Page 49 of Never Too Late to Date

Vicky stood stock still for a moment as she reached the woman and the animal. The dog looked so like Scout, it took her breath away. The animal’s matted and grubby fur was white, instead of Scout’s black coat, but the features were so similar. It must be part poodle. She tried to focus on the crying woman.

‘I found her at the side of the road. She’d been hit by a car. They’d just left her there.’

Maeve came rushing out of one door and Alex from another.

Vicky’s nursing instinct kicked in. She needed to calm things down and assess the situation.

‘Shhh. Don’t worry. We’ll do all we can.’

She knew not to promise a miracle. The dog was obviously in a pretty poor condition.

Alex reached her side.

‘This is our vet. We can take it from here.’

Alex carefully took the dog from the woman’s arms, transferring blood onto his own clothes.

‘I need to do an examination, so we know what we’re dealing with.’

He turned to the woman.

‘Please go with Maeve here. We’ll let you know what happens.’

Maeve took the woman’s hand and led her away.

It was Vicky’s turn to feel his full focus.

‘Come with me. We might need to operate.’

Chapter Twelve

Vicky took a deep breath and followed Alex into the clinic. He laid the little dog out on the extremely basic operating table and turned to scrub his hands before donning a plastic apron, indicating to her to do the same.

Vicky could see the dog’s chest rising and falling rapidly, far too rapidly in her inexpert opinion.

Alex felt his way up and down the dog’s body with the utmost care.

‘Can you mop up the blood first, so I can see the extent of the main wound?’

Vicky reached for the antiseptic wipes and carefully cleaned the area. It was a large gash, around ten centimetres, and it was still oozing blood.

Alex stood up straight and shook his head. She knew she wasn’t going to like what he said.

‘This dog has a very badly broken leg, plus possible internal injuries as well as that serious cut. In my professional opinion, the kindest thing to do is put her, and it is a her, out of her misery.’

‘No!’

Vicky’s shout shocked not only her, but Alex, who took a step back. Even the dog’s eyes flickered open a moment before closing again.

‘Please, no. I can’t bear it.’

Remaining calm and collected had gone out of the window, as soon as she’d seen the dog’s face. She hoped she’d feel the same about any animal, but this dog reminded her so strongly of Scout that it was a visceral response. If there were any chance, any chance at all, to let this dog live, she’d fight for it.

Alex stroked the dog’s head as he spoke.

‘This dog is a stray. She has no collar, owner’s tag or microchip. It will cost a lot of time and money even to try and save her, and we may not succeed.’

Vicky’s breathing was as ragged as the dog’s.