Talk about the end of the world. Not really. But close to.
It's the end of the financial year, and almost every imaginable customer had come in today to get something off their prescription or ask for their taxation invoice. With Tamara away for the fourth straight day on a sick leave, and Bev almost out of her head (anything new? hehehe.), it was the devil's heyday at the pharmacy.
Can't wait for the weekend.
Friday, 30 June 2006
Tuesday, 27 June 2006
Parting is such sweet sorrow
Today is a day of equal grief and relief. Grief, because I had to surrender Jack to the council. Relief, because he would be back to his rightful owner.
Knowing that would be today's scenario, I took every second of bonding with him. After sending off the chef to his work, we went out for a walk at the park for a poo and a pee. (Of course, that excluded me.) We had brekky and then brushed up for work. He was to sit again in the cold in front of the video shop, but after convincing the other staff, I was able to transfer him at the back of our shop. Folks who had seen him in the park and while tied outside were either hopeful he'd be found by his owner or he'd be fit enough to be adopted. Believe me, I had a growing list of wanna-be parents, with me sitting on the top!
It was almost 1pm, and there was still no sign of the collecting officer from Animal Protection who was supposed to have come at 10am. I gave the Council another ring and found out there was a confusion with the details about Jack being a lost-and-found dog and not what they thought as a missing dog. It was interesting to find out though that even at that hour, no one has reported having missing a pet like Jack. So, with my chef's blessings, I asked what procedures there were to adopt Jack in case his owners didn't claim him. The guy on the other end of the call gathered my details if this was likely to happen.
My lunch time came, so while he was still under our care, I took Jack home with me again. Barely finished with his chicken curry and milk (hmm, I wonder what his owners will think), Tamara rang me on my mobile to let me know the collecting officer had finally arrived. Jack seemed to have understood his fate he finished the rest in no time. Soon, I was handing him over to the officer, who happily discussed the details of the process in case we could adopt Jack. But as per their procedure, he was still scanned in case he was micro-chipped. At the sound of an affirmative 'ding', my heart sank for selfish reasons. The officer said that Jack would most likely find his way back to his owners, which should be good and just proper anyway, or I'd be given a ring if after 8 days in the pound, no one claims him.
I was hopeful both ways. But coming down to more logical terms at the present, I'd be more relieved if he got reconciled with his owners. And that's just what happened in the next hour. The Council called to inform me that his chip had traced him back to his owners, and that he was going to get picked up within the hour.
And guess what? His name is Harry.
Knowing that would be today's scenario, I took every second of bonding with him. After sending off the chef to his work, we went out for a walk at the park for a poo and a pee. (Of course, that excluded me.) We had brekky and then brushed up for work. He was to sit again in the cold in front of the video shop, but after convincing the other staff, I was able to transfer him at the back of our shop. Folks who had seen him in the park and while tied outside were either hopeful he'd be found by his owner or he'd be fit enough to be adopted. Believe me, I had a growing list of wanna-be parents, with me sitting on the top!
It was almost 1pm, and there was still no sign of the collecting officer from Animal Protection who was supposed to have come at 10am. I gave the Council another ring and found out there was a confusion with the details about Jack being a lost-and-found dog and not what they thought as a missing dog. It was interesting to find out though that even at that hour, no one has reported having missing a pet like Jack. So, with my chef's blessings, I asked what procedures there were to adopt Jack in case his owners didn't claim him. The guy on the other end of the call gathered my details if this was likely to happen.
My lunch time came, so while he was still under our care, I took Jack home with me again. Barely finished with his chicken curry and milk (hmm, I wonder what his owners will think), Tamara rang me on my mobile to let me know the collecting officer had finally arrived. Jack seemed to have understood his fate he finished the rest in no time. Soon, I was handing him over to the officer, who happily discussed the details of the process in case we could adopt Jack. But as per their procedure, he was still scanned in case he was micro-chipped. At the sound of an affirmative 'ding', my heart sank for selfish reasons. The officer said that Jack would most likely find his way back to his owners, which should be good and just proper anyway, or I'd be given a ring if after 8 days in the pound, no one claims him.
I was hopeful both ways. But coming down to more logical terms at the present, I'd be more relieved if he got reconciled with his owners. And that's just what happened in the next hour. The Council called to inform me that his chip had traced him back to his owners, and that he was going to get picked up within the hour.
And guess what? His name is Harry.
Monday, 26 June 2006
A night with Jack
Our pharmacy is a shop of sorts. Aside from the normal things pharmacies do, we've got services including photocopying, passport photo (I can do it for you, but Tamara might have to redo it. hehehe.), public fax, selling Met tickets, dry cleaning, and film processing depot. There are several others in between that we just might do because we could, but there's this one I did for more than just the service.
I fell in love with it.
He's got four legs, button eyes, shades of brown fur and no name. A lady brought him in to the shop an hour before our closing time, telling us what seemed to be a frustrating story retold again and again. She found him just outside the church doors yesterday, appearing to be expecting someone to pick him up. When no one did, this lady took him home for the night and today dropped in our pharmacy for help. Of course, Bev immediately called the Council and RSPCA to report a lost-and-found dog, which this lady could have done herself but didn't. No point in arguing then; I guess this is how some had become dependant on Bev's seeming public image as (90% community pharmacist and 10%) community helper.
Over the last trading hour, we put him on a lead tied to the fence near the video shop, in case his owners were out on a look. Bev cloaked him with an old apron (nothing to do with any of our services, but don't ask me why we have that) to ward off the chilly wind. He was really pitiful out there, sitting like a frozen bunch of fluff. When Bev mentioned if I wanted to take him home for the night because she was going somewhere else before heading home, I jumped on the chance.
He, too, responded with excited jumps of joy on his hind legs as I untied his leash from the fence. He was frivolously trotting beside me, as if he knew where we were headed. He was a bit shy as we entered our unit, probably unsure as I was as to what the chef would say, because he's not fond of fluffy dogs. After introductions between the two, I relayed the sad saga of our tailed friend. Hmm, I seem to have tugged on some emotions there, because not long after, they were already playing. And without even having to push my luck, my chef has allowed him to sleep in our room!
This was a takeaway night, so we went out to buy food. He hopped in the car without drama, which made me think he probably gets around often. During dinner, we tried calling him names in the hope of guessing it right. He responded quite favourably to 'Jack', even turning his head to us at every call as if we've interrupted him. After eating, we took him out for a walk, just in case he'd feel like unloading himself.
I fell in love with it.
He's got four legs, button eyes, shades of brown fur and no name. A lady brought him in to the shop an hour before our closing time, telling us what seemed to be a frustrating story retold again and again. She found him just outside the church doors yesterday, appearing to be expecting someone to pick him up. When no one did, this lady took him home for the night and today dropped in our pharmacy for help. Of course, Bev immediately called the Council and RSPCA to report a lost-and-found dog, which this lady could have done herself but didn't. No point in arguing then; I guess this is how some had become dependant on Bev's seeming public image as (90% community pharmacist and 10%) community helper.
Over the last trading hour, we put him on a lead tied to the fence near the video shop, in case his owners were out on a look. Bev cloaked him with an old apron (nothing to do with any of our services, but don't ask me why we have that) to ward off the chilly wind. He was really pitiful out there, sitting like a frozen bunch of fluff. When Bev mentioned if I wanted to take him home for the night because she was going somewhere else before heading home, I jumped on the chance.
He, too, responded with excited jumps of joy on his hind legs as I untied his leash from the fence. He was frivolously trotting beside me, as if he knew where we were headed. He was a bit shy as we entered our unit, probably unsure as I was as to what the chef would say, because he's not fond of fluffy dogs. After introductions between the two, I relayed the sad saga of our tailed friend. Hmm, I seem to have tugged on some emotions there, because not long after, they were already playing. And without even having to push my luck, my chef has allowed him to sleep in our room!
This was a takeaway night, so we went out to buy food. He hopped in the car without drama, which made me think he probably gets around often. During dinner, we tried calling him names in the hope of guessing it right. He responded quite favourably to 'Jack', even turning his head to us at every call as if we've interrupted him. After eating, we took him out for a walk, just in case he'd feel like unloading himself.
You know, for the first time ever, I was out walking with my husband. Not like we don't. We do, but he's usually on a bike, so that doesn't count, right? This night was almost perfect. With a pet in tow-- even at how temporary it could be-- it felt like a family. Hehehe. Funnier still, the chef was running after a dog, a first-time sight since I came here. All their playing made them both yearn for bedtime, and as soon as we came home, Jack was
snoring away. At the chef's bedside.
Awww.
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