Chapter 19- Test Results
It took some convincing, but in the end, Janice agreed to help Cooper fail the test. “We’ll need a good-sized dog,” Lydia said on their way to the first-floor laboratory kennels. Janice stroked Petey, who kept trying to climb out of her arms. Cooper patted him with his flipper and Aidan kept watch for any of the Cave personnel. “Pretty strong, too.”
“I have one in mind,” Janice said. They entered the kennel room, where two rows of cages, one stacked on the other, lined either side, with dogs on the right, cats on the left. At the end were chew toys, scratching posts, and blankets. The cages were pretty large. Not all were occupied, but the ones that were had been lined with newspapers and provided with fresh food and water bowls for all the animals. Dog and cat fur, waste, and scents permeated the entire space.
Janice set Petey in his cage, and he yapped with the other dogs and ran around in circles. Cats and kittens mewed and pawed their doors, stretching their claws. They were so fluffy and the dogs so eager and pitiful for games that Lydia fought the urge to unlock their cages and play with them all, tumbling and rolling in a mass of soft, warm fur, slobbering kisses, and cuteness.
“How about this one?” Cooper said, pointing at an old bulldog. The dog lifted its head and waddled to the bars. “He looks pretty tough.” Cooper swallowed his upper lip and jutted his bottom teeth, imitating it. The dog grew bored fast and flopped down with its back turned.
“Good thing Wren isn’t here,” Aidan said. “Wouldn’t be able to hear anything over the shrill screams.”
“She hasn’t been that bad when I’ve brought one to my room,” Janice said. Although Lydia knew there was a “She only wakes me a few times each night with uncontrollable squeals” in there. They stopped at one cage, where a muzzled Doberman rested its head on its paws. “Ozzy. Hey, boy.” Janice kneeled down and reached in. He snarled at her, lurching at the door and chomping at her long ears. Janice pulled her ears behind her head and let him sniff her hand. After identifying her, Ozzy settled down and let only Janice scratch behind his ears.
“Uh, why the muzzle?” Aidan asked.
“He’s a bit of a biter,” Janice said. “And there’ve been some problems.”
“What kind of problems?” Aidan backed away while Lydia kneeled beside her.
“He’s not dangerous,” she said. “He just gets into trouble and is wild sometimes. Aren’t you, boy?” When Lydia tried to pet him, Janice swiftly pushed her hand aside. Ozzy growled, a menacing rumble in his throat. “I wouldn’t.”
“All right, but how do we sneak him out of here and to the pool?” Lydia asked.
“You won’t have to. They’re putting him to sleep tomorrow.” She frowned and shook her head. “It’s not fair. He didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” Ozzy looked back at her and his eyes seemed sad, too.
Lydia rubbed her shoulder. “Sorry.”
Janice sniffed. “They’ll take him to the second floor to do it. I’m going with him to be there for him. I can tell him what to do.”
“That’s perfect.” She turned to Ozzy and said, “You’ll be doing a good thing.” He disregarded her and Lydia asked Janice, “Will he do what you say?”
“I think so.” Worry coiled in Lydia’s stomach. They didn’t need a rabid dog on the loose. “I mean, I’m pretty sure he will. He doesn’t like the staff too much, so all the better for him. Anything to mess with them, he’ll do. Isn’t that right, boy?” He replied with a bark. “He says ‘Yes.’”
“All the same, we should practice,” Lydia said. She called Cooper over as Janice opened the cage. When Lydia tried to hook a leash to his collar, he barked and snapped at her through the muzzle. She passed Janice the leash and let her attach it. “If anyone asks, you’re just spending some time with him before he…you know,” Lydia said.
“Right.”
“Let’s go, guys.” Lydia turned around, expecting Aidan to follow. To her surprise, she found him in front of a cage with a chocolate-colored kitten, raising up on its rear paws and spreading its arms wide against the cage door. Aidan grinned and wiggled his finger into its furry chest. When he stood and saw everyone looking at him, he quickly about-faced.
“Right, let’s go.”
He held open the door for them. Cooper and Janice puffed their cheeks and stifled their laughter. As she passed, Lydia said, “You know, Aidan, if you want to adopt one, I’m sure Janice—”
“Shut up. Move. Practice. Now.”
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