Part 8 (1/2)
”Yeah, it really came down last night, didn't it? My power flickered a couple times during the debates. I was sure it was going to cut out. Did you watch?”
Anna shook her head. ”No. I never get into politics.”
”You didn't miss much. Republicans crying bleeding heart, Democrats crying big oil. Same old tune. They say Jonathan Braxton's ahead in the polls, though. Not sure how I feel about having a governor younger than I am, but there you have it. Oh, hey,” she said, switching gears, ”we got a newcomer last night after you left.” Sh.e.l.li navigated around the front counter to grab a clipboard from the desk behind.
”Oh, yeah?”
”Terrier mix. Tiny little thing, freaked half out of his mind. No ID or tags. A homeless guy brought him in just as I was closing up. He was afraid the church wouldn't let him in for the night if he had a dog with him.”
”Is he in the back?”
”Number fifteen.” Sh.e.l.li handed her a clipboard with the terrier's paperwork, before taking a seat behind the counter and jiggling her computer screen to life. ”He's all yours, Annie.”
”I'm on it.”
The shelter's kennels consisted of one large room with concrete floors where fifteen smaller cages were set up. Three quarters were full, which was less than most shelters in the area, often overflowing, sometimes even illegally housing animals in the offices and storage rooms. It was hard enough finding cute little puppies homes, never mind older animals that had been abused, neglected, or, worse, grown up feral, fending for themselves. While Anna did her best to clean them up and make them look attractive for potential new homes, it was often a race against time to get the adoptable ones out to make room for the never ceasing influx of new animals.
She stopped at the last cage and squatted down next to their newest boarder. He was small, even for a terrier, his fur a s.h.a.ggy gray color, matted with something dark and sticky along the back. He yipped warily at the cage door, bouncing up and down on all fours.
”Hey there, fella,” Anna said, trying to make her voice as low and soothing as she could. ”Don't you worry, we'll clean you up.”
He yipped again, clearly not convinced.
She slowly opened the cage door, talking in soft tones to the animal as she reached out a hand and let his wet little nose run along her palm. Once his nostrils had gotten their fill, she scooped him up from the floor, running her hand gently along his back as she carried him to the sink. He s.h.i.+vered in her hands, and she could feel his ribs jutting beneath his skin. Sadly, he looked like he'd been on the streets for a while.
”It's okay. No one's going to hurt you. Trust me, you'll feel so much better after a nice, hot bath.”
She turned on the water, letting it warm up a bit before setting the dog down in the deep, metal basin. He circled a few times, sniffing at the drain as she turned on the handheld showerhead and ran it along his fur. Immediately the water turned brown, rinsing away G.o.d knows what. She lathered him in shampoo as he tried to bite the bubbles rising from his coat, then rinsed him again until the water ran clear and his fur was at least two shades lighter.
The next step was to scan for ID. Even though he'd come in tagless, more and more pet owners were being urged to have ID chips implanted in their animals. Anna looked for the tell tale bulge along his neckline. Nothing. But just for good measure, she scanned the hand held machine over his fur. As suspected, nothing showed up.
”I guess you're Fido Doe, now,” Anna informed him.
He looked up at her and licked her chin.
”Oh, you like that name, do you?” she laughed.
She scratched behind his ears as she carried him out into the front room where Sh.e.l.li would take his picture to broadcast via internet for a potential new home.
”Ready for his close up,” Anna said.
Sh.e.l.li's head popped up from her email. ”Oh, isn't he cute! He looks so much better. He's gonna go right away.”
”Let's hope.”
”Okay, hold him up.” Sh.e.l.li pulled a digital camera from the top desk drawer and aimed it at the terrier. ”Hmma wait. He needs something.”
She leaned down and rummaged in her desk again.
Fido wiggled in Anna's arms, his little nose twitching, just dying to explore the new room.
”I'm not sure how much longer I can hold him.”
”Here, perfect.” Sh.e.l.li stood up, a length of red ribbon in one hand. ”Just hold him a second,” she said, navigating the ribbon around his neck. The little dog twisted his head to the side, trying to nip at the ends as Anna held him down. Finally Sh.e.l.li won out, creating a somewhat lopsided bow around his neck.
”There, much better.”
Anna rolled her eyes and laughed. ”Just take the d.a.m.n picture already. He's going to bolt any second.”
Sh.e.l.li held up the camera. ”Okay, big guy, smile.” She snapped the shot, then checked the digital window. ”Aw, he's adorable.”
Anna peeked over Sh.e.l.li's shoulder. ”Perfect.”
”Oh, here,” Sh.e.l.li reached behind the desk, pulling out the morning's copy of the Chronicle. ”I'm sure he needs fresh paper in his stall.”
”Hey, save me the cla.s.sifieds,” Anna asked, juggling the terrier in one arm while she tried to pull the section out from the rest.
”Oh no, not again.”
”What?”
”Don't tell me you're moving again?”
Anna turned away, hoping her thoughts weren't visible on her face. ”Thinking about it.”
”This is the second time you've moved since I've known you.”
It was true. She was getting antsy faster and faster the longer she stayed in the city.
”My lease is up,” she lied.