Whatever breed it was, however, didn’t matter, since it was currently lying in its own puddle of blood, probably near death.
What the fuck should I do?
The dog shifted, only an inch, making me tense, and I saw its eyes, a pair of brilliant arctic blue, open to exhausted, pained slits. It was only for a moment, though, because the dog closed them and let out a soft sigh, almost a whimper, as it grew still once more.
My heart pounded in my ears as I stared at the poor thing. I couldn’t leave it out here. While I was pressed for time when it came to finishing up my column, it could wait. I wasn’t so heartless as to leave an injured animal out to die.
Standing up, I took out my phone and searched for 24/7 vet care in the area. I called the first one I found.
“LA Metropolitan Emergency Vet Care,” a woman answered.
“There is a wounded dog outside my building.” I got straight to the point. “Can you—”
“We don’t take in strays.” She cut me off before I could even finish the sentence. “If you want veterinary care for the dog nonetheless, you must pay a deposit of three hundred dollars, and then sign that you will pay the additional costs for the rest of its care.”
My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”
“It’s as I said, ma’am,” the woman responded impatiently. “Now, if you want to proceed, I can send you the files over—”
I hung up and called the next vet hospital on the list.
Unfortunately, the man on the other end of the line, while nicer, said basically the same thing.
Angry now, I shoved the phone back into the pocket of my peacoat and looked at the dog, helpless. If I could get it into my apartment, I could at least try and bandage its open wound. But the dog was colossal, and most likely heavier than the weights I used to lift back when I was frequenting the gym, so even if I wanted to bring it into my apartment, I couldn’t.
Unless . . .
I grabbed my phone again and dialed Chase. After a few rings, a lazy voice drawled, “The fuck you want, Colter?”
Unfazed by my neighbor’s attitude, I asked, “Are you home?”Please be home.
“No,” he replied, to my dismay. “Why? Feeling lonely?”
I tapped my foot on the ground, annoyed at his suggestive tone, as I said, “I have a dying dog outside the building’s back door, and I want your help to bring it inside my apartment. Can you come help me or not?”
As if I’d flipped a switch, Chase’s voice turned dead serious. “I’ll be there in ten.”
Hanging up, I sat down near the dog’s head as I waited for my neighbor to arrive and, hesitantly, reached out my hands to its matted fur. The dog did not stir, but I could feel the tension in its heavy muscles when I petted its dirty coat. Even unconscious, the dog did not put its trust blindly in a stranger.
As the minutes ticked by, I kept petting the dog, sliding my fingers through its fur until I saw its eyes open again, this time fully, and it stared right at me.
Feeling it tense further under my hands now that it was awake, I kept up the monotonous petting of its fur and looked straight into its eyes as I said in as soft and soothing a voice as I could muster, “Don’t worry, doggo. I called for help. I’m not going to let you die.” I paused and grimaced. “Not under my watch.”
Obviously, I knew the dog couldn’t understand me, but I hoped the tone of my voice at least would have a calming effect. Or the conviction of my words.
I’d had enough death in my life to last a fucking lifetime. I refused to let another living being die while I could help it.
The dog kept on staring at me unblinkingly, and I stared back. It almost seemed as if it understood what I’d just said, because I could feel the tension in its body ease a bit.
My own tension did not subside, however, because the dog did not seem to be doing well. “Try to stay conscious until help arrives, okay?”
The dog’s head slightly bobbed, and I could swear it was trying to nod.
I scoffed inwardly at my silliness. While it was human nature to personify animals, it didn’t mean they were actually, well, human.
And yet something about this dog felt a little different.
Car lights came into view from the entrance of the narrow alley, making me whip my head in that direction. I recognized the Cadillac that came to a stop not that far away from me and saw the tall, muscular silhouette exiting the car and heading in my direction.
