Unless You Look Really Deep

图片取自 The Fifth Paw

　　She looked him up on the computer and then conferred with an associate. The She went in the back and didn't reappear for at least ten minutes. There was clearly an issue with Junior.

　　When she came back, she told us that Junior was ill, that it was their recommendation that he not to be adopted out. Debbie told her that we appreciated their recommendation, but that we wanted him anyway. That sent her into the back again, for a shorter time, and when she returned she said that their medical officer would speak to us.

　　Sure enough, he came out a few minutes later and repeated the mantra that Junior was ill and not a candidate for adoption.

　　"Is he dead?" I asked.

　　"No. Of course not."

　　"Then we want him."

　　He continued to try and talk us out of it, and I asked what was wrong with Junior. He told me that he had tumors all over his body and a horrible skin condition that could never be cured.

　　"What's the condition?" Debbie asked.

　　"We haven't determine that."

　　"Then how do you know it can't be cured?"

　　The truth was they were never going to determine it, and certainly they would never try to cure it. They were going to keep Junior as a stray for the required five days, and then put him down. And those five days were up.

　　Debbie laid out the situation for the medical guy as clearly as she could. We would adopt Junior and take him to our vet. If our vet determine that Junior could not be made to have a good quality of life, then we would put him down, holding and petting him during the process. If he could fix what was ailing Junior, then we would have him to do so, whatever the cost.

　　Either way, we were not walking out of the shelter without Junior.

　　They brought him out, and I don't think I have ever seen a dog look worse. He had at least four obvious tumors on his body, including one hanging off his leg that was the size of a grapefruit. He had almost no hair, and his skin was red and irritated. He must been absolutely miserable.

　　Of course, if Junior was a golden retriever, then I'm Brad Pit. He was probably a shepherd mix; we'd have a better idea of that when and if his hair grew back. But a golden he was not.

　　We took Junior to Dr. Kali at North Tustin Veterinary Clinic, who is as good as it gets. He took him in the back and spent at least a half hour examining him before coming back with the verdict.

　　Most of the tumors were just fatty issue, except the one on his leg. Dr Kali thought he could remove that fairly easily, and doubted it was malignant. There would be a little difficulty in the healing process, because there would be very little skin to cover the incision. But it would be manageable.

　　As far as the skin condition was concerned, Junior had the mange. So he would get treated for it, and soon he would not have the mange. He would feel relief almost immediately, and Dr. Kali saw no reason that his hair would not grow back.

　　Junior, the dog that could not be cured, was going to be fine.

　　……

　　Yes, looks can be very deceiving, unless you look really deep.

Dogtripping, 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3RVs
on Our Caine Cross-Country Adventure, p264~267
David Rosenfelt
ISBN 978-1-250-01469-6

Mak Xiao Wei（2014.03.23）>>［当周脸书帖子］>>


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