Samantha took in the squirming pile of puppies, some sleeping, others nursing from their tired-looking mother. "Thanks for calling me, Jen. I can't believe she had thirteen puppies in there!"
"Yeah, Max must have had some REALLY healthy swimmers!" Jennifer, Sam's neighbor and Missy's owner, laughed.
"Ugh, I know I've apologized already, but I really am sorry for all the trouble this has put you through! Now that Max is fixed and we know it won't happen again we can start letting them have playdates... once she's up for it, I mean. He's definitely been lonely since Tom's been away on that extended work trip."
Jen smiled, picking up one of the tiny pups. "Oh it's no trouble really. It was my fault for not having gotten Missy spayed earlier too! Now we've just contributed to the overpopulation issue ourselves, but you gotta admit, they're pretty cute!" she snuggled the sleepy fluff-ball, rubbing it's soft fur against her face.
"Well thanks again for keeping them here and everything. I definitely want to take one of the male pups, but I'll get you a check to help with food and everything until we can find the others homes." Sam was standing, not tempted to cuddle any of the puppies like her neighbor. Jen was much better suited to taking care of animals, even helping her out by walking Max every other day. She'd never considered herself a dog-person, but after Tom's machine had transformed her (and himself!), Samantha battled with her dislike. On the one hand, she was furious with Tom for having turned her into a dog, and at Max for what he'd immediately done to her. But on the other hand, she was aware that some mental aspect of her short time as a German Shepherd must have lingered, allowing her to sympathize better with the animals she'd once disdained.
Taking her leave of Jen, she headed home. It was finally time to use the Chronivac again.