“Why don’t we visit the kennels?” Paris suggested.
Richard sent Paris a grateful glance.
“Dad doesn’t want me to have a dog.”
“You don’t have to adopt one,” Paris said gently. “It would be nice to say hello to them. They might not get as many visitors as the kittens and cats.”
Jack looked up at Richard.
He held out his hand. “I’m happy to visit the dogs if you are?”
Jack’s small hand settled in Richard’s. “I don’t know how many dogs are in the shelter.”
“It will be fun finding out.”
“I suppose so.”
Paris opened the door. “I saw some pictures of the dogs on Facebook the other day. There’s a sweet Chihuahua called Charlie. We could ask if you could hold him.”
“Do you think that would be okay?”
Richard shrugged. “I can’t see why not.” Before Jack decided he’d sooner go back to the kittens, they followed the signs to the kennels. It didn’t take long for them to find Charlie.
Jack kneeled in front of his pen. “He’s so small.”
Charlie’s tail wagged energetically.
“I think he likes you,” Paris whispered.
Within a few minutes, Jack was holding Charlie and asking a staff member all sorts of questions about dogs. When they were invited on a tour of the kennels, Jack said yes straightaway.
Richard wasn’t worried about visiting the kennels. The puppies were in another area, so that reduced the chance of Jack falling in love with one. As they moved from pen to pen, the staff member told them how they look after the dogs, how they train them, and what they do to find their forever homes.
While Jack and Paris patted a Cocker Spaniel, Richard walked farther down the aisle. Although the dogs seemed happy, it wasn’t the same as living with a family who cared about you.
When he reached the last pen, he looked at a dog with the saddest eyes he’d ever seen. With his shaggy, brown coat and pointy ears, he could have been a cross between three or four different breeds.
“That’s Louie,” another staff member said. “He’s been with us for six months.”
“That’s a long time to keep a rescue dog.”
“It is, but Louie’s special. He was brought to the shelter after someone ran over him with their truck. The poor guy’s had so many surgeries that it’s hard to remember a time when he wasn’t on pain medication.”
“Has anyone wanted to give him a home?”
“Not yet. He’s a high-needs dog. The chance of finding anyone to look after him isn’t great. It’s a real shame because he’s a super sweet dog.”
Richard held out his hand. Louie sniffed but didn’t come closer.
“He’s wary of strangers. He must have had a hard life before he came here.”
Jack hurried down the aisle. “I found a dog that looks like Mr. Snuggles. Come and see him.”
Richard took a last look at Louie before turning to Jack. He hoped someone gave him a good home before it was too late.
Jack started to say something, then stopped. As he stared at the pen, his smile disappeared and tears filled his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Richard turned around to look at what had upset him.
