“He’s...” Jess’ shoulders slumped. “You’d better come and see for yourself.”
Val’s heart sagged as she followed Jess into the room full of cages. The puppy from before had gone home. A parrot drooped on a perch in its place.
The big red dog was in the same cage as before, still lying on his side. The cast and the IV were the same. A bowl of food stood in the corner, untouched.
“Hey, dude,” Val murmured.
The dog raised his head. Long ears framed soft dark eyes that stared up at her pleadingly. His tail stirred.
“How is he?” Val asked.
Jess opened the cage door. Val reached inside, and the dog licked her hand.
“Still depressed,” Jess admitted. “He’s healing fine. Dr. West changed the cast, and all is well, but he won’t eat a thing. Won’t even drink. That’s why we’re keeping him on the IV.”
“Don’t like it in the cage, do you, fella?” Val rumpled his ears. The dog whined with pleasure.
“I’m afraid that’s the only place he’ll be.” Jess shook his head. “Even once we discharge him, he’s going to a kennel at the animal shelter. We can’t discharge him until he eats something. He’s wasting away.”
Val sighed. “Why won’t you eat, dude?”
He tilted his head into her palm, his coat rough against her hand.
Jess folded her arms. “I feel like he’s giving up.”
“Don’t do that,” Val murmured. “You can’t do that, boy.”
The dog’s tail wagged.
“He perks up for you,” Jess noted.
Val sighed. “I can’t imagine why. I ran him over.”
“Maybe you’re the first kind hand he’s felt in a long time.” Jess paused. “Wait here. I have an idea.”
She bustled away, and Val stroked the dog’s back with long, strong sweeps of both hands. He rolled onto his side, raising his paws to show his belly, although his hind legs barely moved. Val rubbed it, and one hind paw twitched in response.
“Hey, Jess!” she called. “Jess, look at this!”
Jess returned, carrying a bowl. “What?”
“Look.” Val rubbed his belly again. “Look, his paw moved.”
“Oh, yes. He’ll be bearing weight again soon. That pelvis should heal fast.” Jess shook her head. “If he starts eating.”
“What do you have there?” Val asked.
“Treats. Since he likes you...” Jess shrugged, “maybe he’ll take one.”
She held out the bowl, and Val retrieved a dog cookie.
“What’s this, boy?” she crooned. “What’s this?”
The dog’s ears rose. He rolled upright as she stopped the belly rubs.
“Good!” Jess whispered. “See if he’ll take it.”
Val waved the treat in front of his nose. “Here you go, boy! It’s yours.”
The dog’s pink tongue splashed on the edge of the treat. Val froze, fighting the urge to hold her breath. He reached out delicately with his front teeth and gripped the cookie.
“Good boy,” Val whispered. “That’s it. Take it, boy. Good boy.”
The dog snapped up the treat, crunched it in a spray of crumbs, and swallowed.
“Good boy!” Jess cried.
“Good boy.” Val rubbed his head. “That’s our boy.”
“Try putting this one in his dish.” Jess handed her another treat.
Val laid the dog cookie in the bowl, but the dog barely sniffed it.
“You want the royal treatment, huh?” Val retrieved it and held it out to him. “Only hand-feeding will do for you, sir.”
The dog ate three more treats before he got tired. He laid his head on his front paws and sighed deeply.
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Val stroked his ears, craning her neck to look at Jess. “I mean, he ate something.”
