My Encounters with Werewolves

A Trip to the Vet

I don't have many friends, and none who own large dogs. I have no idea which pet hospital in the city is good. Finally, I opened a local recommendation app, and amidst the dizzying array of options, I spotted a pet hospital with a 99% approval rating. It also sold a lot of everyday pet supplies. This hospital opened three years ago and is about twenty kilometers from my company's housing. Since pets aren’t allowed on buses or subways, a taxi ride there would cost dozens of yuan.

Wait, does this mean I can't take public transport with my dog in the future? Realizing this, I shifted my gaze from my phone to my dog's face.

The bus ride took an hour. None of my colleagues on the bus were chatting; they were all resting. My dog lay beside my leg, looked up at me, and in this quiet moment, my slight disappointment faded away.

My glasses slipped down my nose, and I pushed them back up, smiling with relief. If we can't take public transport, so be it. I considered buying a new energy vehicle last year, and now I have a reason to.

My dog placed its left paw on my leg, as if sensing my earlier unease. I rubbed its head and whispered, "Don't worry. We're going home first, and we'll get you checked out." With my assurance, its ears twitched, and it put its paw down.

I looked again at the information on my phone, uncertain if the hospital’s high ratings were genuine. Cautiously, I clicked through customer reviews, browsing from the oldest ones. After sifting through the information, I concluded that the Bear Pet Hospital is trustworthy, with a highly skilled doctor, reasonable prices, and cost-effective pet supplies.

Once the bus reached the city, I got off on a street close to Bear Pet Hospital. After saying goodbye to Li Mei and her friend, I looked at my dog, sticking to my side. Due to its large and imposing appearance and lack of a leash, some passersby who were afraid of dogs avoided it in alarm. It was a mistake to bring it here like this; after the check-up, I had to buy a sturdy leash.

Fortunately, the dog didn’t react to the crowds, seeming uninterested, which made me less vigilant. Using map navigation, I led my dog to Bear Pet Hospital, tucked away in an alley. The store sign was adorable—a big, upright black bear. The store was larger than I expected. Through the glass door, I saw several pet owners waiting inside, some browsing the pet supplies on the shelves. The people in white coats must be the medical staff.

Before I entered with my dog, a tall man in a white coat turned and looked our way. He wasn’t looking at me but at my dog beside me. He had deep brown eyes and an air of gentle handsomeness, with cleanly shaved sides and stylishly tousled hair in the middle.

He said something to the customers in front of him, then came over and opened the door for us. The warm indoor air rushed out along with his bright smile, and he asked, "Hello, what seems to be bothering your dog?"

I didn’t expect such hospitality, but maybe he came to attract business when he saw someone at the door. My dog, which had been sticking to me, lowered its tail and stared intently at the man, seemingly not liking him.

It bit the corner of my coat, ready to pull me away. Since we were already at the door, I couldn’t let it slip away. Plenty of pets dislike check-ups, shots, medicine, and baths. It might be resisting because it hasn't experienced these human services yet.

Thinking this, I stood firm, but the dog easily tugged me forward by my down jacket. As I stumbled along, I realized I couldn’t let the dog take control. My expressionless face turned colder, and I spoke firmly, "Sit."

The dog seemed stunned, still holding onto my coat with its golden eyes looking up at me. These eyes didn’t quite resemble a dog’s—they weren’t as endearing—but expressions can change. I had issued a command and wouldn’t move. While the dog could knock me over with its strength, it chose to comply.

Releasing its grip, it sat back, ears perked, showing obedience. However, when the doctor approached, its expression became less friendly. I blocked the dog's view and said, "Hello, I want to give it a full check-up, internal and external deworming, and vaccinations. Since it’s a stray I picked up, what else should I prepare? It also has some superficial injuries that need attention."

Asking this might get me charged a hefty fee, but since I’m the one paying, I can consider it knowledge accumulation. I don’t necessarily have to buy everything here. The male doctor smiled humbly, saying he was merely a nurse compared to the real doctor.

The real doctor at Bear Pet Hospital was the woman inside, who was his wife and the owner of the hospital. So, it’s a family business. I had a good impression of him. Indeed, good men marry early. Thinking this, I followed his introduction and brought the dog inside.

The doctor, surnamed Lu, was very enthusiastic. She had a delicate face, almond-shaped eyes, and a gentle demeanor, with excellent skills. When I handed the dog over, I specifically instructed it not to dodge or attack.

Listening to me, the dog cooperated without any aggressive behavior, not even barking. The nurse, surnamed Meng, recommended some affordable and effective pet supplies. After calculating the prices, I found them very reasonable, matching online store prices.

Increasingly impressed with the store, I immediately ordered dog food, a muzzle, a leash, grooming supplies, and chew toys. After gathering all the miscellaneous items, I spent nearly a thousand yuan, ending up with two big bags.

We left the pet hospital at three o’clock, and Dr. Meng kindly saw us off. He smiled and said, "There’s a pet bathing shop opposite us. Once its wounds heal, you can take it there for a wash. The prices are reasonable, too."

"Okay, thank you, Dr. Meng."

"Oh, right, here’s my wife’s business card. If you have any issues, feel free to call us. Remember, no matter what you encounter, if you can’t handle it."

His advice was sincere, as if he genuinely worried I might not manage. I noticed he didn’t give out business cards to other customers, so if it weren’t his wife’s card, I might have thought he was interested in me.

After taking the card, I took a photo of it for backup and then said goodbye. Holding two heavy bags, I struggled to walk, with my dog sticking to my side. At this moment, I wished it were a horse.

Perhaps sensing my difficulty, the dog took a step forward and stopped. “Don’t block the way.” I wondered what it was doing when it took one of the bags from me.

Good boy, helping me carry things.