By the time James returns for me, I have mixed feelings. I'm excited to see him, as evidenced by my wagging tail and already wet pussy, but I'm also nervous about the auction. I'm apprehensive at leaving James and the safety of my kennel even though I know it's inevitable. I've been through the auctioning process a few times after all, but this feels different.
'April, go relieve yourself please.' I obediently crawl my way over to my puppy pad as James chatters on excitedly. 'I'm expecting dog groomers here in 5 minutes to tend to you before we go to the auction hall. There is already a fair crowd there -- we have 3 dogs up for sale this evening. You're the only bitch, the other two are studs. So, I'm expecting a good price.'
After I have pee'd, I realise I need to go number two as well. This makes me remarkably less comfortable. James must see the expression of discomfort on my face and come to the correct conclusion. 'I know going for a poo will be difficult to begin with, but it is non-optional. The sooner you get used to this the better, you will be expected to relieve yourself outside for the most part -- sometimes in public places such as the dog park.' He looks at me expectantly. He doesn't move an inch or shift his gaze from me as he watches me get into a squatting position to relieve myself. I have never been more humiliated in my life. Once I'm done, I'm sure I'm beetroot red in the face. Just as I crawl off the puppy pad, a cleaner enters the kennel and removes the soiled puppy pad and places a fresh one down.
'You're such a good girl, April.' Treat. I wag my tail at him, spirits lifted at the praise. The dog groomers then enter and spend some time washing me, grooming my hair and nails, cleaning my ears and brushing my teeth. By the time they're done I feel much better, and James nods approvingly as he fixes my leash to my collar and says, 'Come April. It's time to go to the auction hall.'
We walk through the surprisingly quiet corridors of the Centre and wind our way round to a side door signposted as 'Stage Left'. Once we're in, James takes me off to the side of a small stage, and commands me to sit. From here we can hear and just see the current auction of the first stud, the price is mounting rapidly with numerous bidders. I drag my eyes away from the stage and look around tentatively, there are some behind the scenes works going on with some people sitting behind monitors and keyboards, some Centre staff are just watching the proceedings. And then I bring my eyes around to the other side of James. I see another Centre attendant standing with who must be the second stud -- while the attendant has struck up an excited conversation with James, the stud stares at me.
I look back curiously at his ears, his collar and his tail -- it's similar to mine. The attendant says to the stud, 'Go say hello, Jax.' The stud crawls over to me on all fours, the closer he gets the quicker his tail wags.