"The Vet's Bill"

There once was a man, who had a dog. He loved that dog very much. They had grown up together, through the years, become inseparable. Every where that man went, one was sure to see his loyal companion at his side. They dined together, shopped together. There was nothing the man did without his canine companion close by. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to years, they grew older. Their friendship was strong.
Once, while fishing, the ice cracked. The dog sensed the danger dragged the man from his seat, to safety as a the section of the ice he once sat on, floated away. Warm hugs, and wet licks were exchanged that evening. There was a natural feeling between them, as though they could sense what the other thought. There was a time when the man worked hard, chopping wood for the fire. Tired as he was, he toiled into the twilight hour. The dog's sense of time and the tiredness of his master. The dog brought him his slippers, a cue that he had worked too hard, he should rest. Taking the suggestion, the man went inside his cabin, carrying a load of wood for the fire. Minutes later, a shower of hail tore through the country side. Hail the size of small baseball fell in great number around their cabin. Had he not come in he would have been caught in the storm, possibly hurt, even killed.
It would be safe to say, he would do anything for the dog, and the dog for him. Time rolled on, extorting from both a measure of life and strength. Both greying a little, both slowing, where once they were more agile. The dog, ran a little slower, walked a little slower, but, still had quite the appetite. He would also be found sleeping, or rather resting his old bones more often.
In the town, there was a vet, a rather good animal doctor, who had known of the pair for some time. He had examined the dog often and was on hand to provide the dog its shots, and annual check ups. When the man called, in some distress, the doctor paid him a visit, to examined the dog. The news was hard to take, but the dog had had a long and wonderful life. The dog was very old, as those things go. With little time remaining, the man paid extra special attention to the dogs needs. Rewarded with a wet tongue, the soft warm lick of a friend. Happiness twinkled still in those deep brown eyes.
While out for a walk one day, having left his best friend at home asleep. The man had a strange feeling, he returned to find the dog, lying on the porch in front of the door. He bent to pet him, there was no reaction. Bending, he picked up the limp body, and drove to the vet's, straight away. He was shown into the examination room where he placed the dog, gently on a cold metal table.

"Doctor," he said, as the man entered the room. "My dog won't move."

"He's dead," the doctor replied, after a simple examination.

"It can't be. I would like a second opinion." the man said, planting his hand on his hips, in defiance.

"Why? Your dog is dead," came the doctor's reply.

"I just want a second opinion!"

The doctor left the room, returned a few moments later, carrying a cat. He placed the cat on the table beside the dog. The cat walked around the dog, returned to the doctor. "Meow," it purred. The doctor looked at the man, inquired. "Satisfied?"

A surprised look came over the doctor's face, when the man replied. "No!"

The doctor left the room again, this time returning with a beautiful female Labrador Retriever. Its hair Golden Brown, shining. Lifting the dog up on the table, she too, did the same thing, only this time the dog barked. The doctor turned to the man, his hands, now on hips. "There are you satisfied now?"

"Okay, doctor. How much do I owe you?" He reached for his wallet.

"$650 dollars." said the doctor, a plain look on his face.

"650! Why so much?" cried the man, startled.

"Well", the doctor replied, "I usually charge only $25 for this kind of thing." He rubbed a stubbly chin.

"So why am I paying so much?" puzzled. "You said the dog's dead."

"Yes, that's true. There's the original $25.00 for the preliminary examination," he explained, "but now I have to charge you $325.00 for the "Cat-scan" and $300.00 for the "Lab" work."