Too Big to Run

by Catherine Hapka

  To all dogs, big and small

  C.H.

  Clinic Clients

  “We’re here, we’re here!” Janey Simpson exclaimed breathlessly as she rushed into the Park View Critter Clinic. “It’s Lolli’s fault we’re late.”

  Her friend Lolli Simpson giggled and followed Janey into the vet clinic’s cozy waiting room. “She’s right, it’s my fault. I had to feed the goats and sheep before we came.”

  Lolli’s family lived on a small farm. They had two pet goats and a sheep. One of Lolli’s chores was to feed the animals on weekends.

  “That’s okay,” Zach Goldman said. “Mom’s not finished yet anyway.”

  “Yeah, she has one more patient to see,” Adam Santos said.

  Zach’s mother was a veterinarian who owned the Critter Clinic. She had agreed to drive Zach, Janey, Lolli, and Adam to the animal shelter after she finished with her morning clients.

  It was easy to guess who her last patient was, since there was only one animal in the waiting room—a cute little Chihuahua. He was wagging his tail while Adam petted him.

  “This is Pepper,” Zach told Janey and Lolli. The little dog barked when Zach said his name.

  “Aw, he’s adorable!” Janey perched on the edge of one of the waiting room chairs and rubbed Pepper’s head. He licked her hand with his tiny pink tongue and wagged his tail even harder.

  The Chihuahua’s owner smiled. She was a tall woman a little older than Janey’s mom. “Thanks,” she said. “He loves everyone. That’s why he makes such a good therapy dog.”

  “Therapy dog?” Janey echoed, a little confused. Pepper was smaller than most of her stuffed animals! How could he be a therapy dog? “Do you mean Pepper leads blind people around?”

  “No, that’s a service dog,” Adam said. “Therapy dogs are different. Mrs. Reed was just telling us all about it. She and Pepper visit hospitals and nursing homes every week. It makes people feel better when they can interact with a friendly animal.”

  Adam sounded interested in what he was telling the girls. That was no surprise, since Adam was interested in everything having to do with dogs. He ran a successful dog-sitting business even though he was only nine.

  “That makes sense,” Janey said. “Being with animals always makes me feel better.” She sighed. “Even if it doesn’t happen often enough.”

  “Janey is crazy about animals,” Lolli told Mrs. Reed. “But she can’t have any pets because her dad is allergic to anything with fur or feathers.”

  “Oh, dear.” Mrs. Reed looked sympathetic. “Well, at least you have the Pet Rescue Club, right?”

  Janey’s eyes widened. “You know about the Pet Rescue Club?” she exclaimed. “We’re famous!”

  Zach laughed. “Not exactly,” he said. “Adam and I were just telling her about it.”

  Janey, Lolli, Adam, and Zach had started the Pet Rescue Club to help animals in need in their town. So far they’d helped find great new homes for several animals, including a dog, a cat, and even a pony.

  Janey had been good friends with Lolli and Adam even before starting the Pet Rescue Club. At first she hadn’t been sure Zach would make a good member. She still thought he joked around too much. But he was a computer expert and helped run the group’s blog. Besides, he knew a lot about animals because of his mother’s job.

  “It sounds like you kids have done a lot of good for homeless animals so far,” Mrs. Reed said. “Let me know if Pepper and I can ever be of any help.”

  “Thanks,” Lolli said. “How did Pepper become a therapy dog, anyway? Did he have to take special classes? Because I bet my dog would love to visit people—he’s super friendly.”

  Janey gasped. “Oh, you’re right!” she exclaimed. “Roscoe would be a perfect therapy dog!”

  Zach laughed. “Yeah, except it might be a problem if he tries to sit in people’s laps like Pepper does.”

  “True. He’s a little bigger than Pepper.” Lolli grinned at Mrs. Reed. “He’s part Lab, part Rottweiler, and part who knows what.”

  “Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes,” Mrs. Reed replied with a smile. “The only important things are the right kind of temperament and some basic training.”

  “Really?” Zach looked surprised.

  The woman nodded, bending down to pat Pepper. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about getting a second dog myself, and I was thinking I might look for a larger one this time,” she said. “Pepper is perfect for snuggling with elderly folks. But children can be a little too rambunctious for such a small, delicate dog. A medium-sized critter might be better for visiting them.”

  “I know the perfect place for you to find a dog,” Janey exclaimed. “The Third Street Animal Shelter! They have all sizes!”

  The other members of the Pet Rescue Club nodded. They all volunteered at the shelter, which had helped them place their very first rescue animal.

  “Yes, I was thinking of looking there,” Mrs. Reed said.

  “We’re going there after Mom sees Pepper,” Zach told her excitedly. “You could come with us!”

  The woman chuckled. “Thanks, Zach. But Pepper and I are scheduled to visit a nursing home this afternoon.” She shrugged. “Actually, Pepper and I are pretty busy for the next few weeks. But maybe we’ll stop by the shelter next month. I’m sure we’ll be able to find our new therapy-dog friend there.”

  Janey frowned slightly. Next month? That seemed like forever away!

  “Are you sure you don’t have time to go to the shelter sooner?” she asked. “It’s open every day of the week. Even tomorrow—Sunday!”

  Lolli poked her. “Don’t be impatient, Janey,” she said gently. “Mrs. Reed will go when she’s ready.”

  Janey knew her friend was right. Lolli was always thoughtful and tried to see things from other people’s point of view.

  But Janey liked to look at things from animals’ points of view. “Okay,” she said. “The thing is, I just know there are plenty of medium-sized dogs in the shelter that would love a new home pronto!”

  “Pronto?” Zach said.

  “That’s Janey’s new word,” Lolli told him. “It means immediately.”

  “Oh.” Zach rolled his eyes, then looked at Mrs. Reed. “Janey likes to pick out weird new words and use them a lot.”

  “Pronto, eh?” Mrs. Reed winked at Janey. “Well, we’ll see. Maybe we can find a time to get over there sooner after all—I mean, pronto.”

  Janey smiled. “I hope so.”

  Just then the vet assistant poked his head out of one of the doors. “Mrs. Reed?” he said. “The doctor is almost finished with her last patient. Why don’t you and Pepper come into exam room two and get settled. She’ll be with you soon.”

  “Thanks, Russ.” The woman stood up and whistled. “Come on, Pepper. Time for your booster shots!”

  Pepper looked up, alert. Then he barked and trotted at his owner’s heel as she followed the tech into the room.

  Janey sighed as she watched them go. “I wish I had a Chihuahua like Pepper,” she said. “He’s so cute!”

  “You wish you could take home every dog you meet,” Lolli reminded her with a smile.

  “Yeah,” Zach said. “Wait until you see the dog in exam room one! You’ll definitely want him!”

  “Really?” Janey glanced at the closed door to exam room one. “What kind of dog is he?”

  Zach and Adam traded a grin. “You’ll see,” Adam said.

  Too Big to Run?

  Janey wanted to ask more questions. But before she could, the door to exam room one opened. Out walked the biggest dog Janey had ever seen! The dog had floppy ears, droopy jowls, and a sweet expression.

  “What in the world is that?” Janey cried loudly.

  Lolli giggled. “Is it a
dog, or a bear?”

  The dog’s owner walked out, too. He was a lean young man dressed in shorts and a sweatshirt. He smiled at the kids.

  “This is Maxi,” he said. “She’s big, but she’s friendly—it’s okay to pet her if you like.”

  “Maxi is a mastiff,” Adam told the others.

  “Oh, right,” Janey said. “I recognize her now from my books. I read that mastiffs are a giant breed—and now I see that it’s true!”

  Janey loved to read books about animals. She was interested in all kinds of dogs and cats. She’d seen pictures of mastiffs before. But she’d never seen one in person. Maxi looked even bigger than Janey expected.

  The dog drooled happily and wagged her tail as the kids walked toward her. But when she took a step, she limped a little.

  “What’s wrong?” Lolli asked. “Is she injured?”

  The young man sighed. “Yes, that’s why we’re here. She’s my jogging buddy, and we were on a run yesterday when she started limping. Dr. Goldman says poor Maxi blew out both her knees.”

  “Ouch.” Janey scratched the mastiff’s massive head. “That sounds painful.”

  Just then Zach’s mother bustled out from the back room. “Here you go, Matthew,” she said, handing the young man a bottle. “I found enough pills to last Maxi through the weekend. If you stop by on Monday afternoon, I’ll have the rest for you by then.”

  “Thanks, Dr. G,” Matthew said. “I hope these will make poor Maxi feel better.”

  “They’ll help.” Dr. Goldman patted the big dog. “But as I mentioned, I’m afraid the only thing that will really help her long-term is surgery.”

  Matthew winced. “I know, I know,” he said. “I just don’t know if I can afford it—at least not anytime soon.”

  “What do you mean?” Janey asked.

  “I just graduated from college,” Matthew said with a sigh. “I’m working two jobs to make ends meet as it is. I don’t know how I’m going to scrape together enough money for Maxi’s surgery!”

  “Well, we can try the meds for now and let her get plenty of rest,” Dr. Goldman said. “That should make her feel a little better.”

  “Thanks, doc.” Matthew stuck the pill bottle in the pocket of his shorts. Then he snapped a leash onto Maxi’s collar. “Come on, big girl,” he said. “We’d better head for home.”

  “Walking only, remember?” The vet said with a smile. “No jogging.”

  “Promise,” Matthew said. “See you on Monday, doc!”

  The kids gave Maxi a few more pats, and then she and her owner left. Dr. Goldman looked worried as she watched them go.

  “Why did you tell him not to jog home?” Janey asked the vet.

  “Because Matthew is a serious runner,” Dr. Goldman answered. “Unfortunately, mastiffs don’t make very good jogging companions. They’re too big and heavy to handle that much extra stress on their joints.”

  Janey was surprised. “Maxi is too big to run?” she said. “I thought all dogs loved running around.”

  “A gentle lope around the park is one thing,” Dr. Goldman said. “But miles every day on pavement is another matter.”

  Just then Russ stuck his head out into the waiting room. “Pepper is next, doctor,” he said.

  “Coming,” the vet replied. She glanced at the kids. “Pepper is my last patient of the morning. As soon as we’re finished, I can drive you over to the shelter.”

  “We’ll be here, Mom,” Zach said.

  “Thanks,” Lolli added.

  The vet smiled and disappeared into exam room two. Zach flopped into one of the waiting room chairs.

  “We should have a Pet Rescue Club meeting while we wait,” he suggested. “We haven’t met any needy pets since we found Lola the pony a new home.”

  “True,” Adam said. “Maybe we should post on the blog asking for our readers to suggest other animals that need help.”

  “Good idea,” Lolli agreed. “Janey, what do you think?”

  “Huh?” Janey hadn’t really been listening. She was still thinking about Maxi and her sore knees.

  Lolli poked her in the arm. “We said, should we post on the blog to find more animals to help?”

  “Haven’t you guys been paying attention?” Janey said. “We already know an animal who needs our help. Two of them, actually.”

  “We do?” Lolli’s big brown eyes got even bigger with surprise. “Who?”

  “I know,” Adam spoke up. “Mrs. Reed’s new dog, right?”

  “Yes, that’s one of the animals I was thinking of,” Janey said. “Maybe if we figure out which medium-sized dog at the shelter would make the best therapy dog, she’ll adopt it pronto.”

  Zach nodded. “Okay. Who’s the second animal?”

  “Maxi,” Janey replied. “Didn’t you hear what Matthew said? He can’t afford to pay for her surgery. Maybe we can help.”

  “How?” Zach scratched his head. “I just spent all of my allowance on some cool new stickers for my skateboard.”

  But Lolli was nodding. “I think I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “We could have a fundraiser!”

  “Raise money for Maxi’s surgery?” Adam nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good idea.”

  Janey grinned. “I know. So let’s start thinking!”

  Big Ideas

  Janey was still thinking about Maxi as the kids all piled into Dr. Goldman’s car a little while later. “You said surgery will fix Maxi’s knees, right?” she asked as the vet started the engine. “Then she’ll be as good as new?”

  “Well, she should be much more comfortable, yes,” the vet said. “But if Matthew keeps asking her to run with him, it won’t be long until she’s right back where she started.”

  “You mean she’ll probably hurt her knees again?” Adam sounded worried.

  Dr. Goldman shrugged. “As I said, mastiffs aren’t built for lots of running.”

  Janey traded a look with her friends. “We should still try to raise money for the surgery,” she said.

  “Definitely,” Lolli agreed. “Matthew will probably stop taking Maxi jogging if he understands it’s hurting her.”

  Dr. Goldman looked at the kids in the rearview mirror. “Raise money for surgery?” she said. “Is this a new Pet Rescue Club project?”

  “Yes,” Janey said. With her friends’ help, she told the vet about their idea.

  By the time they finished, Dr. Goldman was nodding. “I think that’s a super plan,” she said. “I’ll be happy to donate my time free of charge. So you’ll just need to raise enough to cover the cost of the surgical supplies and medications.”

  “Hooray!” Lolli cheered. “Thanks, Dr. Goldman!”

  The vet smiled. “You’re welcome. So what kind of fundraiser are you planning?”

  “We’re not sure yet,” Janey said. Pepper’s appointment hadn’t taken very long, so the kids hadn’t had much time to talk about ideas. “But I’m sure we can come up with something pronto.”

  “I hope you have an extra-large operating table, Mom,” Zach said with a laugh.

  “Yeah.” Lolli nodded. “I thought Roscoe was pretty big until I saw Maxi!”

  Adam grinned. “She’s almost as big as Lola the pony!”

  Dr. Goldman chuckled. “Believe it or not, Maxi isn’t the largest mastiff I’ve ever seen. The females are usually a little bit smaller than the males.”

  They arrived at the shelter. “Call me when you’re ready to leave,” said Dr. Goldman. “I’ll be at the clinic taking care of some paperwork, so I can pick you up whenever you like.”

  When the kids entered, there were several people in the lobby. Kitty, a worker at the shelter, was handing a piece of paper to an older couple. The husband was holding a crate. A cute dog with a pointy nose was peering out through the mesh door.

  “Oh, did Peanut get adopted?” Janey exclaimed, rushing over to peer in at the dog. “That’s great! He’s an awesome dog.”

  When Peanut, a dachshund mix with short legs and silky fur, ha
d first arrived at the shelter a couple of weeks earlier, he’d been pretty shy. So Janey spent time with him to help socialize him to new people and situations. He got comfortable and relaxed pretty quickly and then became very friendly and playful.

  “We know.” The wife smiled at all the kids. “He’s a sweetheart.”

  “Congratulations on the new addition to your family,” Kitty said. “Just call us if you have any questions or problems, okay?”

  “Thank you.” The husband leaned down to look at the dog. “Come on, Peanut. Let’s go home.”

  The couple hurried out. Kitty was still smiling.

  “I think Peanut is a perfect match for those two,” she said. “They both work from home, so he’ll get lots of attention.”

  “That’s great,” Adam said. “Peanut is a great dog, but he needed just the right home.”

  “Yeah.” Lolli giggled. “Peanut definitely wouldn’t want to live with Matthew, for instance. No way could he keep up with all that jogging on those short little legs!”

  “Matthew is a dog owner we just met at the vet clinic,” Zach told Kitty. “He’s a serious jogger, and he has this huge mastiff named Maxi who runs with him.”

  “Really?” Kitty looked surprised. “I didn’t think mastiffs made good running companions.”

  “That’s exactly what my mom said,” Zach told her. “She says all that running wrecked Maxi’s knees.”

  The other kids joined in to tell Kitty all about Maxi and Matthew and their idea to have a fundraiser for them.

  “Wow,” Kitty said when they finished. “What a great idea! Why don’t you guys brainstorm while you clean some kennels?”

  Adam laughed. “Is that your way of telling us to clean some kennels?”

  Kitty laughed, too. “Yes, it is. Now get to work, kids!”

  “Pronto!” Janey added, which made everyone laugh again.

  Soon the four members of the Pet Rescue Club were hard at work cleaning kennels in the shelter’s dog room. It wasn’t Janey’s favorite job at the shelter, but she didn’t mind it too much, because she knew it helped the animals that lived there.