Cami’s chin quivers. “I still want to go.”
It’s a twenty-minute drive to Oakleigh, and the pound is closing in half an hour. Cami rushes to the entrance, slowing to a sedate walk as she approaches the dog runs.
Danika follows, but Cami has been up and down the lines before she catches up.
“He’s not here.” Cami’s lower lip wobbles. “I hoped he would be.”
A volunteer approaches. “Were you looking for any dog in particular?” she says to Danika.
“Hugo.” Cami stares up at the volunteer. “He’s golden-brown, medium size, and he was so sad when we came last time.”
“Hugo’s a darling,” the volunteer says. “He’s still sad, but we think he just needs someone to love him, and he’ll be the bestest doggo you could have.”
“Is he still here?” Cami asks.
“He’s in one of the outside runs.”
Cami grips Danika’s hand. “Mummy, can we have Hugo? He wants to be my dog, I know he does.” Cami’s eyes fill with tears.
Oh no.Cami is not a crier, not unless it’s something important. Danika drops to her knees and hugs her.
The volunteer’s name tag reads Tess. “Would you like to meet Hugo in the run so you can interact with him more?”
“Can we, Mummy?” Cami’s tears are gone, her face so hopeful.
What can she do? Nothing. Cami wants Hugo, and if he’s as good as Tess says, then maybe he is the dog for them. “Let’s go meet him.”
Tess leads them to an outdoor run where another volunteer is asking Hugo to sit, stay, and then come for a treat. He still looks sad, but his tail wags slowly from side to side as he accepts the treat.
With a small sigh, Hugo sits on the volunteer’s feet and leans into her.
Cami’s grip is so tight Danika isn’t sure her fingers will be there when Cami lets go.
“Helen, this family is interested in Hugo. They’d like to meet him properly.” Tess smiles at Cami.
Danika and Cami enter the run. Danika stands by the gate, curious to see how Hugo behaves.
Cami sits on the ground, and Hugo stands for a moment before he comes closer until he’s standing with his forepaws in her lap. Slowly, Cami pets him, starting on his shoulders and then his ears, all the while whispering to him.
For a minute, Hugo is stiff, then with a human-sounding sigh, he sinks down next to her and puts his head in her lap.
Helen stares. “Does your daughter know this dog already?”
“We came once before, and she talked to him through the bars of his run,” Danika says. “Apart from that, no.”
Hugo rolls on his back, letting Cami rub his tummy.
“Maybe she reminds him of someone he loved. We think he had a good home once. Maybe he got scared in a storm and ran off, or maybe he was deliberately abandoned for some reason.” Helen shrugs. “It happens. A new baby, a landlord who won’t allow pets. Money worries. Our best guess is he’s a labrador/ staffy cross. More lab than staffy, I think, going by his nature.”
Danika goes across and sits on the ground next to Cami. She remains still, letting Hugo look, and sniff, before she attempts to pat him.
His tail wags.
“Can we have him, Mummy?” Cami asks? “Please?”
It’s tempting to say yes, but there’s something else to consider. “Hugo’s nine years old, Cami?—”
“The same as I’ll be.” Cami nods confidently.
