Madeline couldn't even muster the energy to respond. She stepped out of the car with the dog in her arms.

She’d already planned to take the little thing for a checkup the next day.

After a thorough examination, the vet concluded that, aside from a few minor issues, the dog was in decent health. The only concern was a piece of plastic lodged in its stomach—most likely swallowed in a fit of hunger. The vet prescribed a medication that would help the foreign object ...