Chapter 3 - BUDDY'S VET REPORT
The veterinarian found no fracture.
Soft-tissue injury.
Severe bruising.
Pain when weight-bearing.
Buddy would recover.
Emily almost collapsed with relief.
The vet documented:
owner-reported intentional kick,
immediate yelp,
limping,
fear response.
Animal control opened a case.
Margaret’s attorney contacted Emily before sunset.
Lauren Pierce.
Calm.
Professional.
“Mrs. Wilson denies intentionally injuring your dog.”
Emily laughed.
“I have video.”
“She says the dog moved into her path unexpectedly.”
“He was standing still.”
“That will be reviewed.”
Then Lauren added:
“Mrs. Wilson has previously raised concerns about your dog’s behavior.”
Of course.
Margaret had filed:
two barking complaints,
one off-leash complaint,
one “aggressive approach” complaint.
Emily had answered all of them.
Buddy had escaped once when a gate latch failed.
He had barked at a delivery truck.
He had never attacked Margaret.
But the complaints gave Margaret something useful.
A history.
May you like
Not necessarily true enough to win.
True enough to muddy.
