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“This is Trigger, but we call him Trig. He’s a mix of a Wolfhound, Shepherd, and something else, but we’re not sure yet. He’s perfectly healthy, about two years old, and extremely gentle and well-behaved. He’s up-to-date on all his shots and has been tested for everything. This cute boy is clean as a whistle.”
“Would he be protective?” asked Katherine.
“Extremely. When he knows you belong to him, he’d make sure no one comes near you.” She reached out, petting the dog’s head, and he immediately moved toward her. Kneeling, she cuddled him to her shoulders, laughing as he licked her face.
“Oh, he’s so sweet!” she said excitedly.
“Why don’t you take him with you for a few days,” said Lucy. “You’ll get a feel for how you work together, and then you can decide.”
“Won’t that confuse him?” she asked.
“No, not at all. We prefer it this way so you and the dog can be sure you’re a match. It’s never a good idea to just place a dog in a home and pray that he and the owner get along. That’s how dogs end up in shelters or set loose on the side of the road. This way, you spend some time together and decide if he’s right for you and, more importantly, if you want the burden of handling a dog.”
“Well, I’ll be staying here for the night, so I’ll take him with me if that’s okay,” she smiled at the couple. Sniff glanced at Pork, hiding his grin.
“I think that would be just fine.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Sven and George returned from their road trip, trying to find the man who attempted to sell them a dog. No luck. He was long gone, and no one seemed to know where he’d gone. They were frustrated and angry, especially after hearing Katherine’s story.
“Where are they getting all these dogs?” asked Gaspar.
“Truth is,” said Sniff, “they could have an entire farm, pumping out puppies as quickly as the dogs can get pregnant. Or, they could be taking dogs from shelters, maybe even stealing them. It doesn’t appear that any of them are purebred, so I don’t think they’re risking theft.”
“Jesus, people are something else,” said Ghost. “I get wanting to beat the shit out of a man who did you wrong, but what the hell did a puppy do to you?”
“It’s opportunity,” said Sniff. “We put a paragraph on our webpage warning people about buying puppies without medical records and papers. If they aren’t a reputable dealer, shelter, or training facility, walk away.”
“Will it help?” asked Nine. Sniff shrugged.
“It didn’t help Katherine. She thought she was getting a deal. People see cute puppies and think they’re so young, nothing could be wrong with them. You have no way of knowing the actual breed. Lucy called Katherine’s veterinarian, and she told her when the puppy was put down, she did a DNA analysis to determine his lineage.”
“You can do that?” frowned Ian.
“Yes,” laughed Sniff. “We can do all kinds of tests now, even match dogs to premium show dogs because they usually have all their blood and DNA work done. Katherine was told that her puppy was a German Shepherd.”
“Was it?” frowned Ghost.
“Nope. He was a schnauzer, poodle, terrier, and she thinks boxer mix. He had a lot in him. She believed, given the number of issues he had at only ten weeks old, that he was born in a puppy mill and not cared for except by his mother, who was probably sick as well.”
“This is fucking absurd,” growled Nine. Sniff nodded.
“What’s your recommendation, Sniff? Where do we start with this?” asked Ian.
“I’d say start with the shelters in the area. See if they’re getting an influx of puppies or even female dogs that have just had a litter. Lucy and I will check in with veterinarians, and Parker and Dani can go out and follow up if needed. You all just need to have boots on the ground. Look for puppies, maybe even hang signs or post ‘wanted’ ads on social media websites.”
The four senior men stared at him as if he’d lost his head. When Pork cleared his throat with a grin, leaning against the door jam, they all turned waiting for the smart-ass comment.
“How about I post the ad and use my information? When the responses come in, I’ll follow up. But let’s wait a bit for that. I think Sniff’s idea of boots on the ground is the right one.”
“That sounds like a better plan,” smirked Ghost. “But, what about the fair Katherine? Won’t you be spending time with her?”
“Bite me, you old asshole,” grinned Pork. The men chuckled, shaking their heads. “She’s nice. Interesting occupation.”
“What’s her occupation?” asked Gaspar, staring at their friend.
“She’s a sex therapist.”
