The Haven High Book Series (Wattys2017)

Chapter 13

The mythical Firebird

As soon as Tuma and Ms Murakami dropped him off, Travis did an about_face, deciding to head for the Animal shelter early. He didn't feel like spending his afternoon at home twiddling his thumbs.

Doc Jones and Bonnie were surprised to see him, but when he told them it was a half day, they believed him. Troy wasn't there yet; so they were glad for the help.

The Doc hit him up with the bad news that the other two seriously injured dogs hadn't make it. They passed yesterday afternoon and evening. He wanted to cry at the shame of it. This world could be so cruel. The news made him want to scream and cry all at the same time actually, but he couldn't fall apart, he had work to do.

He went right for Cojo's cage to check up on him to find he still hadn't warmed up to anyone. When he growled menacingly at him Travis caught the Doc's eye. She looked crestfallen. He knew that look. The dog had been conditioned to be aggressive. If they couldn't recondition him to be docile with humans; then she'd have to put him down. It was a safety thing. The poor dog didn't know he was signing his death warrant with every growl.

"Doc, "Travis pleaded, "let me work with him? I'm early and I can come in Saturday and Sunday this week. Give me some time to see if I can turn this around?"

She nodded her head in agreement, "But Trav don't get your hopes up. I've seen cases like this before. These animals are rarely able to be rehabilitated."

"I understand," And he did, he really did, but he had hope that if he and Kyle could turn their lives around maybe this dog could too.

She squeezed his shoulder before going off to work on a litter of kittens that had been thrown in a sack and nearly drowned. Like he'd said earlier, it was not only a cruel world, but a sick one as well.

Cojo was in the largest kennel they owned in the far corner of the room away from the other dogs. The cage beside him was empty and the German Sheppard in the one next to the empty cage was positioned on the farthest side form the aggressive animal looking up sorrowfully every once and a while when the other dog growled or lunged at the door towards him.

Dogs are smart animals. They know when one of their own has been abused. It was like the Sheppard was begging him to help the other animal every time he looked at him, and it was breaking his heart.

Travis sat there and just talked to the dog for hours and when he ran out of things to say. As he'd said before he wasn't a talker, he grabbed a text book from his backpack and began to read it aloud. Slowly the Bull got used to his presence and the sound of his voice and laid down, peacefully to sleep.

While he slept Travis took care of the other animals. He'd had so much fun bathing the mewing kittens he almost forgot all about his troubles -- Almost.

Troy showed up and took over for him when Trav went to sit vigil over the sleeping Cojo, but he shouldn't keep calling him that, not even in his head. He knew full well the power words had over others. He'd been called every name in the book when he was bullied and they'd held a great deal of power over him.

When he came up on the final large cage in the shelter the dog woke, but didn't lunge or growl, he only barked once to warn him to keep his distance, but that was a start. Trav went back to reading to him. It wasn't something Trav liked doing. He hated it actually. He knew he sounded like a complete dingus when he read but, somehow he just knew this was the way to get through to the Bull. He's instincts were screaming that this could work.

"What should we name you?" Travis asked the wary dog who kept one eye on him at all times. In doing so he was saying to the human I might not be able to get rid of you, but I don't trust you one bit.