy…" He was cut off by Vet Micheal. "Look Owen, I know you’re hurting over Melissa, but a dog can help you get through that. C'mon." So now it was two against one. We'd tag teamed him. Dad lost.