I didn't have many friends, let alone any who owned large dogs, so I had no idea which pet hospital in the city was good.
Eventually, I opened a local recommendation app. Among the overwhelming options, I found a pet hospital with a 99% positive rating. It also sold various pet supplies.
This shop had been in business for three years and was about 20 kilometers away from my company housing. Since pets weren't allowed on buses or subways, taking a cab there would cost me dozens of yuan.
Wait a minute—does this mean I won't be able to use public transportation with the dog in the future?
Realizing this belatedly, I shifted my gaze from the phone screen to the dog's face.
The bus had been driving for an hour. My colleagues on board weren't chatting but resting quietly.
The dog leaned against my leg, looking up at me. In this silence, my brief disappointment melted away.
I pushed up my slipping glasses and smiled to myself, feeling more at ease.
If public transport wasn't an option, so be it. I had been considering buying a new energy vehicle last year anyway. Now I had a perfect reason.
The dog placed its left paw on my leg, as if sensing my earlier unease. I rubbed its head and whispered, "Good boy, I'll take you home. Let's get you checked out first."
Hearing my reassurance, its ears twitched, and it withdrew its paw.
I turned back to the information on my phone, unsure if the positive reviews for the pet hospital were genuine.
Cautiously, I opened the customer feedback section and read through the oldest comments first. After combing through a pile of information, I came to a conclusion.
This "Bear Pet Hospital" seemed trustworthy. The female doctor was highly skilled, the prices were fair, and the pet supplies were of good quality.
Once the bus entered the city, I got off at the street closest to Bear Pet Hospital. After saying goodbye to Liu Mei and Ouyang Jing, I looked down at the dog sticking to my side.
Its large and striking appearance, combined with the lack of a leash, made some nervous pedestrians quickly veer away upon spotting it.
I had miscalculated. In a crowded area, I shouldn't have brought it along without a leash. I'd have to buy a sturdy one after the check-up.
Fortunately, the dog didn't react to the passersby at all. It seemed indifferent, even disinterested. Its reliability lulled me into a sense of security.
Using the map, I led the dog to the Bear Pet Hospital, located in a small alley.
The store sign was adorable, featuring a standing black bear. The shopfront was larger than I had expected. Through the glass doors, I could see several pet owners sitting and waiting, while others browsed the pet supplies on the shelves.
The people in white coats were likely the medical staff. Before I could bring the dog inside, a tall man in a white coat turned his head toward me.
He wasn't looking at me; he was looking at the dog by my leg.
The man, with deep brown eyes, had a gentle and refined demeanor. His neatly trimmed sideburns and fashionably tousled hair made him quite striking.
He said something to the client in front of him, then walked over to the door and opened it for me.
The warm air from inside, accompanied by his clear smile, greeted me as he said, "Hello. Is your dog feeling unwell?"
I hadn't expected to be greeted, but perhaps he came out because he noticed someone at the entrance—a way to attract business.
The dog, which had been sticking close to me, lowered its tail and fixed a cold, intense stare on the man. It seemed to dislike him.
It grabbed the hem of my coat and tugged, as if trying to pull me away. We were already at the entrance—there was no way I was letting it escape.
Plenty of pets hated check-ups, injections, medicine, or baths. Maybe it was simply unfamiliar with human services and was feeling resistant.
Thinking this, I stood firm, refusing to budge. The dog, however, easily managed to tug me forward by the hem of my coat.
In this push-and-pull moment, I realized I couldn't let the dog take control. My expression, already neutral, turned colder, and I said firmly, my voice unwavering.
"Sit."
"..."
The dog seemed stunned. It was still holding onto the hem of my coat, its golden eyes gazing up at me.
These eyes didn't quite resemble a dog's; they weren't as endearing as a dog's would be, but the gaze could change.
I had given my command, and I didn't move another step. Although the dog could have easily knocked me down with sheer force, it didn't. Instead, it chose to obey.
Releasing my coat, the dog sat down, its ears perked up in a submissive stance. However, when the doctor approached, its eyes became unfriendly again.
I stepped in front of the dog and said, "Hello, I'd like to have a full check-up for it, along with internal and external deworming and vaccinations. Since it's a stray, is there anything else I should prepare? It also has some skin wounds, so please take a look at those too."
Asking this might get me charged a hefty fee, but I'd be the one paying anyway. Listening and learning wouldn't hurt, and I didn't necessarily have to buy everything here.
The male doctor smiled humbly and explained that he considered himself more of a nurse than a real doctor.
The actual doctor at Bear Pet Hospital was a woman working inside, who was also his wife and the owner of the hospital.
So, it was a family-run business.
I had a good impression of this man. It seemed that good men tend to marry early, I thought to myself. Following his lead, I brought the dog inside.
The female doctor, whose last name was Lü, was very warm and welcoming. She had a delicate, oval face and almond-shaped eyes. She was beautiful and skilled at her job.
As I handed the dog over to her, I made sure to remind it not to shy away or act aggressively.
The dog seemed to understand, cooperating fully. It didn't display any extreme behavior, not even a growl.
The male nurse, named Meng, recommended some affordable and practical pet supplies. When I checked the prices, they seemed very reasonable, and they matched the online store prices.
My impression of the store kept getting better, so I immediately placed an order for dog food, a muzzle, a leash, grooming products, and chew toys...
By the time I was done, I had spent nearly a thousand yuan and was carrying two large bags of items.
At three o'clock, I left the pet hospital. Dr. Meng was especially polite and saw us out.
He smiled and said, "There's a pet grooming shop right across from us. Once its injuries are healed, you can take it there to wash up. The prices aren't high."
"Okay, thank you, Dr. Meng."
"Ah, by the way, here's my wife's business card. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. Remember, if anything comes up that you can't handle..."
His reminder seemed genuine, like he was really concerned that I might not be able to care for the dog.
I noticed that he didn't give business cards to other customers, which made me think that if this card wasn't from his wife, I might've mistaken his gesture as a sign of personal interest.
I took the card, took a photo of it, and then said goodbye.
With two heavy bags in my hands, I struggled to walk, the dog still sticking close to my side. At that moment, I wished it were a horse.
Perhaps sensing my difficulty, the dog stopped and turned to face me.
"Don't block the way."
I thought it was about to do something, but instead, it took one of my bags in its mouth.
What a good dog, helping me carry my things.