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Jack smiled, feeling his heart warm for the first time since that morning. To see Katelynn happy always warmed his heart, but now she had what she had wanted so badly. A little dog. A life for her to look after, a companion who’d be there for her when he’s working. Plus a bulldog was a brilliant guard dog too. If any suspicious people approached her, and if this little girl was near by, she would make her displeasure known.

“So what are you going to name her?” Jack asked as he walked along with them, “It must be something to suit her.”

The puppy was all feet, and her nose sniffed at the air excitedly, her small tail wagging as she tugged on the leash, unused to it.

Katelynn tilted her head, looking over at the little bulldog. “I-I’m not sure..I haven’t thought of it yet. I want her to have a cute name but not too complicated,” she said, Katelynn trying to lead her back to her apartment.

“Well it’s your choice,” Jack said as he laughed, lifting his leg when the puppy almost got her lead tangled with his leg. “She is precious though. We’ll have to introduce her to Roxy pretty early though, just so they get used to each other.”

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Tony smiled. He loved seeing it when people truly loved the pet, even before taking them home. This little girl had come to them from an old couple, incapable of caring for her. It was so sad. But hopefully she’s found something wonderful in this girl his nephew’s dating.

There’s paperwork to fill in, of course. Since she’s only ‘trying’ her out, she just has to pay a small amount. Jack signs as a witness; it’s almost like adopting a baby. Which, in a way, it is. Tony even gives them a small red jumper for the puppy to wear since it is cold out, as well as a carry bag for her. 

“Now any questions you have our number, but Jack’s an old hand at this so he should be able to talk you through the bigger aspects.” Tony explained as he handed the puppy over finally.

Taking the leash, Katelynn couldn’t stop staring at her new puppy who was busy sniffing about, finally out the of the cage. She had a dog. She finally had a dog of her own. She had always wanted a dog of her own ever since she was little.

“Thank you,” she replies quietly, smiling broadly at the older man before giving him a hug. “Thank you for your help today. I’ll make sure to take good care of her.”

Releasing him, Katelynn leaned down to pet her new dog who sniffed at her hair when it came close and gave a little dog sneeze, Katelynn smiling the entire time.

“Let’s go get you some food and toys now, little one,” she said to the little bulldog, leading her outside.

Jack smiled, feeling his heart warm for the first time since that morning. To see Katelynn happy always warmed his heart, but now she had what she had wanted so badly. A little dog. A life for her to look after, a companion who’d be there for her when he’s working. Plus a bulldog was a brilliant guard dog too. If any suspicious people approached her, and if this little girl was near by, she would make her displeasure known.

“So what are you going to name her?” Jack asked as he walked along with them, “It must be something to suit her.”

The puppy was all feet, and her nose sniffed at the air excitedly, her small tail wagging as she tugged on the leash, unused to it.

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“What matters most to us is that they go to a loving home more than anything. And I know Jack wouldn’t let anyone who doesn’t have one take a dog home from here.” Tony said. “So do you want to try her out, do you? We do offer you to take the dogs home for a few days, to see how they settle. If they’re not for you, we do understand.”

“I would love that,” Katelynn sighed happily, looking up at the older gentleman. “She’ll have a loving home with me and I just know we’ll get along really well. I’ll take her to the pet store after this and buy her some food and toys!” Looking back at the puppy, she wiggled her fingers at her. “You’ll love that, won’t you sweetie?”

Tony smiled. He loved seeing it when people truly loved the pet, even before taking them home. This little girl had come to them from an old couple, incapable of caring for her. It was so sad. But hopefully she’s found something wonderful in this girl his nephew’s dating.

There’s paperwork to fill in, of course. Since she’s only ‘trying’ her out, she just has to pay a small amount. Jack signs as a witness; it’s almost like adopting a baby. Which, in a way, it is. Tony even gives them a small red jumper for the puppy to wear since it is cold out, as well as a carry bag for her. 

“Now any questions you have our number, but Jack’s an old hand at this so he should be able to talk you through the bigger aspects.” Tony explained as he handed the puppy over finally.

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“Ah, this little lady.” Tony said as he leaned against the wall as the little dog sniffed and licked at Katelynn’s fingers excitedly. “She’s been here a few days now.” he wasn’t about to tell them that if she wasn’t picked up soon she would meet the same fate as far too many animals did.

“Aw.” Jack said quietly as he reached down, and pet the puppy’s back. “She is precious…”

“So what kind of place do you live in?” Tony asked.

“Same apartment as me, Uncle Tony.”

“Oh well then, in good walking distance of the park, near here for the vet, and big enough for how big she’s going to get…” Tony mused.

“I was going to try to get an older dog, as you said..but I think I’m in love with her..” she said softly, reaching between the bars and petting her. “Bulldogs are really calm dogs. Excellent for companionship…Hi cutie..hi..!”

“What matters most to us is that they go to a loving home more than anything. And I know Jack wouldn’t let anyone who doesn’t have one take a dog home from here.” Tony said. “So do you want to try her out, do you? We do offer you to take the dogs home for a few days, to see how they settle. If they’re not for you, we do understand.”

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They kept walking past a few more dogs, grouped together mostly by breed. There were all types, and Jack had to pause to tickle the heads of a few pugs who looked so much like Roxy.

Then, further down the way…

“Oh Jack! Look! Isn’t this one precious?” Katelynn gasped, peering into the cage of a little bulldog. “Hi cutie!” she called toward it, seeing it wag its little bottom and come towards her, huge tongue licking her fingers. “You’re so cute! Yes you are!”

“Ah, this little lady.” Tony said as he leaned against the wall as the little dog sniffed and licked at Katelynn’s fingers excitedly. “She’s been here a few days now.” he wasn’t about to tell them that if she wasn’t picked up soon she would meet the same fate as far too many animals did.

“Aw.” Jack said quietly as he reached down, and pet the puppy’s back. “She is precious…”

“So what kind of place do you live in?” Tony asked.

“Same apartment as me, Uncle Tony.”

“Oh well then, in good walking distance of the park, near here for the vet, and big enough for how big she’s going to get…” Tony mused.

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“Pleasure.” Tony said as he took her hand and kissed the back of it. “So what can I do you for Jackie-Boy? Roxy sick again?” he asked.

“Oh no. No, we’re here for Katelynn. She’d really love to have a dog, and when I told her about your shelter she wanted to come see.”

“Perfect! It’s after Christmas season and sadly we get a lot of dogs, mostly puppies, from people who didn’t think things through when they got them as presents.” Tony said, “So lemme show you through to the dogs. Don’t turn away an older dog, though. They’re just as good as a puppy. Less training, too.” he added on a wink before opening the gate way for them to go through.

Katelynn followed after him, looking at the kennels where the dogs were, seeing them come to life when people approached and hitting against their cages. “Wow there are a lot of them…”

The ones that were overly excited to see her didn’t seem to be a good match for her and she kept her eyes peeled for a bulldog, knowing it’d be just right for her. She had done her research on dog personality types after all for years.

They kept walking past a few more dogs, grouped together mostly by breed. There were all types, and Jack had to pause to tickle the heads of a few pugs who looked so much like Roxy.

Then, further down the way…

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An older man, really looking like an ex hippie with his long hair tied back in a plait and a beard that put Six’s to shame, walked up. He grinned at seeing Jack, lifting a hand.

“Jackie-Boy!” he greeted.

“Hi Uncle Tony.” Jack replied sheepishly. “Uncle Tony, this is Katelynn Foster.” he placed a hand to her shoulder gently. “My girlfriend.”

“Oh ho! Congratulations tiger.” grinned Tony before smiling at Katelynn. “And aren’t you a doll?”

She blushed under his scrutiny but kept her gaze on his though her shoulders squeezed together slightly. “Hello..nice to meet you..” She brought her hand forward for him to shake.

“Pleasure.” Tony said as he took her hand and kissed the back of it. “So what can I do you for Jackie-Boy? Roxy sick again?” he asked.

“Oh no. No, we’re here for Katelynn. She’d really love to have a dog, and when I told her about your shelter she wanted to come see.”

“Perfect! It’s after Christmas season and sadly we get a lot of dogs, mostly puppies, from people who didn’t think things through when they got them as presents.” Tony said, “So lemme show you through to the dogs. Don’t turn away an older dog, though. They’re just as good as a puppy. Less training, too.” he added on a wink before opening the gate way for them to go through.

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He let go of her hand but only to wrap his arm around her shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head. “It’s a good thing to be.” he whispered.

It took them a few blocks but finally they approached a well kept shelter. They can hear barking of dogs at least a block away, and Jack holds the door open for her to walk through first. Inside is clean, like a vets office, which was another option the shelter offered. All the pets inside came vaccinated and de-sexed, so you knew you were getting a healthy animal.

Katelynn rushed over to the dog section, peering over at them from the from the office and smiling. “Oh they’re so cute!” she exclaimed, looking off at the people who worked there. “Can I go see them?”

An older man, really looking like an ex hippie with his long hair tied back in a plait and a beard that put Six’s to shame, walked up. He grinned at seeing Jack, lifting a hand.

“Jackie-Boy!” he greeted.

“Hi Uncle Tony.” Jack replied sheepishly. “Uncle Tony, this is Katelynn Foster.” he placed a hand to her shoulder gently. “My girlfriend.”

“Oh ho! Congratulations tiger.” grinned Tony before smiling at Katelynn. “And aren’t you a doll?”

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“Oh! N-now? That’s. Spontaneous.”

He paused, but then smiled, and nodded.

“Sure. Come on, it’s actually not too far…”

“Well we’re pretty spontaneous people it seems,” she said softly, smiling up at him, so glad he was there for her and offer her support. She could have just imagined herself without him there when she learned of the results, alone and crying over the loss of something she never had.

She shivered, hating the image. Why was she so weak?

He let go of her hand but only to wrap his arm around her shoulder, and he kissed the top of her head. “It’s a good thing to be.” he whispered.

It took them a few blocks but finally they approached a well kept shelter. They can hear barking of dogs at least a block away, and Jack holds the door open for her to walk through first. Inside is clean, like a vets office, which was another option the shelter offered. All the pets inside came vaccinated and de-sexed, so you knew you were getting a healthy animal.

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“When would you want to stop by the shelter?” he asked.

She looked up at him, still glued to his side and a hand on his chest. “I thought..we were going there right now? Unless you have to go do something..”

“Oh! N-now? That’s. Spontaneous.”

He paused, but then smiled, and nodded.

“Sure. Come on, it’s actually not too far…”