Page 10 of Healing You
Carrie's text came through almost immediately. I did, but she's not available.
I'll take care of it . Yvonne pulled up her contacts list, her thumb hovering over Steve's name. Normally, she would make an effort to call every other vet in a forty-mile radius to avoid having Steve come to one of these things. But now? Something had shifted with them. And if she and Steve could get back to a friendly way of coexisting? It wouldn't only make her job easier... it would make her whole life easier. She pushed a deep breath through her lips and dialed his number.
He answered on the first ring.
“Steve, it's Yvonne. I hate to bother you this late.”
“Let me guess... a puppy mill?”
The question took her aback for all of a second. “You're already here, aren't you?”
“Dr. Hidienbrand called me.” His voice vibrated through her body, and she shivered, feeling the buzz of his presence right behind her. She turned, hanging up the phone as he did the same, sliding it back into his pocket. “Apparently Carrie had been calling around and no one was available—even Amanda was busy with a study group.”
Yvonne swallowed hard, surveying the yard once more before returning her gaze to him. A fresh scent came off his clothes and his hair still looked a bit damp at the ends, from either his swim in the lake or a shower after. “I don't know how much funds I have in the account. Not for this scope of work...”
“It's okay.” He placed a soft, reassuring hand on her elbow. “Let's not worry about that now. Let's just save some lives.”
Before she could answer, Steve ran off to gather the volunteers. Once he had them in a circle, he spoke in a clear, loud voice. “Hey, everyone. I also called a classmate of mine who lives about forty miles south. She should be here soon to help. In the meantime, report to me with the most severe cases. Matted fur and even ingrown nails can wait. Look for lethargy, inability to drink water or stand, and any cuts that look infected. Okay, let's save some animals.”
He met Yvonne's eyes and they locked for all of a second before each ran in different directions. In the driveway, they had a kiddie pool and a hose with a makeshift bathtub ready to clean the dogs before transport. Even if just enough to get the feces off their fur, the poor things.
Yvonne rushed to the first cage, finding a female dachshund looking up at her with dull eyes. She was filthy, but all in all, healthy. She put a Post-It on the cage signaling that this one was good to be bathed.
Moving one cage up, she found a shivering Chihuahua… probably a fawn color, though it was hard to tell through the grime and dirt. Yvonne tucked her sleeves into her thick work gloves, just in case any of these little guys decided to bite, and opened the cage. Reaching a hand inside, knuckles first, she spoke in a quiet, soothing tone. “Hey there, little one. You okay?”
The Chihuahua cowered, shivering, refusing to make eye contact. Yvonne gently scooped a hand under her chest, lifting her out of the cage. A wispy whimper escaped from the shivering dog, and when she looked at her belly, she saw red, swollen nipples. Likely from breeding too many times at too young of an age.
“Poor mama. You're gonna be okay.” Yvonne walked as smoothly as she could to Steve, careful not jostle the dog too much.
“I've think I’ve got an infection here.” She spoke quietly, trying not to startle the dog.
He looked up from putting an IV into a poodle. Once the drip started, he took the Chihuahua, cradling her in his arms like an infant. He shook his head, forehead wrinkled. “Nights like this, I really hate my job.”
Yvonne swallowed, feeling emotion fizzle in her nose. “Me too. But it's also when we're needed the most.”
He sighed. “I know. It doesn't get any easier, though.”
“If it did, I would worry about you.”
One side of his mouth quirked. “I kinda like the thought of you worrying about me.” Something warm wriggled in her belly, but before she could respond, he jerked his chin toward his medicine bag. “Could you hand me the syringe of antibiotics? I marked it with a blue sticker on the end.”
Yvonne nodded and grabbed the shot, handing it to Steve as he lowered himself to a sitting position. Nestling the terrified dog into the crook of his knee, he massaged her neck before stretching her leg out. “Could you cover her eyes?”
Yvonne's gaze darted to his. “Seriously?”
“Yep. It's instinctual for them to squirm when they see the shot. Needles are scary, even to dogs.”
“Okay,” she said, resting her palm over the Chihuahua's eyes. She'd been to more puppy mills than she cared to count. She'd helped with hundreds of antibiotic injections and never once had she been asked to cover a dog's eyes. Though every part of her doubted the legitimacy of this, the dog didn't flinch or pull away until the needle was already in.
“There we go.” Steve dropped the empty syringe into a bag marked Used. “Could you tell them to be really careful when bathing her, or any of the other dogs who are infected. Don't put her in the pool with the other dirty water. Use fresh water from a hose and a very gentle soap.”
“I'll tell them.” Yvonne stared in awe at Steve. He was truly incredible.
On paper, everything that Steve did to help these animals was the same as any other vet... and yet, it wasn't. She'd seen veterinarians working at puppy mills, helping dog after dog get treated. She'd watched as infected dogs and cats got injections. But no veterinarian in her experience was ever so tender. She'd never in all her years seen a vet be concerned about the dog's reaction to seeing a needle.
“You're amazing.” The admission slipped from her lips faster than she'd had time to stop it. If she wasn't wearing disgusting work gloves, she would have dropped her face into her hands right then and there. “I mean—well...” With a sigh, she smiled in spite of herself. “I mean you're amazing. Seriously. You're saving them in a way that I could never do single-handedly.”
He stroked his thumb between the Chihuahua's eyes. “With great power comes great responsibility.” His grin widened at Yvonne.
