Chapter 7

The vet and the groomer

The following week the vet office called to remind them of the follow-up appointment. Yes, they would be there.

"There's a pet groomer who just opened up next door to us. Perhaps you should consider a professional grooming treatment for your new pet."

"Thank you, I guess maybe once wouldn't hurt."

The office gave out the number to call and dad spoke to the receptionist about an appointment.

"What kind of pet do you have?"

"I'm told it's a living doll."

"And what sort of grooming needs to be done?"

"I'm not sure. Can we discuss it when we come in?"

"No problem."

On the day of the appointments, the family came in with Bucky.

"Yes?" The receptionist looked up.

"We actually don't have our appointment for another hour, but since it's our first time here, I'd like to discuss the options."

The woman behind the counter went through the different packages and prices as she visually analyzed Bucky's possible needs.

They settled on a basic washing, with the option to upgrade to a pest disinfecting, (should they discover any), hair cutting, and his facial hair trimmed.

Then they went back to the vet.

The medicine they received helped a lot and Bucky was almost back to normal. The medicine tasted terrible, and Bucky washed it down with as much water as he could.

When the assistant came in to check his vitals, Bucky bolted for the corner. She chased him around the tank until she caught him. "Oh God, oh God, oh God! Not again."

He struggled and squirmed helplessly in her grip, and in spite of everything he did, she still managed to get the thermometer in.

Bucky hung there, in mid-air, arms and legs dangling with the thermometer up his butt. His face turned red.

When she removed it, she gave him a quick wipe with a medicated pad, and set him down. "Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" She asked him.

Bucky indignantly pulled the back of the diaper up and rubbed his sore backside. "How would you like it?' He squeaked out at her. She just smiled.

"The doctor will be here shortly."

"My poor Booboo!" Lanie traced her fingers down one of his arms. "It'll get better."

The doctor came in and checked on Bucky's progress.

Lanie told her that Booboo had not seemed to experience as much pain and seemed to be using the bucket regularly. He was accepting the medicine without too much fuss.

"That's good to hear. I would recommend expanding what foods you give him, rather than just feeding him the standard pet store food. Digestive issues seem to be the most common complaint with living dolls. I've been doing some research on them. As pets, they are relatively new to the market, but are fast becoming popular. Supply and demand will regulate how high the prices go. So, are you planning to just keep him as a pet?"

"Well, I guess." The father replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm asking because he appears to be intact, and if you intend to keep him that way."

"Intact?" The mother asked.

"Yes, meaning he has not been neutered."

Bucky's eyes opened wide and he turned white as a sheet. His breath froze in his lungs. He sought the protection of Lanie and ran to her. He grabbed onto her shirt tightly.

The doctor continued. "Of course, there's always the option of advertising him as an intact male for stud services."

"Stud services?" The father looked down at Bucky.

Bucky slid down Lanie's chest to a sitting position. He felt dizzy; he was hyperventilating and shaking his head no.

"Oh my poor Booboo, what's wrong?" Lanie got upset and picked Bucky up and hugged him to her chest. "What's wrong with him? What's wrong with him?" She cried. She petted his back to comfort him.

"Here, let me see him."

Lanie looked at the doctor, but refused to hand him over. "You're scaring him."

"I'll be very gentle."

Bucky was trembling as he was handed over to the doctor. "Oh, God." He kept repeating and shaking his head no as she gave him a once over.

"Has he shown any aggressiveness?"

"What do you mean?" Lanie asked.

"Has he tried to bite you?"

"Oh, no, he's very good. I'm very gentle with him."

The doctor looked at the parents. "I'm going to recommend at least two inoculations; one today, and one in two weeks. After that, we'll see how it goes."

"Are you recommending neutering?" Dad asked.

"In some pet species, neutering reduces aggressive tendencies in males, but as long as he remains passive, I think it'll be okay to forego that for now." She popped open the cupboard with her free hand and pulled out a syringe and some medicine. She called for her assistant and had her fill the needle.

Bucky's heart raced. He had a really bad feeling about this.

Sure enough, he was tilted upside down and the needle injected into his butt cheek.

When he was put down, he rubbed the new sore spot, and moaned. "Why me?"

Lanie pulled him towards her and gave him some comfort.

"I suggest you go to this website and read up on the care and needs of your pet." She wrote down something on a piece of paper. "There is also a supply section. You can find a better cage for him, transport carriers that are much lighter weight, and better harnesses. This one looks poorly made. I'd invest in a leash, toys, exercise equipment and a lot more of the wee wee pads to start with."

The father looked pale now. In his head all he heard were sales ringing up.

"You can also find lots of good ideas at the toy store."

"Thank you, doctor. I'm sure we will."

They went out to reception, paid the new bill and left after making another appointment.

"This is costing a fortune!" Dad complained as they walked to the groomers.

When they dropped him off, they were told to come back in about an hour.

"Let's go eat." They filed out to go get lunch.


The groomer who was assigned to Bucky came over and looked at him curiously. "Bath time!" She announced. She chased Bucky around the tank. It didn't take quite as long here as Bucky was tired out.

She pulled off his wee wee diaper and put him into a deep sink. The faucet was equipped with a shower head, and she turned the water on. Bucky headed for the corner as cold water splashed him. "Yow, that's cold!"

She warmed the water and hosed him down good. His hair hung down and was plastered to the sides of his head. She poured some liquid soap into her hand and got it sudsy. She began scrubbing Bucky down with one hand while holding him mid-air in the other. He was not amused, especially when she got to his more tender areas.

After nearly drowning him with a clean water rinse, she carried him to the work table.

Bucky was still spluttering when she looped a leash around his neck and took up the slack. It was, for all intents and purposes, a kind of noose used to hold the pet still while the fur was being cut. In Bucky's case, he was balancing on the balls of his feet.

The groomer picked up the cutting tool and trimmed Bucky's hair, and then switched to a shaver to neaten up the beard on his face.

Lanie had expressed her desire to keep some "scruff" on him, when they had arrived earlier.

The groomer also wanted to know if she were to trim "down there".

Red-faced, the father said that wouldn't be necessary.

Bucky struggled against his leash, and half choked himself in the process.

The family had arrived back early and Lanie screamed when she saw Bucky.

Helpless and naked, Bucky caught Lanie's horrified expression from the corner of his eye. He felt mortified.

"They're hurting him! They're hurting him!" Lanie cried. She was extremely upset and kept trying the knob on the half door to get into the grooming area.

The receptionist tried to reassure the family that this was a standard procedure and it wasn't hurting her pet. "It protects us from being bitten."

"You don't have to do that. He won't bite if you're gentle with him. Let me show you."

"Customers are not allowed back here."

Now, dad got mad. "If you expect me to actually pay you to abuse my daughter's pet, you've got another thing coming. You either let her control him, or we're taking him right now. I work hard for my money and you should be grateful for our business."

The woman smiled and opened the door. Lanie rushed over to Bucky before her dad could stop her.

When the groomer released the leash, Lanie swept Bucky up in her arm; her one hand cupping his bare behind and supporting his weight, and her other on his back. If she noticed anything, she didn't let it show.

Up until now, Bucky had never thought much about what happened at the vet's office, and he wondered about how his dog had been treated. For now, he was very grateful for Lanie and her parents.

She eased him back on the table, and turned to the groomer. "Do you have clean diapers?"

She retrieved one and gave it to the little girl.

"Here." She held it out for him to stick his feet in. He kept himself covered as he wiggled his feet into the leg openings.

She gently pulled it up until he could reach and he tugged it up with one hand. He sighed with relief.

"Come sit down here. I'll hold you so you don't fall off."

She got him settled on the corner of the table and braced him. "He'll sit here and he won't give you any trouble, I promise"

The groomer sighed, but picked up her shaving tool and began trimming his beard. Bucky sat through it patiently, even when she tilted his head this way and that. A soft brush swept away the loose hairs that had fallen.

Lanie nodded her approval. "It looks good!"

Bucky ran both hands over his face.

"Do you have a mirror?" Lanie asked.

"That's not something we usually have on hand..."

"It's OK, I have one at home."

"Are you finished with him?" Dad called over. He looked at his watch.

"Is there anything else you wish done?"

Lanie thought a moment. "No, I guess he's all good."

"OK, then, pick him up and let's go home. This is turning into an all-day affair."

Dad paid the bill. He wasn't happy, but he paid it. He was not going to be coming back here. He decided maybe ordering stuff wasn't going to be as bad as he first thought.