Sandi recognized Juanita’s spiel. The woman could wear down a granite wall. Listening to her and eventually weakening against her verbal assault was how Sandi had ended up with the menagerie she presently had. “Does that mean she has to be groomed? I already pay to have Adolph groomed, you know. I can’t afford the additional expense.”
“I understand, honey. I’m just telling you about her. Poor little thing. Her owners moved to Dallas and just left her roaming the neighborhood. No food, no water, no safe place to sleep. They didn’t even try to find her a new home.”
“Oh, no! How mean.”
“I know. One of the neighbors caught her trying to hide behind his air conditioner, poor little thing. She was filthy and starved and shaking all over. She’s too little to survive on her own. Since we’re a no-kill shelter, he brought her to us. Otherwise, she probably would’ve been picked up by the county.”
Sandi mentally shook herself. She could not take on another pet at this moment. “Juanita, please. I just can’t. A new dog would not only take up more of the time that I don’t have and it would remind me that I don’t have Waffle anymore.”
“Maybe you need a change of pace, darlin’. Or a change of pets, so to speak. We’ve got this darling little miniature pig that needs a home.”
A vision of the huge hogs her grandparents had raised for meat passed through Sandi’s mind. “A pig? You’re kidding me. How big is it?”
“About thirty pounds. Well, maybe forty or fifty. Bigger than a cat, smaller than Waffle.”
“I’ve heard about those miniature pigs, Juanita. It could get to be a hundred pounds or even more.”
“No, no. She won’t. She’s already four years old. Well, she might get a little bit bigger, but not that much.”
Sandy was skeptical. She had read how people were sometimes duped into believing they were taking in a miniature pig that eventually grew to a full-size hog.
“Her name is Bella,” Juanita continued, “after some character in a movie. She’s the sweetest little thing. She’s so pink and so affectionate. Housebroken, too. Uses a litter box. And you should see her in the bathtub. She loooves playing in the water.”
Sandi had to admit she was curious, but she didn’t want to share her only bathtub with a pig, miniature or otherwise. At least she could bathe her dogs in her second bathroom’s walk-in shower. “She has to be bathed in the bathtub?”
“Well, you’d want her to be clean. Pigs like water, you know.”
The memory of the smells that accompanied Jake assailed Sandi as well as her more recent experience with skunk odor. A house pig was bound to be a dozen times worse. She took hold of herself and hardened her resolve to be strong. “I can’t, Juanita. My house hasn’t recovered from Jake yet. I don’t want another exotic animal that has to live inside and I don’t have a place for it outside.”
“Oh, she couldn’t live outside anyway.”
“Why did the owners get rid of her?”
“They’re dumb kids. Thought a pet pig would be cool. They paid a thousand dollars for her. Can you believe that?”
“Let me guess. The novelty wore off and they got tired of taking care of her.”
Juanita released a big sigh. “Adopting a pig ain’t like adopting your basic dog or cat. A pig takes a commitment.”
Anger spread through Sandi. “Typical,” she grumbled. “That’s behavior that produces unwanted animals and even abused animals, isn’t it? I’ll tell you something, Juanita. Since I’ve started fostering unwanted animals, I’ve lost a lot of respect for my fellow humans. I’m starting to believe that people who want a pet should be thoroughly screened to learn their motives for getting a pet and their qualifications for having one as well as their intentions for the future of the poor animals.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more. I feel the same way,” Juanita replied. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work. Just wanted to let you know about our new residents.”
Sandi disconnected from the call in a state of aggravation. Now she wouldn’t be able to get a sweet little dog and a cute pig that couldn’t survive outdoors off her mind.
And being aggravated took her thoughts to her nemesis, Nick Conway. She hadn’t heard one word from him about allowing her to visit Waffle or have him for a weekend. Should she call him and tell him it was her turn? Or should she just call the court and report him to the judge?
“What does Juanita want you to adopt now?” Betty Ann asked.
“Oh, she’s got a new dog. And a miniature pig. Do you want a pet pig?”
“Hardly. Since I’ve been working in this store, thanks to you and Juanita, I’ve adopted two dogs and three cats. I live in a one-bedroom apartment. I absolutely cannot take any more animals.”
“Then I guess you wouldn’t be interested in adopting a little dog that looks like a Westie.”
Betty Ann’s interest was immediate. Her brow tented. “Aww, really? I adore those little dogs. They’re so cuuute.”
“She’s a spayed female. Her name is Betsy. Juanita says she has a sweet personality.”
“Hm. I should at least look at her, don’t you think? I mean, there are just so many unwanted animals and not enough people to take care of them. It’s so sad. How much more space would one more little dog take up? I think I’ll call Juanita.”
“You’d better think about it, Betty Ann, before you commit. One thing I’ve learned—and you’ll have to learn it, too—you just can’t take every single animal. Juanita will unload a whole zoo on you if you don’t resist her.”
Just then, before Sandi could launch a lecture about getting sucked in by Juanita and We Love Animals, her cell phone warbled. She checked the screen and that tremble that had become familiar passed through
