Hello Vet! How are you?

Lee Joon spoke as he emerged from the consultation room.

“Then, I’ll see you next week.”

“Yes, doctor. But honestly, I’m not confident. I’ve never succeeded in giving medicine up to now.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve explained well to Ttotto, so he’ll take the medicine.”

“That would be good…”

“If he still refuses, bring him back.”

“Alright, then I’ll trust you and go on my way.”

“Goodbye.”

Jang Sora, who greeted the guardian, smiled happily as she bid farewell.

“I don’t know how you make the animals take their medicine so well. It’s really amazing.”

“I explained to them why they need to take the medicine. They understood that they won’t feel pain if they do.”

“Hoho, the way you say it, it’s like the animals truly understand you.”

“They do understand, you know?”

Lee Joon shared the truth, but Jang Sora just kept laughing.

Lee Joon also chuckled as he turned to head back to the consultation room.

“Oh my, it’s a beagle.”

However, at Jang Sora’s comment, he turned back to look out the window.

He saw a beagle walking calmly towards them.

“Still a puppy, but it’s calm.”

Lee Joon gazed with interest at the beagle strolling quietly.

“Right? At that age, shouldn’t they be zigzagging as they run around?”

“Exactly, did it receive training?”

The conversation between Lee Joon and Jang Sora was interrupted.

The beagle they were observing, along with the guardian, entered the animal clinic.

Ting.

“Welcome.”

“Hello. I came to look at some pet food.”

Yoo Ji-yeon awkwardly smiled as she spoke.

Jang Sora guided Yoo Ji-yeon to the area where the pet food was displayed.

“Take your time looking around.”

“Okay.”

While scanning the pet food, Yoo Ji-yeon was deep in thought.

‘The doctor the ladies were praising must be this doctor, but how do I ask him? Should I just say this one plays around too much?’

Meanwhile, unexpectedly, Jamong was standing quietly beside her.

Lee Joon complimented Jamong, who came into the clinic, wagging only his tail slightly.

“You’ve trained him well, it seems.”

“Pardon?”

“They are usually very curious. Their sense of smell is quite sharp, so it’s rare for them to stand still in unfamiliar places.”

Lee Joon gestured toward Jamong, who remained still, merely turning his head.

“It’s a place filled with familiar scents from friends. Just how curious would he be? Yet he’s holding back.”

At Lee Joon’s words, Yoo Ji-yeon sighed briefly.

“Training? He’s never received any.”

“Really? For no training, he seems quite calm.”

“No, he can’t usually stay still, but today he’s relatively quiet.”

Yoo Ji-yeon began to speak, thinking it was a good opportunity.

“Actually, I wanted to have a consultation because of our Jamong.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Honestly, he causes so much trouble.”

“Puppies of this age do play quite rambunctiously. Did you say his name is Jamong?”

“Yes, it’s Jamong.”

“Jamong seems calmer compared to typical beagle pups. And he hasn’t had any training, you say?”

Just then, Jamong sniffed the air and let out a low bark.

『Wow, wow, I can smell the big brothers.』

Lee Joon narrowed his eyes as he observed Jamong displaying curiosity.

‘From his voice, he doesn’t seem so calm; he appears quite curious.’

He wondered why an untrained dog would be so settled.

“In truth, Jamong gets really wild. When I’m home, he’s a bit calm, but when left alone, he turns the house upside down.”

Lee Joon nodded in understanding.

Yoo Ji-yeon, noticing Lee Joon’s interest in her story, began to explain.

“Even during walks, he never walks calmly. I’m always out of breath trying to catch up. Now that I think about it, it’s a bit unusual.”

“Was he calm when you left home?”

“No, we stopped by the park. He was his usual self when we went to the park, running wildly. He sniffed around and met other friends…”

“I see.”

While listening to Yoo Ji-yeon, Lee Joon continued to observe Jamong.

‘So he calmed down after a park walk, which implies he relieved his stress, yet he seems eager to play. Moreover…’

He noticed Jamong glancing at his owner, implying that the owner had possibly restrained him.

“Could you describe more about Jamong’s usual behavior?”

“Well, he gets into so much trouble… Ah, it might be better if I show you.”

Yoo Ji-yeon showed pictures stored in her phone and recounted Jamong’s past antics.

It was a story commonly heard from beagle owners.

“Jamong has plenty of energy.”

“Sigh… Yes.”

“Then you should let Jamong roam freely for a bit.”

“Pardon?”

Yoo Ji-yeon’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Oh, don’t worry. He won’t run outside. The safety door only opens when the main door is closed.”

Because the clinic was situated near a road, Lee Joon had carefully considered the safety door.

“Not that, but I’m worried he might damage things inside.”

“It’s alright. I’ll keep a close eye on him. Besides, I need to see what he does to diagnose him properly.”

Lee Joon intended to speak with Jamong when he was relaxed and not watching his owner’s reactions.

“That makes sense.”

Yoo Ji-yeon unclipped Jamong’s harness.

Following Lee Joon’s instructions, she encouraged Jamong to roam freely.

Initially, Jamong moved cautiously, taking heed.

But hearing no reprimands, he started roaming energetically.

Wagging his tail vigorously, he explored every corner.

“Isn’t it fun?”

『Yes! I smell the big brothers and lots of cat scents. Heehee, it’s so fun.』

Tap tap tap.

Jamong tapped on the closed door of the cat consultation room.

“Why there?”

『There’s a huge, majestic cat brother at the park, and his scent is coming from this room… Ugh!』

Jamong widened his eyes and looked up at Lee Joon.

『It’s true.』

“What’s true?”

Lee Joon chuckled, having an idea of why Jamong was behaving this way.

『Wow~! The park brothers told me there was a doctor who understands our words. Is it you?』

As expected, he probably heard something from his animal friends.

It seemed Ddangkong had given a piece of advice.

Last time, Ddangkong had cautioned a mischievous Welsh Corgi puppy bouncing around the animal clinic to not be too much trouble for their guardians.

‘So that’s why he calmed down suddenly after the park walk.’

Understanding the situation, Lee Joon nodded.

Jamong’s eyes sparkled as he talked excitedly.

『The brothers told me to ask the doctor a favor if I ever met you.』

“A favor?”

『I can’t tell if my nuna likes or dislikes me.』

Jamong shared his concern.

“Your nuna likes you. Why else would she come to the clinic and take you for walks?”

Jamong tilted his head at Lee Joon’s response.

『Really?』

“Yup. By the way, does your nuna scold you often?”

『… No. My nuna doesn’t scold me often.』

“Really? She’s a good person, then.”

『Yes, very much.』

“Then why do you act wary around her?”

『Because… I’m scared she might send me away.』

From what Jamong said, Lee Joon could make a guess.

‘He’s been abandoned before.’

Lee Joon consoled Jamong and coaxed the full story out of him.

After understanding the situation, Lee Joon started his consultation with Yoo Ji-yeon.

“It seems you need not worry about Jamong. He listens well and is quite intelligent.”

“Really?”

A smile spread across Yoo Ji-yeon’s surprised face following the unexpected praise for Jamong.

“Beagles are naturally active. How often do you take him for walks?”

“I have to work, so I can’t walk him every day. But I try to take him out on weekends.”

“And when you do, how long are the walks?”

“About an hour?”

“It seems Jamong is wreaking havoc at home because he’s not burning off his energy. He needs about three hours of playtime daily.”

“Three hours?”

Yoo Ji-yeon’s eyes widened.

“If he gets that much playtime, he’ll behave calmly at home.”

“Phew, perhaps it’s too much for me to handle.”

When Yoo Ji-yeon looked gloomy, Jamong tapped her lightly with his paw.

With a worried expression on his face.

『Nuna…』

Yoo Ji-yeon, stroking Jamong’s forehead, gave a bitter smile.

“Even people need time to get used to each other. Let alone between a person and a dog. You need time to adjust to each other.”

Taking the dog home comes with responsibility, thought Yoo Ji-yeon, as she slowly nodded.

“I understand, but I’m worried he might struggle because of me. I brought him home thinking I’d take good care of him, but he’s left alone too long, and I can’t even take him for walks properly…”

Then the solution should be found.

Lee Joon wasn’t someone who merely pointed out issues without resolving them.

“If I may ask, have you been the one caring for Jamong since the beginning?”

Lee Joon subtly inquired, having heard Jamong’s story.

“No. I’ve had him for about three months now. I think this is his third home. The first owner gave him up due to shedding… and the second because they couldn’t handle the havoc he caused.”

Yoo Ji-yeon circumvented saying ‘abandoned’.

That alone showed how much she cherished Jamong.

Such a past explained why Jamong fretted about the guardian’s moods.

Was he about to be abandoned again?

“From Jamong’s view, watching you leave for work feels like being abandoned.”

“Abandoned?”

“Yes. Up until you return, all he can do is wait. But for Jamong, waiting over 10 hours alone is incredibly long.”

“I feel the same.”

“He probably won’t eat or use the bathroom until you come back.”

“How did you know? He only starts moving when I get home.”

“That’s when he finally feels reassured.”

“Though it seems like he’s playing… The house is still a mess.”

“That’s his way of coping while waiting. It’s a behavior to soothe his anxious mind. Worrying if he’ll be abandoned again. That’s likely Jamong’s biggest stress now.”

For a very brief moment, Yoo Ji-yeon had wondered if she should send Jamong to a home with a garden where he could run freely.

But now, that thought seemed to dissipate entirely.

“No, I love Jamong so much.”

Yoo Ji-yeon’s touch on Jamong’s head became firmer.

『Hehe.』

Told several times by Lee Joon about how much his nuna cherished him, Jamong found her touch comforting.

“Do you have some time in the mornings?”

“Pardon?”

“What if you take out about 20-30 minutes before work for a walk with Jamong? And increase the walk time during weekends.”

“I could find that kind of time, but would it make a difference?”

“I’ll work out a compromise with Jamong.”

Lee Joon expressed confident assurance, leaving Yoo Ji-yeon feeling half-convinced.

Could such minor changes solve his tendency to mess up the house?

Besides, how would the doctor communicate with Jamong?

“Your nuna’s willing to do morning walks for you. Isn’t that because she likes you?”

『Really? My nuna likes me?』

Lee Joon had reiterated several times during his talks with Jamong how much his nuna adored him.

Yet he seemed to remain uneasy.

“If you have a morning walk, you can be alright during the day, right? Then nuna will take you on longer weekend walks. Play to your heart’s content, and at home, only play with your toys! Then you’ll live with nuna from now on.”

『Yes!』

Looking at Jamong barking robustly, Yoo Ji-yeon smiled.

‘He really seems to be responding.’

***

Following Lee Joon’s advice, Yoo Ji-yeon started morning walks from the very next day.

However, she wasn’t fully convinced by Lee Joon’s words.

She saw it as merely a way to channel Jamong’s energy.

But day by day… a week later on Saturday, when she visited Woof Woof Animal Clinic, her expression had completely changed.

“Doctor! It’s amazing. My house is so clean now.”

“Haha, that’s good to hear.”

“Doing morning walks, keeping the house clean—it’s all so great. Walking regularly has made me feel healthier too.”

“You owe it all to Jamong.”

“This must be why people have pets. Hahaha.”

As Yoo Ji-yeon smiled brightly, Jamong mirrored her and smiled too.

‘That’s wonderful.’

Lee Joon observed the two, delighting in their radiant smiles.

Healing animals, freeing them from pain, is a truly noble pursuit.

Understanding both pet owners and their companions brings immense fulfillment too.

Meanwhile, Ddangkong and Jamong, currently at the clinic, conversed.

『Looks like you’re doing well, Jamong. Your spirits seem lifted.』
『Yes, thanks to you, my nuna loves me much more than before. Heehee.』

Jamong excitedly shared how his guardian’s responses had changed since coming home after work.

『Haha, that’s great.』
『It’s amazing. All thanks to you guys.』
『Ehem, but isn’t it actually thanks to the doctor?』
『You’re right. The doctor is amazing.』

With his long legs bounding joyfully, Jamong ran toward Lee Joon, who was conversing with the guardians.

『Doctor! Thank you.』

“Haha, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

『Yes!』

As Lee Joon and the guardian engaged in conversation, Jamong bounced around joyfully.

Down below, Ddangkong walked leisurely.

A tremendously harmonious atmosphere.

Watching the lively clinic from outside stood a man.

“I’m jealous.”

He watched for a while until his eyes met Lee Joon’s.

Lee Joon gave a slight nod as he customarily did.

Perhaps due to that, the man opened the door and stepped in.

“Welcome. Is there anything you’re looking for?”

Jang Sora greeted the guest.

The man, who had come inside, continued to watch Jamong trotting around. Then, heading toward where the treats were, he spoke.

“From here to there, please give me everything.”

—