Chapter 52: Sheldon's Clearance Permit
"Based on the preliminary examination, his demeanor is excellent, heart and lung sounds are normal, body temperature is standard, and there are no signs of parasitic activity on the body surface."
Dr. Sanchez recorded his findings while adding, "You said you found him on the road? Normally, stray animals or pets that have been abandoned for a while would show some health issues, such as malnutrition, skin conditions, or parasites. But this little guy's overall health is surprisingly good."
He looked at David and offered a reasonable hypothesis: "It appears the time he was lost or abandoned must have been very short. Maybe the car that dumped him had just driven away half an hour before you passed that section of road. Otherwise, it's hard to explain why he's in such good condition. It's almost impossible for a wild animal or a long-term stray to be this healthy."
David was stunned and subconsciously said, "I don't understand why someone would abandon such a healthy Husky with rare coloring instead of selling him for money!"
"Who knows—he might have just been lost. We can't rule that out," Sanchez said, changing the subject. "Next, we'll draw blood for a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, and the specific tests you requested for Brucella and Leptospira, as well as antigen tests for canine distemper and parvovirus. We'll also need a fecal sample to check for parasite eggs."
He paused and added, "However, some tests, like blood cultures and certain serological screenings, take time to process. Especially tests like Toxoplasma antibodies, which usually take a few hours to half a day. Would you prefer to wait here, or head home and we'll call you when the results are ready?"
David thought of Sheldon's face, stubbornly waiting for the "complete report," and sighed. "We'll wait. Some results will be ready quickly anyway, so we can get partial reports first. Also, could you give him a bath? He hasn't been properly cleaned since we found him outside."
"Of course," Sanchez readily agreed. "Once we've drawn the blood and completed the basic checks, we can have the groomer give him a bath."
While waiting for the test results and the grooming, David and Leonard didn't stay idle. Following the hospital's recommended shopping list, they drove to a large pet supply store nearby.
Faced with the overwhelming array of pet products, the two physicists experienced decision paralysis for the first time.
Finally, with the help of a store employee, they selected a comfortable cushioned dog bed, several bags of puppy food in different flavors, food and water bowls, some chew toys, a leash and collar, and necessities like dog shampoo and towels.
Looking at the mountain of items piled up in the shopping cart, Leonard couldn't help but sigh, "Raising a kid is probably about the same amount of work, right?"
A few hours later, they returned to the veterinary hospital. Most of the test results were back, showing everything was normal, with no signs of infectious diseases.
The puppy had also finished his bath—his fur was now fluffy and soft, the gray and black colors more distinct. He looked energetic and beautiful, completely transformed.
Finally, the long-awaited test results for Toxoplasma and the others came back, all showing negative.
Dr. Sanchez handed the detailed comprehensive health report to David and congratulated them with a smile: "Congratulations, you have a very healthy new family member."
Holding this report, which could be called "Sheldon's Security Clearance," David and Leonard finally breathed a sigh of relief. When they drove back to the apartment, it was already evening, and the streetlights were coming on.
Back at the apartment building, David and Leonard first hauled the large pile of puppy supplies up to Apartment 5A. Then, David, carrying the puppy, and Leonard, holding the thick health report, approached the door of Apartment 4A again.
Leonard knocked on the door: "Sheldon, we got the report. The full workup. It's very detailed, and the puppy is completely healthy."
Sheldon's voice came from inside the door: "Slide the report under the door!"
Leonard complied, sliding the report under the door. Inside, there was a rustling sound of paper being examined, accompanied by Sheldon's occasional muttering: "Hmm... CBC normal... chemistry values within acceptable parameters... Brucella negative... Leptospira negative... Toxoplasma... negative..."
A few minutes later, the lock clicked softly, and the door to 4A finally opened slowly, revealing half of Sheldon's face.
His gaze lingered on the puppy for a few seconds—he seemed slightly surprised by its brand-new appearance.
Then, he cleared his throat and, in a tone befitting the announcement of a scientific principle, said, "Based on this reasonably comprehensive third-party diagnostic report, I temporarily acknowledge that this organism currently poses no biosafety threat to my person. You may enter."
David and Leonard exchanged a look that said, "We finally got clearance," and walked into the apartment carrying the puppy.
David placed the puppy on the living room carpet. The puppy was full of curiosity about the new environment, taking tentative steps to sniff here and investigate there.
Sheldon stood several meters away, arms crossed, scrutinizing the little ball of fur on the floor with the gaze of a scientist observing an unknown biological specimen.
The fear and rejection in his eyes seemed to have diminished, replaced by pure curiosity and a certain indescribable fascination.
David found Sheldon's demeanor amusing and said, "Hey, Sheldon, you've confirmed he's healthy now. Look how cute he is. You can come over and pet him—he won't bite."
Sheldon's body visibly stiffened. He looked warily at the puppy, then at David. "Contact? Physical contact? Although he has a health report proving he's disease-free, direct contact still carries a degree of unpredictability..."
"He just had a bath—he's cleaner than most surfaces in this apartment," Leonard chimed in.
The puppy seemed to sense the focused attention, lifted his head toward Sheldon, and let out a soft "Woof?"
This sound seemed to flip some unknown switch in Sheldon. A crack appeared in his expression—a complex mix of extreme resistance and inexplicable attraction.
He slowly shuffled forward. Each step was like walking through a minefield. He stopped about three feet away from the puppy and observed him for a few seconds.
After confirming the "mine" hadn't exploded, he took another step forward, extending his index finger little by little toward the top of the puppy's head.
David and Leonard held their breath, watching this scene that resembled a scientific experiment.
Finally, Sheldon's fingertip made contact with the tuft of fur on the puppy's head.
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