Furbidden Fatality

by Deborah Blake

  “That’s not helpful,” Kari said, smiling despite herself. Queenie looked typically unimpressed. She’d insisted—loudly—on going with Kari when she went in to the shelter, either perching on Kari’s shoulder and surveying their domain or sprawling on the table, usually on top of a piece of paper Kari needed.

  Bigger desk, Organizers with drawers, and Cat bed all got added to the Do Yesterday column. As did, after a few moments’ thought, Buy more pens. The little black kitten not only tossed them on the floor on a regular basis, she seemed to enjoy hiding them in obscure places.

  “We’re all done,” Bryn said, coming to stand in front of the table. She spun around and looked at the room with a broad smile. “The place is looking better already. I can’t wait until we get the new flooring in. And then we get the new cages, and better lighting. It’s so cool.” Once she’d figured out that Kari was serious about the place, Bryn had accepted her with slightly better grace, although the younger woman had made it clear she still had her doubts.

  Kari was pretty excited too. She’d been able to order fancier stacking cat kennels with separate spaces for litter and hiding, and attractive wood-look fronts. They were more comfortable for the cats and still easy to clean. They even came with wheels, so they could be moved around if necessary. Of course, she hadn’t gotten around to buying new furniture for the house, but at least the cats would be happy. And right now the sanctuary’s needs seemed more urgent than her own.

  She’d figured that since this room was essentially the heart of the sanctuary, and the space the public would see first, it was the main priority to tackle. Well, that and the outside, but she had professional painters coming to do that next week—it was too big a job for the volunteers. The roof turned out to be reasonably sound, thank goodness, but the fenced area . . . that was on the top of her list, circled in red, and starred.

  Speaking of which. “How is Buster doing this morning?” she asked Bryn. Bryn had a soft spot for the pit bull who’d supposedly bitten someone and tried to make sure she was the one who walked him a couple of times a day. Daisy had patched the hole in the fence he’d gotten out through, after he broke the entirely inadequate lock on the door that led from the back of his kennel to the yard where the dogs had been allowed out for exercise and fresh air. Each dog kennel let out onto a narrow run, and from there through another gate to the larger yard they all shared. Apparently Buster had simply muscled his way through the door, and the gate, and then out through a hole in the fence in the yard at some point one night. They hadn’t realized he was missing until Bryn had gone to feed him in the morning.

  By then he’d already been caught by the dog warden, who had shown up first thing to announce that he’d gotten a complaint that Buster had attacked a man walking a Pekingese, handed them a series of tickets, and told them to expect a summons to court.

  For now, they weren’t allowing any of the dogs out unsupervised. Luckily, there were only eight still in residence, so Daisy, Sara, and Bryn had taken turns walking them outside, and they’d been able to move Buster to a different kennel with an intact lock. But now that she had taken over, Kari knew that before they could consider taking in more dogs, they would need stronger locks, better runs, and an entirely new fence. She’d already ordered all the supplies, but she was waiting for a contractor to have time to do the work. Hopefully she’d soon be able to cross that one off her list too.

  With pleasure, she drew a line through the item that said Repaint front room. One thing down, only ten thousand to go . . .

  “Buster is great,” Bryn said, but she didn’t sound happy. They were all worried about the results of the upcoming court case. Town court was held on Thursday night, and today was Tuesday. Each day Kari could see Daisy and Bryn get more and more tense. Sara was a little harder to read, but she’d actually snapped at one of the workers earlier for dripping paint on the floor, so Kari suspected she was anxious too.

  “Let’s go see him,” Kari said, getting up from her chair. There was only so much time you could spend staring at paperwork without going insane, and she was making an effort to get to know the animals at the shelter better. Daisy was leaving soon and there would be times when no other volunteers were available. Kari needed to be able to handle things herself.

  She felt pretty confident with the dozen cats in the feline room, most of whom hadn’t been accepted into other shelters because of illness or other disabilities. Tripod, a three-legged yellow male, was something of a mascot around the place, wandering around freely when there wasn’t painting going on. Fortunately, he and Queenie seemed content to ignore each other’s presence in that special way that cats had. As usual, Queenie jumped up on Kari’s shoulder to supervise the visit. She was completely unimpressed by the dogs, although fortunately most of the ones currently at the shelter got along with cats just fine.

  As usual, their entrance into the canine area was greeted with a cacophony of barking, woofing, and the occasional howl, made worse by the way the sound echoed off the whitewashed cement walls. Kari had looked into soundproofing and baffles for the area, and apparently such things were available. But those were in the Need column, and it would be a while before they could get to them. In the meanwhile, she still found the noise level overwhelming, although the longtime volunteers didn’t seem to notice it at all.

  Buster’s cage was toward the end of the row, past two other pit bull mixes and a black-and-brown Rottweiler. Kari had learned that “pit bulls” (who weren’t really one kind of animal, but were actually made up of a number of dogs from the so-called “bully breeds”) and certain other breeds made up a large percentage of the dogs that ended up in shelters, more because of people’s perceptions of them than because of the dogs themselves. Daisy had started an education program to change that, something Kari intended to continue once they reopened the sanctuary to the public. Sara had volunteered to be in charge, and Kari had handed it over to her without hesitation. If anyone could change people’s minds and attitudes, it was the retired teacher. She was a bit of a pit bull herself, in a politely stubborn, turquoise-streaked way.

  Buster greeted them with a gentle woof. Kari found it hard to believe that the dog had bitten anyone. He was such a big sweetie, he actually allowed Queenie to ride around on his back. (Although Kari had just about had a heart attack the first time the little black cat made the leap from her shoulder to his.)

  “Hey, buddy,” Kari said, kneeling down in front of the wire mesh door. “How’s the big boy?”

  He gave her the typical pittie grin, panting at them happily. She fed him a treat through the door and he licked her fingers. Gray and white, with a black nose and soft brown eyes, he was a solid dog with a huge head and ears that flopped over, lending him an almost comical air despite his size.

  “I can’t believe they’re trying to say he is a vicious dog,” Bryn said in a fierce tone. “Just look at him.” Buster raised one white paw and waved it at her, rubbing up against the bars of the cage so she could scratch under his jaw.

  “It will be interesting to see who this supposed bite victim turns out to be,” Daisy said, coming up behind them. Kari hadn’t even heard her enter over the sound of barking. Of course, they probably wouldn’t have heard a battalion of Scotsmen with bagpipes, all things considered.

  “Are you saying you think Myers made it up?” Kari asked, surprised. She hadn’t even considered the possibility. He was the dog warden, after all. He was supposed to enforce the law, keeping both people and dogs safe. “Why would he do that?”

  Daisy made a noise that sounded remarkably like a growl. “He’s really aggressive about pursuing dangerous-dog complaints. Way more so than the previous dog warden. A bunch of people have had their dogs taken away from them, and most of those dogs end up being euthanized. Humanely, so they say, but it’s hard to believe that there are so many animals that can’t be rehabbed safely.” She blinked rapidly. “I hate to think that having Bu
ster put to death will be the last act that happens during my time at the sanctuary. It would break my heart.”

  Kari gave Buster another treat, gazing into those trusting brown eyes. It would break her heart too. She’d just have to make sure it didn’t happen. Somehow.

  * * *

  * * *

  Thursday night came all too soon. Kari, Suz, Daisy, Sara, and Bryn all trooped in to sit near the front of the courtroom. Daisy would be the one representing Buster and the sanctuary; the rest of them were just there for moral support. Plus Kari needed to see how things worked, since the next time she’d be the one in charge. Although she really hoped there wouldn’t be a next time.

  It felt weird being in the small, slightly shabby room in the old town hall, which doubled as the courthouse. It was located near the end of Main Street, past the row of small shops and next to the town square that hosted a farmer’s market every weekend during the summer, along with the occasional craft fair.

  The town hall building was two stories in the standard brick style that could be seen all around Lakeview, while the courtroom itself, at the back of the first floor, had wood-paneled walls and no windows, which made it seem gloomy and a little depressing.

  In contrast, the last time Kari had been in a courtroom, she had been facing her angry soon-to-be ex in a brightly lit modern space with high ceilings and large windows that looked out onto a manicured lawn. On the whole, she rather preferred this.

  There were about thirty people scattered throughout the room, seated on the rows of uncomfortable wooden chairs. Most of them looked to be there to deal with their own legal issues, but Kari spotted a few who seemed to have come for the entertainment factor. Across the aisle, a couple of middle-aged women chatted over their knitting, and toward the back a group of elderly men in overalls sat together as if they’d been there every week for the last thirty years. For all she knew, they had.

  Eventually the judge worked her way through the speeding tickets, impaired-driving tickets, and a noise ordinance violation, and it was their turn. Kari thought the judge looked forbidding and stern, sitting up on her bench in her black robes, snowy white hair tucked into a neat bun, with wire-rimmed glasses perched on the edge of a pert nose. Judge Simmons had been brisk and matter-of-fact as she’d worked her way quickly and methodically through each case. But Kari felt a glimmer of hope when she saw the judge flinch ever so slightly as the court clerk read out Bill Myers’s name.

  “Back again, Mr. Myers?” the judge said. She flipped through the paperwork in front of her. “Another dangerous dog, I see. Your complaint says this one supposedly bit someone?”

  The dog warden stepped forward and Kari saw her inherited nemesis for the first time. He was in his midfifties, she thought, with the rigid posture and buzz cut of a former military man. She bet he was one of those guys who liked to brag that they could still fit into their uniforms. He might have been attractive if it weren’t for the deep grooves of dissatisfaction worn into his forehead and next to his mouth. He was of average height and weight but clearly possessed more than average belligerence to make up for it. Cold gray eyes stared back at the judge.

  “It did, Your Honor,” Myers said. “The dog is the responsibility of the former Serenity Sanctuary. Their negligence allowed him to escape from both his kennel and then the outside fence on the night noted in the complaint. Early the next morning, the dog, a male pit bull known as Buster, attacked an innocent bystander while he was walking his own dog. As you can see from the pictures I provided, the bite was quite serious and required numerous stitches. I’m told that the victim is considering a civil suit for damages, as well as pain and suffering.”

  Next to Kari, Daisy winced. But she stood up and said in a clear voice, “Your Honor, may I have permission to speak?”

  The judge nodded, motioning Daisy forward. The court clerk said, “Please state your name for the record,” and Daisy said, “Daisy Parker, former owner of Serenity Sanctuary.”

  The judge’s faded blue eyes opened wider at “former owner,” but she merely said, “Do you have something to add to Mr. Myers’s statement? I’m also going to need proof of a rabies vaccination, as you know.”

  Daisy walked over and handed some papers to the court clerk, a nondescript woman in her mid-to-late fifties with graying blond hair, who was seated at a desk to the side of the courtroom. “I brought copies of his rabies certificate and medical history, all up to date.” Kari could tell Daisy had been through the court process before. Something else to look forward to, now that it would all be Kari’s responsibility.

  “I was in charge at the time of the alleged incident,” Daisy said. “I’ve had Buster in my care for over eighteen months, and he has never exhibited any aggressive tendencies, either with my staff, with visitors, or with other animals. Bully breeds have a bad reputation, which is why they’re so hard to find homes for, but I assure you, Buster doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He did manage to get out on the date in question, but I don’t believe for a minute that he actually bit anyone.”

  “I’m telling you he did,” Myers said, thrusting out his square chin. “There are pictures.”

  Judge Simmons peered through her bifocals at the folder on the desk in front of her. “I see pictures of a bite wound. There is nothing to indicate that this particular dog was responsible. Where is your attack victim? He should be here to speak for himself. I also don’t see any medical records showing dates or where this bite wound was treated, just the photos of the injury. This could be from last year for all I know. Did you witness this attack yourself?”

  “No, I did not.” The dog warden’s face turned beet red. “Are you implying I am lying to you, Your Honor? I’m telling you, that dog is a menace. In fact that whole supposed sanctuary is a menace. They shouldn’t be allowed to have any animals, let alone potentially dangerous dogs. The place is falling down around their ears, which is how this particular animal managed to escape in the first place. You should issue a cease-and-desist order today.”

  There was a loud murmur from the people in the room and the judge banged her gavel for silence.

  “I am not accusing you of lying, Mr. Myers,” the judge said in a calm tone. “I am merely stating that I cannot rule on this case without actually speaking to the person who was supposedly bitten. A fact of which you are perfectly well aware. As for the state of the sanctuary—”

  Kari stood up, doing her best not to appear as nervous as she felt. She had dressed up for the occasion, putting on a black skirt and tailored white blouse she usually saved for job interviews. She’d pulled her hair back into a neat braid and even put on a little eyeliner, some blush, and a subdued rose-colored lipstick. This was her baby now, and she might as well make that clear, so she wanted to make the best possible first impression. “Excuse me, Your Honor.”

  Judge Simmons looked at Kari, seeming more curious than upset at being interrupted. “Yes, and you are?”

  Kari cleared her throat. “Kari Stuart, Your Honor. I am the new owner of the sanctuary. I just bought it from Daisy, and I’m already in the process of making significant improvements and upgrades, including new locks on the kennels and brand-new fencing. There shouldn’t be any more problems with escapes, and we plan to reopen as soon as the renovations are done.”

  There was another, louder murmur at this statement, especially from the older contingent in the back, but the judge let it die down on its own. “Did you, now? Well, that’s certainly good news for the county. I know all the local shelters are already operating at maximum capacity. I happen to be on the board of the one in the next town, which is out of my jurisdiction.”

  Kari cheered inwardly. An animal lover! Hopefully that meant the judge would at least give them a chance.

  “You did what?” Myers said, sputtering. He sent a venomous glare in Daisy’s direction, which she fielded without blinking.

  “I bought the sanctuary,�
�� Kari repeated. Loudly, as if he were hard of hearing. A few of the nearby spectators tittered. She turned back to the judge. “I admit, I hadn’t met Buster at the time of his escape, but I have spent time with him since and he’s a really nice dog. He lets my kitten sit on his back. I find it hard to believe that he would attack a person without provocation.”

  The judge held up her hand as Bill Myers started to sputter. “Clearly the dog is well behaved on his own territory. That doesn’t, unfortunately, mean that he is incapable of aggression when he is on unfamiliar turf.” She tapped a pen on the paperwork and then made a few notes. “I’m going to need copies of any work orders and materials purchased, as proof that you are actually making these improvements.”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” Kari said. She tried not to fidget, and put her hands together to keep them still.

  “Ms. Stuart, can you guarantee that the dog can be safely contained, with no possibility for another escape?” the judge asked.

  Kari nodded, hoping she wasn’t promising something she couldn’t deliver. “Yes, Your Honor. We’re keeping all the dogs inside right now and only allowing them out on leashes with supervision. And the new fencing should be installed within a week. I’m just waiting for a contractor to find time in his schedule.”

  Judge Simmons snorted. “Good luck with that. I’m still waiting for mine to finish patching my roof. All right, that sounds sufficient for the moment. Keep in mind that you will be held responsible for the actions of any animal under your care, and I take such things very seriously.”

  Kari swallowed hard. “Yes, ma’am. Your Honor.” Daisy gave her a grateful look.

  “Are you dismissing my case?” Myers asked, his lower jaw thrust out belligerently. He reminded Kari a little of a dog they had at the sanctuary. Myers had less of an overbite, but his eyes bulged out in much the same way.