Chapter 429: This Little Pet Is Not Bad
The cold weather not only drives wild animals into human territories, but stray animals are even more accustomed to rummaging through trash in human living areas, searching for anything edible.
Chen Ying had not much experience living here, but he had seen plenty of stories about abandoned cats and dogs becoming strays in the wilderness from the news and the internet.
Not to mention, the economic collapse of the Tibetan Mastiff market a couple of years ago left many abandoned mastiffs roaming in the wild, almost threatening the survival of wildlife.
Before, no one lived regularly at the rest station, so stray dogs would not venture here, but this year was different.
The students who came and went were fond of online shopping, and their leftover food scraps and snack packaging easily attracted stray dogs.
Chen Ying's face changed slightly, and he instantly took out his phone to send a cautionary alert in the group chat.
"Most stray dogs in the wilderness are Tibetan Mastiffs and their mixed breeds, everyone must be vigilant, these stray dogs are not vaccinated."
"Ah? Ahhh(⌯꒪꒫꒪)! I fed a stray dog yesterday, what should I do?"
A classmate from the research station immediately reported that he saw a semi-grown dog on the roadside that looked a bit like a Red Lion, but its fur was very dirty. He couldn't bear it, so he fed the dog.
The reason was that he felt that, just like other dogs, Red Lion Black Gold lived like little princesses and princes while that semi-grown dog could only scavenge in the wilderness.
"WuwuX﹏X, I was even thinking of feeding it until it got familiar with me and then taking it home to raise."
Chen Ying was speechless.
Such large, aggressive dogs are simply not suitable for the city, and even in rural areas, they cannot be properly cared for. They are combative and vicious, with bad tempers, one bite could kill a farm dog.
If you really took one home, you wouldn't be keeping a pet; you'd be raising a live tyrant, and the inevitable result would be either euthanasia or abandonment.
Just imagine how terrifying it would be to have an abandoned large, aggressive dog wandering the city streets; anyone with a bit of sense would understand.
After hearing Chen Ying's explanation to Little Fox, Red Lion couldn't believe it had failed to detect the other presence!
To it, it was a direct insult to its abilities. Red Lion bared its teeth and swore to catch the bad guy.
But Black Gold reacted differently. It went to the entrance of Little Fox's den and seriously sniffed around several times. Finally, lifting its head, it said, "The bad guy used Red Lion's scent to cover its own."
Chen Ying was shocked(◎_◎;), "Is this stray dog really that capable?"
There were indeed some smart animals, but to perfectly hide one's scent with so many feline and canine species at home...
"It's almost becoming supernatural!"
Chen Ying posted his speculation in the group and requested that his friends refrain from feeding animals easily.
"Got it, Brother Ying. How about we try to find this dog?"
The idea of playing a game of hide-and-seek with such a clever dog immediately sparked a strange competitive desire among the bored students.
Five or six students, along with four staff members from the livestock station, plus Uncle Tashi and the cats and dogs, started playing a real-life version of "Let's Find."
Chen Ying did not join in their game; he had to go to the center to apply for a batch of vaccines.
A health officer was specially assigned to the livestock station, who, although unable to treat all illnesses, could still administer vaccines and issue some medications without a problem.
The vaccines Chen Ying was applying for were for animals; those for human use had to be delivered from the health clinic.
When he went to the center, he just happened to run into Xiao Song on her day off; she was discussing travel plans with Duanmu.
Chen Ying subconsciously suggested why not go to the beach. The temperature in the southern coastal areas was high at this time of year, perfect for an off-season vacation.
"Let's do it, book the tickets now," Xiao Song decided, urging Duanmu to quickly arrange the trip.
Duanmu had to arrange his work before he could take vacation, so he told Chen Ying not to rush off and suggested they all have lunch together at noon.
After Duanmu left, Chen Ying raised an eyebrow, "Are you two doing fine right now, and when are you planning to have kids?"
"There's no rush, we'll talk about it when it happens," Xiao Song laughed, "We're both young and at the prime of our careers. Once we have a child, I reckon I'll have to leave River Source."
Xiao Song felt a bit of indescribable conflict inside.
The two of them weren't too old or too young, but staying in River Source while pregnant posed significant risks. To have a baby, they would inevitably have to leave.
And it's not just about birthing a child; raising one is the long-haul job that requires persistence. Many couples who were initially fine have ultimately parted ways due to disagreements over child-raising.
Duanmu wouldn't have a big problem, but his parents hoped they would have children sooner rather than later, and said they would cover all the child's expenses. They offered to take care of the child if Xiao Song didn't have the time, and of course, if Xiao Song wanted to move back into the city, they were willing to help her arrange everything.
"Even though I know his parents don't mean it that way, I can't shake the feeling that I'm just a tool for continuing his family line. Is something wrong with my mindset?"
Chen Ying didn't really understand, but he felt this was something Duanmu should sort out. Raising a child isn't just one person's job, nor is it the responsibility of grandparents.
If the couple can't contribute together, then what's the point of having a child? Is there a throne in the family to inherit?
The topic of family was too heavy; Chen Ying didn't want Xiao Song to be caught up in internal strife and changed the subject to the cats and dogs at the emergency station.
"Is Black Gold really that smart?" Xiao Song was surprised and tempted, "It's a pity they are large and aggressive dogs, or I would consider adopting one to grow up with my child."
As they were talking, the girl who disliked cats and dogs came over to say hello.
"Dr. Chen, I tried the method you told me about last time, and now I have my own pet," she said.
She showed off a pet card she carried with her, featuring a photo of herself and her beloved pet.
A very delicate skink.
Chen Ying opened his mouth but was lost for words, while Xiao Song pursed her lips, trying hard not to laugh, as the girl enthusiastically introduced her cute little pet.
Even though there were many who kept skinks, Chen Ying was not among them.
A Veterinarian might treat all animals equally, but personally, everyone has their own preferences.
For the girl, the skink that wasn't afraid to come close to her was the gentlest adorable creature in the world.
After the girl left, content after sharing her excitement, Xiao Song covered her mouth, shaking with suppressed laughter.
After a while, Duanmu came to say that he had almost finished arranging his work and that they could set off tomorrow.
They planned to visit his parents' house first, then head to the beach for some fun.
Duanmu handed over the food and clothes he had prepared in advance to Chen Ying to take back to the emergency station, and also left him with two sets of animal heaters.
"The experts say the temperatures will be extremely cold this year, so make sure you stay safe at the station. Don't go wandering out in the heavy snow. Let me know if you need anything, and I'll have it sent over."
"I know, I won't be shy with you."
"By the way, Brother Ying, didn't you refer a disciple to Ah-Xin? My mom wants to know how reliable that kid is because Ah-Xin is considering sponsoring him to go to the Mainland to further his photography."
Chen Ying was startled, then recounted everything he knew to Duanmu.
"The kid seems pretty reliable, but it's hard to truly understand what's in a person's heart. I think it's best to tell your aunt to observe a bit longer before making a decision."
After thinking it over, Duanmu decided to have the boy come to the center to volunteer for a while so his uncle could get a better sense of him before deciding.