Oleksii stood near the shelter, hesitating. In his hand, he clutched a small slip of paper with an address—already damp from the light November drizzle. A worn sign reading “Tailed Friend” hung askew, as if it too were tired. His wet jacket clung to his back, but he didn’t seem to notice.
The creak of the door let him inside—into warmth, filled with the smells of dogs and bleach. A strange, melancholic combination.
“Good afternoon!”
He was greeted by a young woman wearing a bright name tag: “Maryna, Volunteer.”
“What brings you here?”
“For a puppy,” Oleksii replied, his voice tense. “I want to adopt a dog—a small one.”
“Wonderful!” Maryna brightened. “We just got some newcomers! Some are tiny, and others are a bit older—three months, very smart and playful!”
He nodded silently and followed her down a long hallway. Eyes watched him from both sides. Amber, blue, nearly black. Joyful, sad, pleading. Woolly faces stretched toward the bars. He tried not to look.
“Here they are, our little ones!”
Maryna gestured to a spacious pen where puppies were tumbling around—fluffy bundles with clumsy paws.
“You can choose any one…”
But Oleksii had already turned away.
In the far corner, behind separate bars, lay an old dog. Her muzzle was gray, her back hunched. She didn’t even stir when he approached—only her tail twitched slightly, then stilled.
“And who is that?” he asked, his gaze on the enclosure.
Maryna sighed heavily.
“That’s Lada. She’s twelve. Almost blind. Her former owners gave her up—they said they didn’t have time to care for her. They want a younger dog.”
There was restrained disappointment in Maryna’s voice, though pain could still be heard behind it. Oleksii didn’t reply—he just kept looking at Lada.
“Can I approach her?”
“Of course,” Maryna nodded. “But she hardly reacts anymore. And with people now… well, she’s almost indifferent.”
He slowly crouched by the pen.
Lada turned her headthr h
“How
“About two
Oleksii ran his hand along the bars.
Lada did
He
“Are you sure?”
He stood t
“Yes,
Maryna hesit
“It’s just… you
H
“I
Something in his voice stopped Maryna from arguing. She looked closely at him and quietly said:
“Then let’s start the paperwork. But first—get to know her better. I’ll open the cage.”