2019-08-18 - Visiting The Vet

It's a Sunday. Are Vets open on Sundays? Minerva wasn't sure so she'd called Gideon's number when it wasn't so early to see if he could take a look at some dumped puppies. If he was amiable to it, she would have showed up with a box full of puppies that looked like they were about eight weeks old. She doesn't look like she's slept, but that's because six puppies will get into everything. So she's there in the office, waiting for the tiny terrors to get checked out.

The vet is indeed open on Sundays - and particularly early as well. The receptionist gave a time to come in, when Gideon, who alternates with theother doctors to work weekends, had a spot in his schedule. The clinic is pretty standard as far as vets go. The usual good sized waiting room - chairs not too close together so animals can have their space. Posters on the walls advertising the importance of de-worming, and ads for premium pet food.
She's led into the small exam room where a vet tech does the preliminary work of weighing the pups and taking the temperature, all the while making pleasant conversation.
Then, after that's all done, Gideon enters in khakis and a short sleeve button-up blue plaid shirt with a stethescope around his neck and a pair of dark framed glasses on his face. "So, you rescued some critters, I hear," he says, while not really looking up from his clipboard.

Minerva follows after the vet tech into the room with the box. As soon as the box is settled down, all of them try to escape it. Like little jailbirds. "No, guys, come on." she laughs as she gives a worn out look to the vet tech. She tries to help as much as she can with getting them wrangled for the preliminary tests. When Gideon comes in there's a bit of a smile, "Yeah, some people like to dump strays or unwanted animals down by the forest. I was walking home when I found these guys in a trashbag." she frowns at that. "I just wanted to make sure if they needed medical attention that they got it. I found homes for most of them." she smiles to that a bit.

"Yeah, it happens. More with kittens than puppies. Especially this time of year." Gideon looks up for a half second, then it's down at the clipboard again. He clicks his pen and makes a note, then sets it aside to pick up the nearest puppy. "They should all have their shots. Which, well, you might want to see if the new owners will take that on, because well, there's a lot of them." He chuckles, then starts to examine the pup by checking its ears and testing its heart rate. He handles the animal with the gentle care one would expect from a vet.

Minerva gives a soft nod to that, "Yeah, I've not caught any kittens yet. But if I do I'll take them to the shelter." she tells him. The puppies don't seem to be afraid, they just want to love everyone! Min herself has the pure black one in her arms as she watches him with the puppies. "Oh I can cover their initial shots and things. It's no problem." she smiles. "I'm going to keep this one." she lifts him just a little. "So how have you been since I saw you in the antique store? Anything interesting going on?" she asks him.

Gideon chuckles a little awkwardly. But that's pretty common for him. He's an awkward human being. It's possible there's no such thing as a non-awkward laugh with him. "Oh, you know, work." Riveting. "Have any of them been displaying any symptoms? Any scratching? Runny noses? Problems urinating or pooping?"

Minerva gives a smile when he chuckles awkwardly. Maybe she instilled awkward laughs in people. No? Thank gods. "Yeah, I've just had work as well." she tells him. Then she listens to him as one of the puppies tries to make a break for it, "Nonono..." she whispers as she picks it up. "And no, no symptoms. No runny noses or anything. No problems using the bathroom, my floor can attest to that." she muses. "I don't think they would have been alive had they not been found overnight." she frowns.

"People can be, whoop..." Gideon reaches out to make sure the puppy doesn't careen off the stainless steel counter, "...people can be heartless. Baby animals usually have a better chance of being adopted. It's the older pups and cats that we have a hard time finding places for. It's a shame, too, because they're usually quite lovely creatures. But everyone loves a puppy." He chuckles again, then swaps that pup out for another to go through the examination again.

Minerva gives a chuckle as the puppies are wrangled. "And yes, people can be really heartless, or don't think. I think it's why I have a better time with animals most times." she admits as she looks to the black puppy she was holding. "Yeah, puppies are easier to get homes for. But hopefully these guys won't get put back out. Though most of the people that have spoken for them are wonderful." she states.

Gideon gently pulls back the gums of the puppy, getting a few licks and chomps as he does so. He smiles at the animal and looks directly at it the way he doesn't with people. "If you're concerned, you can also process the adoption through the shelter. They'll vet people and in many cases do a home check to make sure it's a place that's suitable for a dog."

Minerva watches as Gideon works with the puppies and there's a gentle smile as he gets a chomp from one. "Apparently they are all wanting to teeth. Going to stock up on kongs and stuff." she muses. Then there's a nod to his words, "That's a really good idea." she admits. "I'll pick up some forms from the shelter so people can fill them out as well." she states. "My spiders won't have much of a problem acclimating. Which is nice for a new addition to the family." she smiles.

"The desk will give you clean health certificates to take to the shelter. What will probably happen is you'll be listed as a foster. Then the people can apply through the shelter and pick the pups up from you. But," Gideon puts one down and picks up another, "...that might only be worth the trouble if you don't know the person adopting or if you have any concerns about their suitability." He follows suit with the others, until it's only the one Minerva is holding, "May I?" he asks, still not looking up for more than he needs to.

"That would be amazing. Thank you." Minera tells him. "And I think that it will be easier to make sure they go to good people. I've met most of the people before. So if there's issues I can offer to take the puppy back or things like that." she smiles. When he asks for the dog she's holding there's a look given down to the black puppy and she smiles as she hands it over, "This is Azrael." she offers his name.

"There's always one in the litter who seems the most charismatic," says Gideon as he takes the puppy gently and goes through the routine again. "The good news is, no one seems to have fleas. It must not have been very long between the drop and your rescue, because they're all in good shape." He ruffles the pup's ears. "I'll go fill out some paperwork and the vet tech will be back in to give them their shots."

Minerva gives a soft smile as Gideon looks over Azrael, "He's reminds me of a black sheep, so figured we'd go well together." she chuckles. "I'm so glad they don't have fleas. Must have been a lucky night for them and me." she murmurs. Then she looks to Gideon and there's a nod, "Thank you, Doctor. It's very much appreciated." she tells him.

Gideon hands the pup back to her, then picks up his clipboard to make a few notes. "Have a good day, and good luck settling them all in. And in keeping that one under control." He points at the pup in her arms with his pen, then he nudges his glasses up his nose.

Minerva takes Azrael back and there's a smile, "It was good to see you again. Hopefully I won't make a habit of finding strays." she muses. Then she looks down to Azrael, "Are you going to be a handful?" she teases the pup. Then she looks up to Gideon again and offers a smile, "Thank you. I appreciate it." she tells him again.

"Have a good day, now," says Gideon as he lifts a hand before exiting. True enough, the vet tech comes back in to administer the shots to all the pups. When the bill comes, it's...substantial given how many animals there are, but there is a ten percent discount that's noted as the same they give to people who bring in their shelter animals for appointments.

Minerva doesn't keep Gideon any longer on things. She watches the Vet Tech give all the shots and there's a soft frown, "I know guys, but you'll be better for it." she tells them. When the vet tech hands over the bill there's a card handed over. The Doctor not blinking at the price. "We'll get you some ice cream and nap. That is always going to make things better." she muses as she helps to put them all in the box again. "Thank you guys. I'll call and set up a routine check up for Azrael in a few months." she states as she heads out with the puppies.