Chapter 18: Facing One’s Demons

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Kaybri ignored the whistles and compliments that the staff sent in her direction when she entered the clinic wearing her business attire. She couldn’t wait to change back into her jeans and flannel shirt and trade the patent-leather pumps for sneakers. 

     But before she had a chance, Noah, looking grim, came out to the waiting room and approached her.  

     “What’s wrong?”  

     “I need to talk to you, privately.” 

     They went straight into her office and closed the door. “What’s happened?” 

     “We’re missing two dogs.”  

     “Missing? What do you mean? Did they get out somehow?” 

     “No, they were stolen. It happened while we were dealing with an emergency, which we now realize was a ruse. I was called into the procedure room. The woman seemed hysterical.” 

     “What was the situation?” 

     “She claimed the dog ate two pounds of baker’s chocolate.” 

     “How was the dog presenting?” 

     “She had slightly elevated blood pressure and slight tremors.” 

     “Those symptoms could mean anything.” 

     “I know, but we had the owner right here who told us the dog ate the chocolate.” 

     “What did you do?” 

     “We induced vomiting, but nothing came out. We were debating whether to give the dog charcoal to block the absorption of theobromine when the woman looked at her phone, picked up her dog, and bolted. She yelled, ‘Send me the bill,’ as she headed out the door.” 

     Autumn knocked on the door to Kaybri’s office and came in holding a sheet of paper. “The last patient’s paperwork is fake,” she said. “This address doesn’t exist, and the phone number isn’t real.”  

     “She’s from HED,” Kaybri sighed. “They knew I’d be in court and that the staff here would be busy treating that woman’s dog. I can’t believe they took two sick dogs who need care. These people are worse than I imagined.” 

      “Should I call the police?” Autumn asked. 

     “We don’t have the time to wait for the police to investigate,” Noah said. “The yellow lab has a tumor on its spleen. The spaniel is in rough shape but has no pressing conditions. She’s simply old.” 

     “Does anyone know where Teri McGee lives?” Kaybri asked. 

     Autumn ran to the reception counter and pulled brochures from a box. “Here it is. She runs HED from her house. She lives in Lititz.” 

     “Noah and I will go.” Kaybri turned to Noah, “Bring whatever emergency equipment you can load quickly.” 

     The sun had just set when Kaybri and Noah arrived at Teri’s house. The home was dark, but there was light coming from a small metal building at the rear of the property. Noah and Kaybri crept carefully forward hoping they wouldn’t be shot.  

     She heard Teri’s voice talking loudly to someone. There was silence after she spoke, so Kaybri assumed she was talking on the phone. As they crept closer to the barn, Kaybri heard panic in Teri’s voice and the words “I don’t know what to do! There’s blood everywhere!”  

     They rushed into the barn. Kaybri, who hadn’t had time to change her clothes, kicked off her heels and pushed Teri aside so she could get close to the yellow lab. Kaybri saw that the dog needed treatment. Noah ran back to the truck to get their emergency medical equipment.  

     Once they had an IV in the dog’s leg, Kaybri finally spoke to Teri. “This is a dangerous situation.” 

     “You bet it is! You’re trespassing on my property. I’m calling the police. And you assaulted me.” 

     “Oh, God! Forget your property. Forget the police. What is wrong with you? I’m talking about this dog's life. We need to control the bleeding, get her back to the clinic, and remove the tumor. If we don't, she’s not going to make it.”  

     “But…” 

     “There are no buts. This is what we do. We save animals’ lives, and time is always working against us. What HED or the Amish do is not our concern right now. We’re only focused on saving this dog’s life. You and I can sort out our differences later.” Kaybri handed her a pair of surgical gloves and a flashlight. 

     “What are these for?” 

     “You’re going to assist. I’m going to make an incision and resect the dog’s tissue. I need you to point this light on the opening so I can see what I’m doing. Noah is going to monitor the dog’s vitals. If we can stop the bleeding, then we’ll transport her to the clinic and finish the operation. This is a complicated situation. For older dogs, like this one, the outcome is dubious at best.” She then turned to Noah. “Ready?”  

     Teri was squeamish at first. Her left hand trembled as she held the retractor that kept the incision open. Her right hand, holding the flashlight, shook just as much. Kaybri heard a lot of wincing sounds from her and some moaning and groaning, but she did manage to do the job fairly well. Kaybri was actually grateful that she was there or the operation would have been more difficult.  

     After thirty minutes, Kaybri exhaled and wiped the sweat that was pouring from her face. “We’ve clamped the bleeding and clamped the incision shut. We need to move her to the truck. Very gently.” 

     Noah sat in the passenger seat, while Teri and Kaybri slowly carried the dog over to him and set her down on his lap.  

      “What about the spaniel?” Noah asked Teri, heatedly. 

     Kaybri jumped in. “Let’s leave her here for the night.” To Teri, she said, “Please return her tomorrow.”  

     As she stepped up into the driver’s seat, Kaybri could see Teri struggling with what to say. She didn’t have time to wait for an answer. “Let’s not worry about what’s been done. These dogs need our care. Believe it or not, I understand your motivations. You are, however, going in the wrong direction. Tomorrow we can talk more.”  

     She drove off, leaving Teri standing there, uncharacteristically speechless. 

     Atter she maneuvered the truck out of Teri’s driveway, Kaybri called Erika at home and explained the situation. Erika assured them that the procedure room would be prepped and ready when they arrived.  

     Kaybri drove slowly to minimize bumps that would be painful for the dog. Meanwhile, Noah cradled the lab in his arms so that he could absorb some of the motion caused by the jostling that couldn’t be avoided.  

     Back at the clinic, the remainder of the operation took three hours to complete. It was almost midnight when they finished.  

     “What do you think? Will she make it?” Kaybri asked Erika and Noah. 

     Noah stroked the dog’s head. “Fifty-fifty. I’ll clean up and stay with her tonight.” 

     The next morning, when Kaybri pulled into the clinic, she was surprised to see Teri waiting for her in the small parking lot. She seemed agitated.  

     “I hope you brought the spaniel. Is she in your car?” Kaybri looked over at the unfamiliar blue Prius that was parked a few yards away.  

     “Can I talk to you here, before you go inside?” Teri asked. 

     Kaybri nodded. “What’s up?” 

     “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how sick that dog was. If I did, I…well, we wouldn’t have taken her.”  

     “You shouldn’t have taken her anyway. You had no right to. All of the dogs at the clinic are sick,” Kaybri said sternly. She took a deep breath to compose herself. It wouldn’t help to berate this woman. She wanted the spaniel back. In a gentler tone, she added, “What’s done is done and we can’t change that.” 

     Teri simply nodded.  

     “Today is going to be a long day. We were all up late, and Noah spent the night here with the lab. I just want to know where the spaniel is so we can move past the events of the last twenty-hours.” 

     “I don’t know how to say this.” Teri hesitated and then blurted out, “The spaniel died during the night.” 

     “Is the dog in your car?”  

     “Yes.” 

     “Is it alright for Noah to go into your car and get her?” 

     “Yes,” Teri whispered. 

     Kaybri went inside the clinic to find Noah. He was in the procedure room with the lab. When he turned around, she saw his eyes were red and teary. She knew right away what that meant. 

     “When did she pass?” 

     “Just now. He shook his head. “We couldn’t save her.” 

     “Noah, you did everything you could. You’re my hero. At least she died in your loving care.” 

     She then had to tell him that the spaniel had also died and asked him to get the body out of Teri’s car.  

     When he went outside, Kaybri told Teri to come to her office and explain exactly what happened.  

     “I made a bed for her next to my bed. She was whimpering. I gave her water and I let her walk in the yard so she could do her business. Throughout the night, I lay next to her because she was shaking, and then…” 

     Remembering what Elizabeth had done for her when she couldn’t control her grief, Kaybri took Teri’s hands and looked her right in the eyes. “I’m so sorry you had to experience that.” 

     Teri appeared shocked by her words. “I thought you’d be angry.”   

     “You didn’t kill the spaniel. She was old and her health was failing. You did the best you could. You gave the dog comfort and affection. She’s been here at the clinic for only a week. Noah and I believed she had cancer because there were tumors pressing against her skin.” 

     “Couldn’t you treat her?” 

     “Of course, we could have, but we spend our resources wisely. Some dogs are beyond repair. I know that sounds cruel, but it’s the reality. The donations we receive from concerned citizens are used to provide care for dogs whose owners can’t afford the treatments. Not all the dogs that are sick are Amish breeding dogs. The cocker spaniel was a loyal friend to her family for fourteen years. Dr. Stevens treated the dog for her entire life. The family, who I suspect is in tough economic straits, tied the dog’s leash to our fence when they learned her treatments would cost fifteen hundred dollars.” 

     “That’s awful,” Teri said. 

     “Yes and no. They knew we would take care of the dog’s needs. What they didn’t know is that the clinic has friends who would have paid for her treatments. The owners’ pride got in the way.” 

     “Are you going to sue them for the cost of the treatments?” 

     “No,” Kaybri said sadly. “We try to assume the best about people. It must be painful for them to abandon their dog. There’s no sense making them feel worse by revealing what they did to their neighbors and friends. Everyone must contend with their own demons.” 

     “Was what you just said about demons directed at me?” Teri asked. 

     “Lady, we both have a bit of a problem with pride.” For the first time that morning, both women smiled. “Not all dog abuse comes from the Amish. What that family did isn’t uncommon. Veterinary care can be incredibly expensive.” 

     “If you had the money, then you would have treated the spaniel?” 

     “Unfortunately, no. The dog was fourteen years old. The life expectancy of that breed is twelve to fourteen years. Because we suspected she had cancer, there was no reason to expend the time or money. You gave the dog the warmth and affection she needed. We would have done the same thing. The lab was a different situation. He was a little younger, so we tried to save his life.”  

     “I watched you work,” Teri said with a tone of respect. “I hope I was of some help.” Kaybri would never have guessed Teri could show this kind of humility.  

     “You used the past tense when you said the lab was a little younger.” Teri hung her head as though she knew what was coming. 

     Kaybri felt no satisfaction in telling her that the lab did not survive her ruptured spleen. 

     Teri winced as though she’d suffered a physical blow.  

     “Can I see both dogs? I’d like to say goodbye,” she said softly. Kaybri could see her grief was genuine. Teri was not very good with people, but she certainly did love dogs. 

     Kaybri led her to the area of the clinic where the dogs were prepped before they were sent to the crematorium.  

     “Dogs aren’t much different than us,” Kaybri said. “Eventually, something happens in our bodies that we aren’t strong enough to bear.” 

     She stood quietly as Teri stroked the two dogs’ coats.  

     “They both look like they could wake up and run.” Teri turned to Kaybri. “I’d like to pay for the cost of cremation for these dogs. I feel…responsible…for what happened.” 

     “That’s very generous of you, but the lab’s spleen would have ruptured whether she was here or at your house. The cocker spaniel died because it was her time.” 

     “I want to pay.” Teri straightened up and suddenly appeared taller. “It’s you who are generous. You could have used this situation for leverage. You could have told me I killed these dogs. You could have reported what happened to Judge Thompson.” 

     “I wouldn’t do that. I will accept your offer to pay for the cremations, but I also want a favor from you.” 

     “Ah, here comes the leverage.” Teri rolled her eyes. 

     “I want HED to stand down for the next three months. I want you to give Judge Thompson’s plan a chance.” 

     “The puppy mill situation hasn’t changed.” Teri's tone shifted. 

     “It is changing. You just don’t know it,” Kaybri said sternly. “Mr. Stoltzfus and I are working to fix the problem.”  

     The moment of warmth between the women was clearly over. Regardless, Kaybri pushed forward. “I need you to go for a ride with me on Sunday.” 

     “Where?” Teri asked nervously. 

     “To the Stoltzfus Farm. A lot has changed.” 

     “I can’t go there.” Teri looked down at the floor. 

     “I think I know why. We all need to face our demons. It’s time for everyone to move forward and make amends.”