The 50 Day Bucket List

Save a Dog

The park was fairly quiet, but I guess that was because it was a weekday and most people were in school. There were a few people at the duck pond in the distance, an old lady sitting alone on a park bench trying to get the birds to come eat the bird seed in her hands, but none were coming, and a young couple roller skating down the side walk. 

"You know, I think I'm going to like it here. It's not too bustling, but it isn't a small town either really," said Chloe. I had almost forgotten she was there since I normally went to the park alone. 

"Yeah, it's a great place to live. The shopping here is pretty good too and there aren't too few, or too many, restaurants. There are just enough." 

The wind was fairly light, but you could still here it rustling in the branches of the young trees planted throughout the park. 

"Have you ever been exploring in the mini forest?" asked Chloe looking towards a dirt path that led into the trees. 

"Not in a long time. I normally just go part way in. There is a little bench in there that I don't think anyone has really noticed. I like to go and just contemplate life." 

"Really? I never had an outdoor version. I always stayed inside to contemplate, normally before falling asleep." 

"I've tried that, but it really takes away your sleep," I stepped inside the mini forest and followed my usual path, weaving in and out of the trees until I got to my spot. I brushed some dirt off the bench and sat down. 

Chloe sat down beside me, "This is perfect." 

I nodded and closed my eyes to listen to the wind, the crunching leaves, and the laughing of people far away. I loved the sound of the park forest. 

I sat there for a few minutes until I heard something different. It wasn't the normal interrupter of sirens, but more of a distant whimper. "Did you hear that?" 

"Hear what?" asked Chloe opening her eyes. 

"A whimpering, just over that way," I whispered pointed out in front of us and stood up. 

A deep voice grumbled at the second whimper, "Oh stop. No one wanted you there and no one will want you here. Just shut up." I heard the crunching of leaves as the man left the source of the whimpering.  

I stepped forward softly to try and get a glimpse of the man, but he was already gone, just a box left where he must have just been. 

I pushed through the branches that hid us from the trail and bent down in front of the box. 

"Puppies," I whispered to Chloe. 

"Puppies? Why would someone leave puppies?" 

"I'm not sure," I lightly placed my hand in the box and pulled the whimpering puppy out. Three more puppies lay in the box silently.  

The one I held was the biggest, possibly a few days older than the other three. His eyes were open but still blue, but the three in the box still had their eyes shut.  

Chloe moved closer and took another puppy out of the box and held it up to her ear, "She's breathing." 

She set it down and picked up the other two and listened, "So are these. That man must have been out of his mind to leave such small puppies in a box in the woods." 

"Maybe, he had to just set them down for a few minutes and he'll be back." 

"I don't think so. I think he was leaving them." 

"Well, let's ask around," I suggested placing the bigger puppy in the box and picking the puppies up. We walked back toward the open field, looking for any clues. 

First we went to the elderly lady waiting for the birds. 

"What do you kids want? You're going to scare away my birds." She muttered, glaring at us. 

"We were just wondering if you had seen the man who brought this box of puppies into the woods." 

"Not a good one. He's probably trying to scare away my birds that nasty fool, just like you two are." 

"I'm sorry ma'am," I said. "Have a nice day." 

As soon as we were out of her earshot, which I don't believe was very large, Chloe and I started chattering again.  

"She wasn't very nice. Normally old people aren't that mean." 

"No," I agreed. "But maybe this person will know." 

A woman ran towards us, but kept running when we tried to get her attention. The same thing happened with another woman running past so we turned to go home. 

"I would love to take the puppies," started Chloe, "but, my brother is allergic. I guess we will have to take them to your house. Do you think your parents will let you?" 

"Hopefully," I said. Normally my parents were really against it, but maybe they would let me watch them overnight and bring us to the shelter the next day. The puppies were so tiny and would need lots of care, but I couldn't turn them down, they were too cute. 

When we got to my house, my mom was not too pleased with us bringing in a box of tiny puppies, but after I made her hold one she agreed to let us watch them over night, but that we would have to bring them in the next day. 

While my mom and I were talking it over, Chloe had pulled up instructions on how to care for the little puppies. "Do you guys have a heat lamp? If not my brother has one I can go get." 

My mom shook her head. 

"Okay, then I will be back soon I will go grab the heat lamp and the feeding formula. Until the keep them really warm and don't let them suck on each other." Chloe immediately headed to the door, pulling her car keys out of her pocket. 

It seemed like forever before she came back. The puppies were all whining when she walked in the door. She dug around in the bag and pulled out too little bottles and set them down. She poured some formula into it and handed one to me and one to my mom. "Okay, just pick a puppy and start feeding it while I set up the heat lamp. Any particular place you want to keep the puppies?" 

My mom shook her head, "There is a little place by the fireplace with a plug." 

Chloe nodded and moved the box of remaining puppies to the spot next to the fireplace. She placed the light stand to hang over the puppies and turned the light into place and plugged it in. "The puppies will need to be kept about 85 degrees since I believe they are two weeks old. Just check the temperature every once and awhile to see if it is correct. 

She stood back up and went to the kitchen and pulled down two paper towels and wet them, "Would you like me to take the puppy?" she asked my mom. 

She shook her head, "It's too much like feeding a baby again. I kind of like it." 

I smiled at Chloe. Maybe I would be able to care for the puppies the next few weeks.