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He shrank away as she approached until she remembered to take off her helmet and gloves.
“Hey boy, hey now.” She crouched down a few feet away, and the trembling tail began to weakly thump against the cold dark ground.
Unlike his owner who was still wrapped in a foil blanket, Levi wasn’t still wearing an oxygen mask, but she still pulled out a pair of gloves to begin an examination. Laura was talking with the man, and Megan waited until they were finished to introduce herself.
“My name is Megan White. I’m a firefighter, EMT, and a vet tech. Can I check on your dog?”
The man blinked a few times and nodded, watching her as she crouched down again.
“Hi Levi, remember me?” He glanced up at his owner, who nodded his head once, and walked forward into her outstretched arms.
“It’s a good thing the SPCA provided the oxygen masks; he was a little weak when he came over,” Laura said in her ear.
“You look like you’ve perked up now, boy, huh? It’s going to be all right. Can I check your paws?” She took a pen light Jordan offered her and shined it on each pad, checking for burns or cuts. Finding none, she went on to check his eyes, ears, and mouth, which all looked great, thankfully.
“So far so good. You’re such a good boy,” she said, while continuing to pet him. “Such a brave, beautiful boy. Let’s take a listen to your lungs.”
On cue, Jordan handed her a stethoscope, and Megan took a listen to his heart, going strong, and his lungs which were clear.
“All right, that’s done, and you passed with straight As. Have you had anything to drink tonight?” she asked, eyeing the clean kidney dish filled with water next to the truck.
His brown eyes looked back with a soulful connection only dogs could have, which was part of the reason she had always felt more at ease with animals than people.
“Not thirsty, huh? That’s okay, maybe later. Let’s get you a blanket while we sort everything out.”
She petted him again and pulled over the blanket that had slid off him earlier, tucking him in and rubbing his boxy, soft head before walking him back to the leg of his owner, where he rested his head on the man’s pajama-clad knee, the soulful eyes looking up.
It struck her how the man wasn’t sitting inside the warmth of the ambulance. April in Montana and tonight was in the forties. He sat slumped in a crumpled foil blanket with the oxygen mask obscuring his mouth, the orange glow of the flames reflected in his exhausted eyes that remained fixed on the house in front of him.
She wanted to say something or wrap him in a warm hug and promise everything would be okay, but couldn’t find the words or make that promise. She exchanged a glance with Laura, who had been watching him for any signs of distress, off to the side with her arms crossed.
“Is there someone we can call for you?” Laura asked with a gentle voice.
The man sighed and looked away from the house to answer her.
“Just my son.”
“Is he local?”
The man shook his head and resumed watching the fire, looking so alone.
“I recommend we take you to the hospital to get checked out further. They have people who can help arrange for a place for you to stay.”
The man didn’t acknowledge Laura but kept rubbing Levi’s head, with movements so slow, Megan almost didn’t notice.
“Would it be a help if I looked after Levi? You could come and pick him up the second you’re released.”
The man turned and studied her before letting out a sigh, crumpling further into exhaustion or maybe it was resignation, but he nodded.
“I wouldn’t have said yes, but you talked to him like I do. And besides, I don’t see another option.”
Megan gave him a warm smile. “I’m off tomorrow and can meet you when you’re ready. I’ll make sure he has everything he needs.”
“Thank you for your kindness, and for saving him. I…” He paused, almost succumbing to the emotion. He caught his breath, swallowed, and looked at the ground blinking. “I’m so grateful you could save him. Everything else is gone.”
Megan’s heart broke, and she stretched out her hand to lay it gently on his shoulder.
“I know you have done all you can, but I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”
