Take a Chance on Me Read Free Page A

at the form. "I've heard some Crested owners find it helpful to secure a maxi pad over the dog's penis while working on house-training. I'm told it cuts down on cleaning projects."
    When Mr. Tobin made no comment, she raised her eyes to him. His face had gone white. His eyes were huge.
    "Do what?" he whispered.
    Emma tried not to laugh. "Tying a sweat sock around the hips with the pad slipped inside seems to do the trick. Be sure to get a brand with adhesive backing so it stays in place."
    He continued to stare.
    Emma reviewed the rest of the list. "He shakes and howls whenever you run the hair dryer, the vacuum, or the coffee grinder?"
    Thomas nodded, his gaze moving absently out the window to the parking lot.
    "And he keeps you awake at night with pacing and whining. He chewed the molding around your front door, clawed holes in a wall and a carpet. Your neighbors left you notes that he cries and barks all day when you're gone. Anything else?"
    Thomas shoved his hands deep in his trouser pockets. "Isn't that enough?"
    Emma hugged the chart to her chest and smiled at him, then glanced down at the frightened dog. Clearly, the first order of business was to convince Hairy that he was safe with Thomas—and that was going to be a tough sell.

    She'd already observed that the man hadn't managed to form any kind of bond with the animal in ten days. He hardly looked at the dog. The dog shied away from the man. And every time Thomas's voice contained the least bit of agitation or disapproval, Hairy's trembling escalated.
    On the bright side, Thomas seemed to have an open mind about all this, which was more than she could say about some of the owners she encountered. Many people waltzed in here with their minds already made up about how to keep their pets in line, already well on their way to a tragedy.
    At least Thomas Tobin was listening.
    His eyes remained locked on hers, and she thought she noticed the briefest flash of something deeply human in his expression. Then he looked away.
    Had it been loneliness? Longing? Whatever it was, it looked so out of place on that he-man face that she'd probably just imagined it.
    "Has Hairy exhibited these behaviors in the past, Mr. Tobin?"
    "I have no earthly idea."
    She nodded. "Okay. First and foremost, the dog is having trouble adjusting to his new home. I believe Hairy is experiencing severe separation anxiety and panic attacks."
    Thomas pictured the scene again. He'd found Scott Slick on his kitchen floor, dead for days, the ugly dog keeping guard at his owner's side, shaking, hungry, and scared. It was the most pitiful thing he'd ever seen.
    Yeah, separation anxiety and panic attacks sounded right on the mark.
    "Dogs always do things for a reason," Emma continued. "In Hairy's mind, these behaviors make perfect sense—they accomplish something for him. Will his former owner be taking him back anytime soon?"
    "I sure doubt it."
    Emma offered him a reassuring smile. "I realize Hairy is a challenge right now, but with relaxation exercises, a consistent house-training regimen, medicine, and a little time, I think everything's going to be fine."
    Thomas looked down on the shivering dog and winced. What had he done? Why had he taken this damn dog home with him? How long would he be stuck with him? Would the dog really have to wear a Kotex?
    He started to feel queasy.
    "Do you have any questions at this point?"
    "No."
    "Are you all right?"
    "Perfect, thanks."
    Emma spent the next forty minutes demonstrating the relaxation exercises and working with Thomas and Hairy until they got it right. She was pleasantly surprised to see that Thomas caught on rather quickly.
    After making sure the urine test results were normal, she walked Thomas and Hairy to checkout, where she gave them their discharge instructions, shopping list, follow-up schedule, and prescriptions.

    Then she slipped into the back hallway, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes tight.
    She felt like she'd been hit by a