Page 15 of A New Family at Puddleduck Farm (Puddleduck Farm #6)

The next day Phoebe asked Natasha, just in case four Savannah kittens had slipped under the radar, but as she’d expected it was a no.

‘Are you sure they didn’t get scared by fireworks and go off to hide somewhere? I know it’s banned but we’ve heard a few over the last couple of weeks. There were some last night going off somewhere.’

‘Yes, I spotted those, but I wouldn’t have thought so. They’d have come back by now.’

‘Hmmm, well, if anyone else had asked that question I’d have suspected theft.

’ Natasha’s eyes darkened. ‘Savannahs are expensive. But I can’t see anyone stealing them from the lord of the manor.

It’s not like they can just sneak into his garden.

He’d spot them. His drive is a quarter of a mile long. ’

‘Yes, that’s true.’ Phoebe had a sudden thought. ‘Did that lost cat you mentioned a while back ever turn up? That wasn’t a Savannah, was it?’

‘No, it wasn’t. But it was one of the posh breeds. What are those really big ones?’

‘A Maine Coon?’

‘Yes, it was one of those. And it hadn’t been found last time I checked with her. That’s why the poster’s still up. Although that was a while ago now. I’ll give her a ring.’

When Natasha reported back, she was shaking her head. ‘Oscar hasn’t turned up. She thought I was phoning with good news. It was horrible to say I wasn’t. Why did you ask about him anyway?’

Phoebe shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. Just some weird hunch I had that someone might be stealing posh cats and then using them to breed from. The cat equivalent to a puppy farm. He was a tom cat, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes, but the Savannahs were kittens.’

‘Female kittens,’ Phoebe said. ‘And kittens don’t have to be very old before they can produce their first litter.’

‘Yes, you’re right. Blimey. I really hope it’s nothing like that. It would be quite tricky to steal from Lord Holt, though, wouldn’t it?’

‘Yes, it would, and that does put the kybosh on my theory a bit. But ever since Sam showed me how many African pygmy hedgehogs were for sale on Pets4Homes it’s been in my head that there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there breeding animals for money without all that much thought for their welfare. ’

‘Yes, that’s very true. We haven’t had any more of those cute little hedgehogs in the surgery, have we?’

‘No, thank goodness.’ Phoebe sighed. ‘And the other one did get a home. Ignore me. It’s probably just baby brain seeing conspiracies where none exist.’

‘All the same, I’ll keep an ear out in case any other expensive cats go missing,’ Natasha said seriously. ‘Did you say Archie was going to pop in with some posters about Emilia’s kittens?’

‘He said he would.’

‘I’ll keep an eye out for him too.’

* * *

Archie must have dropped off the posters, although Phoebe didn’t see him, because the next time she went into the practice she saw they had put his lost cat poster up.

The four kittens were extremely cute. They all had silver coats and leopard spot markings. She hoped they hadn’t been stolen and fallen into the wrong hands, but Natasha was right. It seemed extremely unlikely. It was a mystery though.

As November flew past, she felt as though they were finally getting into a routine with Lily.

Louella and Jan were helping out, along with Maggie who was at Puddleduck Farm as much as she could manage, with her two dogs never far from her side.

Sam and Phoebe shared Lily’s care the rest of the time.

A new normality was unfolding, and Phoebe was finally starting to relax.

The dog field was working out well too. They were now booked up for most of December.

They even had bookings on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

It was heartwarming that so many people cared enough about their dogs to pay out for regular slots in a field.

So far there had been no problems with anyone outstaying their welcome either.

Everything was hunky dory. The only slight fly in the ointment was that Phoebe had noticed Sam was looking pretty frazzled.

He never complained though, and every time Phoebe asked him if he was OK he said of course he was. So she concluded that, like her, he was just adjusting to the gorgeous little bundle of chaos that was Lily, and maybe men just took longer to adjust to parenthood than women did.

Much to her relief, no more African pygmy hedgehogs had turned up needing treatment and she was beginning to think Seth might have overreacted about them becoming such a popular pet.

But then halfway through November, when Phoebe was in the surgery for one of her full days, that changed.

She was in reception when a young woman, dressed in a pillar-box-red voluminous coat, came in pushing a buggy in which sat a small boy in a blue bobble hat, sucking a dummy.

The woman had some difficulty getting through the practice doors, partly because of the buggy and partly because she was rather on the large side.

What looked like an Amazon delivery cardboard box was balanced on the rack of her buggy.

‘He’s got sick,’ she said, lifting the box with some difficulty onto the reception counter. ‘Dunno if he needs to be put to sleep.’

Phoebe, who’d just been discussing a patient with Jenna, glanced across at her.

‘What sort of animal is he?’ Marcus was asking.

‘African pygmy hedgehog,’ the woman said, and Phoebe pricked up her ears.

‘Do you want to bring him through?’ she called over.

The woman looked at her gratefully. ‘Thanks. How much will it cost?’ There was something close to panic in her eyes.

‘Why don’t I have a look at him first?’ Phoebe said kindly. ‘Then we can go from there.’

The woman, whose name was Lauren Brown, followed Phoebe into one of the two consulting rooms, complete with buggy, toddler and box, and put the box gently on the examining bench.

‘What seems to be the problem?’ Phoebe asked, opening the box carefully so she could get a look at her patient.

‘He’s been sick all over himself. I don’t think it’s anything he’s eaten. I haven’t changed his food. I know you shouldn’t do that. Look, you can see.’ She pointed into the box and Phoebe saw that she was right. There was a gummy white substance spread over the hedgehog’s dark prickles.

It was difficult to see much more of her patient because he was curled into a tight brown ball. Phoebe pulled on some protective gloves so she could handle him properly.

‘How many times has it happened?’

‘Dunno exactly but I think it started yesterday. Do you think it’s serious? He doesn’t look very happy, does he?’ She screwed up her face. ‘Mind you, I wouldn’t be very happy if I’d done that all over myself.’

It was hard to gauge the hedgehog’s state of mind, curled up in a prickle ball as he was. Phoebe wasn’t sure she’d have been any the wiser if she could have seen his face. She wished she knew more about the species as she lifted the tiny hedgehog out in cupped hands.

‘Has he got a name?’ she asked, playing for time.

‘We call him Olly.’

‘And where do you keep Olly?’

‘In one of them glass things. We got it from the man who sold him. He seemed nice. He said it was big enough.’

‘Is it heated?’

‘Course. I know they need keeping warm. They’re from Africa, aren’t they? It’s a bit hotter over there than it is here.’ She looked around the small consulting room and shivered slightly. ‘It’s not that warm in here, is it? That probably won’t help.’

‘Isn’t it?’ Phoebe hadn’t thought the room was particularly cold.

She turned the hedgehog over so she could see his face and underside.

She’d agreed to look at him on impulse but if she was honest, she wasn’t sure where to start.

He looked healthy enough. His eyes were bright and he wrinkled his nose at her.

‘I’m just going to put Olly back in the box for a minute and have a word with my colleague. Are you OK to wait?’

The toddler, who’d been quiet up until that point, said, ‘I need a wee, Mummy.’

Lauren looked at Phoebe hopefully. ‘Is there somewhere I can take him?’

‘Of course. I’ll show you where it is.’

Phoebe led her out and showed her the staff toilet which wasn’t really for customers, but in the circumstances she couldn’t really say no, and then she went to find Seth.

‘He had to nip out to see a dog that wouldn’t get out of the owner’s car,’ Jenna told her. ‘Can I help?’

Phoebe explained about the hedgehog. ‘I’m out of my depth. I probably shouldn’t have agreed to see him.’

Marcus swivelled round on his chair. ‘Did you say he’d been sick but otherwise he seemed perfectly healthy? What did it look like?’

Phoebe told him and he grinned. ‘I think that’s something called self-anointing.

It’s a weird thing APHs do when they come across a strong smell.

They spread this white sticky substance all over their prickles.

It’s totally normal but it can freak owners out the first time they see it.

Hang on a sec.’ He tapped on his phone and brought up some images to show Phoebe. ‘Does it look like that?’

‘It looks exactly like that.’ Phoebe flicked through the pictures and felt a massive wash of relief.

She skimmed through the descriptions and then switched to her own mobile so she could look on a vet forum the practice was signed up to.

Fortunately, she wasn’t the first person who’d asked about it and she came across a detailed account written up by another vet.

Satisfied now that what she was looking at was the same thing, she thanked Marcus profusely.

‘Just call me Supervet,’ he said, pleased as punch. ‘I think there’s a mention of it on our fact sheets too. Hang about.’ He rummaged in a drawer to the left of the reception desk and pulled out a leaflet. ‘Yep, there it is. Bullet point six.’

‘That’s fantastic. Great job, Marcus.’ Phoebe took the leaflet. She got back to the consulting room at about the same time as Lauren and her son and told her the good news.

‘So he’s not dying then?’

‘He’s not dying. It’s just a weird thing hedgehogs do.

Scientists don’t really know why but there’s a theory they’re trying to camouflage themselves against predators.

’ Phoebe told her everything she’d just learned on her crash course in hedgehog ailments and was grateful when Lauren seemed satisfied.

‘How often is he going to do it? Because you have to admit, it does look pretty disgusting.’

‘Hopefully not too often. It can be sparked off by a strong smell. Does that ring any bells at all?’

‘Oh my God. Maybe it was the paint. We’ve been doing some decorating and it does smell pretty strong. Could it be that?’

‘I think it could be, yes. The main thing is that it’s a totally normal behaviour.’

‘Right.’ Lauren looked relieved.

‘We do have a fact sheet that tells you more about these little fellows.’ Phoebe handed it over and Lauren scanned it and nodded.

‘I think I know all that – apart from the anointing thingy. I also didn’t know they couldn’t hibernate. But it makes sense. They wouldn’t have the fat stores to keep them alive, would they?’ She patted her ample tummy and laughed. ‘I reckon I could hibernate for a while with absolutely no problem.’

Phoebe was too diplomatic to answer this, but it was good to see her client looking so much happier.

She charged her a nominal fee for the consultation and Lauren Brown registered as a new patient before she left with Olly in his makeshift carrycase.

Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief. Her next patient was a golden retriever called Ellie, who had a nice simple ear infection, and the rest of the morning went smoothly with nothing more challenging than a cat with a torn ear who’d been out fighting.

At lunchtime she caught up with Seth in reception and told him what had happened earlier.

‘Marcus saved the day.’

‘Supervet at your service,’ Marcus quipped.

Phoebe smiled. ‘Yes, and thanks again. But I definitely need to know more about those little hedgehogs. Have we got any actually registered with the practice?’

‘There are four,’ Marcus told her after checking the system, ‘including Olly. They’ve all registered in the last month. None of them have actually come in with anything wrong though. Until today.’

‘Should we be registering them as patients?’ Phoebe said, sighing. ‘Seeing as I know next to nothing about them.’ She glanced at Seth. ‘What do you think?’

‘You might be right.’ He glanced over Marcus’s shoulder at the computer. ‘I think we’ve only registered them if they’ve been existing customers who have other animals registered. Dogs and cats and the like. Is that right?’

Marcus nodded. ‘I wasn’t sure, but it’s a tricky one, isn’t it? It’s hard to say no when they have multiple animals here. I’m guessing we don’t want them to take the whole lot away from the practice.’

‘Maybe I should be thinking about employing a specialist vet?’ Phoebe mused aloud. ‘But I’m guessing there wouldn’t be enough work for one.’

‘Why don’t we see how it goes?’ Seth suggested. ‘I know a little bit about exotics, and maybe Max fancies increasing his skill set too.’

‘Sounds like fun,’ Max said, coming into reception in time to overhear the end of the conversation. ‘What kind of exotic pets are we talking about here? I’ve always fancied learning a bit more about big cats. Leopards? Tigers? Elephants?’ He rubbed his hands together and looked interested.

‘Hedgehogs,’ Seth said, quirking a bushy eyebrow, and Max’s face dropped.

‘Um… OK. I suppose hedgehogs are, um, interesting.’

‘Prickly characters,’ Marcus quipped.

‘Definitely on the spiky side,’ Seth added. ‘You wouldn’t get on the wrong side of one!’

They were still bantering when Phoebe went back to the house to see Lily and Sam. She was pleased her staff were happy, and she was relieved this morning had turned out OK. It was teamwork at its very best.