Page 30 of Wrecked for Love
“Yes. I’ve worked a lot with animals.”
He gave a glance toward the cat that had just hissed at me. “The cats seem to hate you.”
I smiled, brushing off the sting of the comment. “Maybe my cat skills need a little work, but I used to work at a pet shop, I groomed dogs, and I was a professional pet sitter.”
Mr. Gunn laughed, a harsh sound. “Go home, young lady. I’m managing just fine on my own.”
“Please, Mr. Gunn,” I insisted.
He sighed heavily but motioned for me to follow him. We stepped into the backyard, where several dogs paced around in newly built cages.
“I just finished putting these up.” He showed me around. “Some stranger left two grands outta nowhere. But land’s limited, and I can’t keep building. Some of these dogs…well, they’ll have to go.”
His tone suggested a grim fate.
“Have you tried rehoming them?” I asked, my voice tentative, hoping I was wrong about what he meant.
He shot me a hard look. “This ain’t a zoo, you know. Of course I’ve tried.”
“How about fundraising?” I offered, trying to keep the conversation hopeful.
Mr. Gunn folded his arms. “Do I look like a politician?”
“Look, Mr. Gunn,” I said, undeterred. “I’ve got ideas. We could get these dogs into loving homes, free up some space, and more than anything, give them a chance at happiness.”
“All right, I’ll give you one test,” he said, eyeing me with a mix of challenge and reluctance. “I’ve never done this before, but you seem like the type who’s—” He grunted. “—gonna keep bugging me if you don’t get what you want. Pass, and I’ll give you a week to do things your way. Fail, and I don’t ever want to see your face again.”
I flashed a bring-it-on smile. “Sure.”
He led me to a corner cage, and as soon as we got close, the Boxer inside shifted from lying down to a tense, battle-ready stance. His muscles tightened, eyes locked on me, and his lips curled just enough to reveal a flash of teeth beneath a growl.
“This is Oscar,” Mr. Gunn said, picking up a treat from a nearby box. “Hand-feed him, and you pass the test.”
I exhaled slowly, not quite expecting to risk a limb just to volunteer at an animal shelter.
Mr. Gunn smirked, clearly waiting for me to back down, but I cut him off. “Fine. Let me inside the cage.”
His eyes widened. “Are you out of your mind?” For the first time, the grumpy old man actually looked worried that I was serious.
“No, it’s just how I do things,” I said, though my stomach knotted with nerves. I knew better than to let the dog sense my fear. Taking a steady breath, I approached the still-locked cage. Oscar’s posture shifted again, backing up immediately. He wasn’t barking anymore, but the tension was still there, a clear sign he wasn’t ready to trust just yet.
Mr. Gunn fenced off a small area, letting Oscar out of the cage but still within the confines of the fence. “All yours,” he grumbled, handing me a bag of treats.
I hopped in, feeling more like a gladiator than a volunteer. Oscar stood his ground, pressed defensively into the corner, teeth bared and ready to lunge if I got too close. I tried to approach again and again, but he snarled each time, warning me off. I couldn’t even get close to him. How was I supposed to hand-feed him?
Finally, I sat down across from him, giving us both some space.
“You know,” I started, breaking the silence, “I do feel for you and all your friends here. Call me selfish, but that’s not the only reason I’m doing this.” I kept my voice steady, talking to him like he could understand every word.
Minutes passed. Then more. It must’ve been close to an hour, and Oscar hadn’t budged.
“I knew a vet once. His daughter rescued a husky, angry like you. But the dog changed because of her. I know you can too, when the right person comes along. In the meantime, I need to do this for them, for their memory.”
I stayed in my spot, my hand slowly extending, treats clenched in my fist. But just the sight of my moving arm sent Oscar into a growling frenzy, and before I knew it, he became more aggressive than ever. Mr. Gunn rushed over and pulled me out before things escalated further.
“I’m sorry. I tried.” I sighed, my voice edged with frustration. “But that was an unfair test, and you know it. That dog…no one can change him in a couple of hours!” I didn’t wait for him to show me the door.
But then…
