On pins and needles, Jared waited for his father's answer to the doctor's question.
He worried, too, that he was finding it so hard to break through his conditioning so that when any human, like Dr. Brinkley, gave him an order, he had to obey. But, with the looming prospect of being neutered staring him in the face, he had to prioritize his concerns.
"Please, dad," he whimpered, unable to directly disobey the vet and bark loudly. "Anything but that!"
"You know, there's no rush," Mr. Webster said, and his sheepdog son heard the words with grateful relief. "Shaggy's been through enough, what with getting hit by a car and all. We can always re-schedule with you."
Jared didn't like that his dad left open the possibility, but at least he could remain intact, perhaps long enough to make the impostor return his stolen body to him.
"Of course," the doctor said. "Let him go home and recuperate. Just call my office and make another appointment when you're ready."
Jared looked up at the doc. He did owe the man a lot. As way of thanks, he licked the vet's hand. "Thanks for patching me up, doc," he wanted to say.
The doctor finished his call with Jared's dad, smiled and patted Jared's head. "Looks like you're heading home, boy."
Jared's jaws opened and his tongue rolled out as his rear wagged like mad. Finally, some good news!