Before entering the vet clinic, I called them to confirm they wanted me actually to bring the gals inside- that is, Penny, the Golden Retriever, and Lola, the German Shepherd. Each visit until now had been quick and painless in the back of the big rig. But now they are one year old, and things are a bit different- territorial, to say the least.
With Eva and Charlotte sitting in the backseat, unsure what to expect, I already envisioned what would happen when we all entered the vet clinic. But not even in my wildest imagination (and I have some) could I have predicted what happened when Penny and Lola visited the vet.
“Ma’am, These dogs have never left our property or entered a building before. They are leash trained, but are you sure you want me to bring them inside,” I questioned over the phone. “Oh, yes. No problem, we see dogs like this all the time. It won’t be an issue.” She kindly remarked. I just grinned and blinked my eyes in the front seat of the big rig. Knowing it was about to be anything but “no problem.” “Ok, then,” I replied. “See you in just a bit.”
In my defense, I did call.
Unloading everyone proved to be challenging. I had Penny’s leash in my hand. Standing close to the door, Eva had Lola’s leash in hand. Lola was watching the main road- on full alert. Eva holding Lola, already had me on pins and needles. Afraid she might bolt and take Eva with her; I took the leash. Now I was holding Penny, trying to climb under the truck, and Lola on guard while I attempted to remove Charlotte from her car seat. Holding Charlotte in my arms, Eva beside me trailing Lola, and Penny weaving in and out of my legs as we crossed the parking lot, made for instant entertainment for those pulling in.
As we entered the vet, Eva handed off Lola; deciding she was too much for her (not a problem). “Eva, hold the door, please, while we try to file in here.” It would not have been an issue if I had remembered the two-ton backpack I had on my back full of Charlotte’s needs, snacks, and water bottles. Had I just backed into the facility, the outcome would have been smoother.
Tangled between two dogs, I had Penny outside, refusing to enter, and Lola inside, ready to take names. Then there was Eva trying to get past Penny to be close to me, even though I struggled to keep it together. Charlotte dangling from my side- by now, I barked, “Eva, hold the door!” “Everyone, just stay calm!” We had the waiting room’s full attention as we clambered into the vet clinic.
Looking around at the waiting patients, I knew we would need to find a more private place, or Lola would make a chew toy out of the waiting dogs. So, off we went to a secluded spot.
The lady behind the counter was endeared to Eva and Charlotte and offered them M&M’s while they waited. Lola was not having it and began her standoff. No one would be coming near her family. Her hair looked like she had touched a light socket, and her bark was ferocious. I wanted to thank her for protecting me from the receptionist and the innocent people waiting patiently to see the vet with their dogs (wrote in sarcasm). Still, I didn’t have time because I had to reel in Penny as she bounced around in curiosity- simply happy to be here. Eva, now sitting happily eating her M&M’s, dangling her feet. And then there was Charlotte. Her outfit was saturated in drool, chocolate, and some sort of sticky substance that I never figured out.
About this time, a lady came waltzing in with her cat. She innocently thought she would sit next to us as if she didn’t see the nervous scene before her. I quickly informed her she did not want to do that. As politely as possible, I voiced, “Ma’am, I do not want to appear rude, but I am concerned my dog will eat your cat if you sit in this section.” She noticed Lola’s stance and agreed she would sit elsewhere.
The vet came to meet us shortly behind the lady with the cat. Although already aware we were there. Lola had been standing off the place and every animal in it. The vet decided to give Lola a chance to calm down, so they attempted to take Penny to the back first. Penny is happy and loving, but only around those that she knows. She is not sure about outsiders. Penny shocked us all when she proceeded to sit down and refused to move. No amount of pushing, pulling, or prodding forced her. It looked like the scene off of Homeward Bound where Chance, the young American Bulldog, says, “You’ll never take me alive!” Finally, through gasps, the vet said, “I am going to have to pick her up, I think.” I watched, trying not to snicker as he picked up Penny, weighing about sixty-five pounds, and carried her off to the back with her ears sunk to the floor.
Lola was next. By this point, she had settled beside me and was content so long as no one came close. Thankfully she let the vet approach slowly and lead her to the back without any issue. There is just something about an unagreeable German Shepherd that makes people a bit standoffish.
Once we were finished, and one of the staff returned my dogs, I asked the young man if he would help me load the dogs. I was trying to avoid the catastrophe that met us upon entrance. He was very kind.
Loading the dogs is a bit of a challenge because they are still training. The man loaded Penny without any issue, but he looked at me and said apprehensively, “I am just not comfortable picking up the German Shepherd.” I laughed and told him that was fine. If he would hold Charlotte, I could get her to load. To which he replied, “I am even more uncomfortable holding your baby, Ma’am.” At this point, I could no longer contain my laughter. I placed Eva and Charlotte close to the truck while I handled Lola.
We quickly worked together to close the back end of the SUV, and both of us breathed a sigh of relief when it clicked shut. I could see beads of sweat pooling around the young man’s temples as he asked me if there would be anything else. Replaying the last hour in a flash, I smiled and spoke, “No. No. I think that just about does it for us.” Still trying to catch his breath, he uttered, “Ok then. You have a nice day.”
In all fairness, I did call ahead.
“For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15
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