it’s quite a test
getting Stan to the vet’s

here we are
trying to coax him into the car
which I have to say is no mean feat
when the car’s a mini and the dog’s a sheep
we can’t even tempt him in with treats
the vet said nil by mouth
but without
something delicious
Stanley’s suspicious
tries to swerve us
not a little nervous
resisting with fervour
(standard behaviour
for your average lurcher)

but if getting there’s a little problematical
emerging at the surgery the change is radical
Stanley a wholly other kinda animal
moody and tragical
sturdy and static
moodily dramatic
standing in the stressy waiting room traffic
including
an Italian Greyhound exuding
all the control and canine restraint
of the well-trained puppy she patently ‘ain’t
bouncing around
four paws off the ground
because being there frightens her
or the owner’s feeding her helium to lighten her
or gravity simply doesn’t apply to her
Stanley gives her a soulful look
like a priest with a paw on the holy book
Yea, though we bark through the valley of the vet
we will fear no evil and hopefully get
a treat or two when the deed is done
and they slip on our harness and lead us home