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CHAPTER SEVEN
It was their third animal shelter in as many hours, and they were already feeling defeated. The shelters were overwhelmed with animals, some not even accepting any more. One was at risk of having to euthanize several cats and a few of the older dogs due to lack of adoption interest, no space, and not even enough funding to feed them all.
“This seems like something we could help to prevent,” said Otto.
“I can’t agree more,” said Pork. “Maybe we can build additional cages and provide a stipend to the shelters to help with food, or shit, just send bags of food every month. It’s not a solution, but it might help in the meantime.”
“Let’s talk to Sniff and the others. I know that they offer free neutering and spaying at the animal sanctuary. I just wonder if we should advertise that more.”
“Or,” said Pork, “maybe we do mobile vans that can go around the city. We don’t let everyone on our property, which could be part of the problem. If we did mobile units, people could bring their pets to us.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Otto. “You’re not as dumb as you used to be.”
“Oh, you’re fucking funny. Hysterical, in fact.”
“I’m teasing, brother. How are you and Katherine doing? Did you two get acquainted last night?”
“No. And we’re doing great. It’s strange that she’s a sex therapist, but in a lot of ways, she seems shy. I asked Bree about it, and she said she was the same with Doc. Sometimes, when you know so much, and you know all that information about male and female bodies, it’s hard to separate the clinical from the emotional.”
“Well, Robin and I have a great sex life, but you never know if there could be ways to make it even better. I mean, I think we’re honest with one another, but maybe she’s afraid to tell me something.”
“You two are perfect for one another,” said Pork. “Look, there’s the next one.”
They pulled into the animal shelter, staring at all the cars. It seemed overwhelmed with customers today, and that didn’t bring about a feeling of warm and fuzzy. Stepping into the shelter, there was a reception desk with one young man standing behind it, taking names. Several people had their pets on their laps, others had nothing.
“Hi, I’m sorry, we’re really busy today. If you’re a walk-in, unless it’s an emergency, we may need for you to come back,” he said apologetically.
“No, it’s nothing like that. We’re checking out all the shelters in the area for perhaps missing litters of puppies or any puppies that you’ve seen that you suspect came from a puppy mill,” said Otto.
“Dr. Grafton?” yelled the young man.
“What is it, Stu?” said the middle-aged man poking his head through a small window. He had two puppies in his arms, both looking worse for wear.
“I think you need to speak to these gentlemen.”
“Come on back,” he said. “I can’t come out there. Not right now.” Stu showed them around the corner and through a door.
“Put those coats on and gloves,” he said. Otto and Pork nodded, doing as he asked. When they walked through the second door, the doctor had eleven puppies at his feet, plus the two in his arms.
“Damn. You have your hands full,” said Otto. “Can I take one from you?”
“No. Don’t,” said the man. “I’ve got two cages with dead dogs that tested positive for rabies. I’ve got three more that are dead that we’ll be getting to, testing those as soon as we can. They all have fleas, they’ve got open sores, and I’m pretty damn sure they have a bacteria called leptospira.”
“Leptospira?” frowned Pork.
“Yes, it’s in their urine. Usually causes the kidneys and liver to shut down, and it can be transferred to humans. These are puppies, gentlemen. Puppies. Do you understand how neglected they would have to be in order to show signs of this?”
“No, sir. We don’t know, but what we do know is that there have been a rash of puppies being sold with similar issues. We think someone is either stealing puppies or running puppy mills where the cages are already contaminated.”
“That would explain this,” said the man, setting the two pups back into clean cages. Two assistants came in, both shaking their heads. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” asked Otto.
“They all have it. I’m not sure I can save them, nor am I sure if I have the funds to save them. They were found in that cage over there, all of them.”
“We’ll pay for it,” said Pork. “Do what you need to do, and we’ll pay for their care.”
“That’s a lot of money,” said the vet. “They might not even make it.”
