He curled up in the corner of the wire kennel, trying to avoid his wet, smelly littermates. Mother had fed him well, now it was time for a nap. If his brothers and sisters would leave him alone long enough, of course.
Two voices came from the other side of the room, along with the sharp smell of disinfectant.
"Do you ever think about doing something else, Curt? I mean just look at them? We can only let them out a few times a day, and not for that long. That's no way to live."
"Then what would we do? Don't be stupid Stan, we have to pay bills and eat. And they're just dogs. It's not like they know there's more, or are like people."
Stan scuffed his foot on the bleached cement floor. "I don't know... I've heard some stories where dogs risked their own lives to save others. Sometimes when I look in their eyes, I think they know what I'm thinking. Maybe that they can even see into my soul."
Curt began scrubbing a kennel floor as if he were trying to make it shine. "Don't be ridiculous, there's a simple explanation. Dogs are pack animals, so they're wired to take care of others, and be good at being friendly."
Stan nodded. "Sort of like people?"
"Not like people, but even if you were right, we take good care of them. We spend almost all day making sure they're clean, and get time in the yard. We have to, or we'd never be able to sell the puppies."
"Yeah... I do my best to make sure they're happy, and I know you do too. I'd sure miss them if we did shut down," Stan admitted.
Curt grunted. "Then let's stop talking about it, and get Belle and her puppies back in here. We'll need the yard for the Border Collies when our next customer comes. And they need a bath!"
Just as he was falling asleep, he heard the door open. Mother stood, wagging her tail. He yawned widely, idly wondering why they were being taken back out again so soon. And on a full stomach too...
Of course his littermates, now spotless and smelling of shampoo, were ecstatic, and raced around on the clean but well worn lawn. He found a patch of sun, and closed his eyes contentedly.
He awoke to four strangers entering the yard. There were two big ones, and two little ones.
He was curious, especially about the little ones. But he was also more cautious and reserved than his littermates, and hung back to see how they would be received.
One of them, a boy, immediately began rolling around on the grass, giggling as the puppies licked his face.
The other, a girl, withdrew quietly to a corner of the yard. She was smiling, but didn't try to approach.
The two big ones went inside, where Mother and the other dogs were barking wildly.
A woman's voice carried from the room with the kennels. "We don't want anything that's going to be too rough. Sarah is very sensitive, and she's never been around dogs for more than a few minutes at a time. I'm not sure, but I think she might even be a little afraid of them. She says she isn't, though."
Forgetting the voices, he decided to check out the girl, while his littermates were busy with the boy. He walked up to her boldly, tail wagging, and stopped a few steps away.
When she patted the grass in front of her, he happily accepted. Before he knew it, he was snuggled onto her lap. Remembering that he hadn't finished his nap, he closed his eyes as she gently stroked him.
When he opened his eyes again, the two big strangers were there, as well as Curt. All three towered over him and the girl.
She hugged him tightly, as if afraid he might try to get away. "I want this one, Mommy. Please?"
The boy came running over, carrying the biggest puppy. "I want this one! He's the best," he insisted as he displayed a black and white bundle of fur. The puppy was wriggling, licking, and whining.
The girl turned her face away from the scene. "Eww."
"We'll take that one," one of the tall strangers said, pointing towards him and the girl.
The boy crowded in, pushing his choice into the other tall stranger's arms. "Please, daddy? He's perfect."
The puppy wriggled even harder, and the man gently set him on the grass. He instantly streaked away to join his littermates in a game of tag.
The man smiled. "I think he's having too much fun here. Let's take this little guy instead, he looks like he needs a friend. Do you think you could be his best friend?"
The boy frowned, but he walked over, and sat next to his sister.
As the adults held their breaths, the girl handed him the little puppy. He licked the boy's nose, and he laughed.
He set him on the grass, and stood. The puppy turned around in circles, then rolled over onto his back. "He is pretty cool!" the boy admitted.
After the family left, Curt watched the remaining puppies frolic. "Maybe we could do more for them... Extra time in the yard, and even some walks. I might put an expansion on the room, and give them each a real area too..."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery