A pet crate sits open on the counter of the veterinarian’s office.
Endless stories pour out of me
And nestle in my brain
Stories
Of joy
Of grief
Of the possibility of a new family member
Of the loss of an old one
Of a rescue
Of a life saved
Of a life lost
Or maybe it’s just a donation of a crate
But the simple truth is
There is an open crate sitting on the counter.
And really, every moment is like that.
Ministry of Animals 
I’ve gone through this whole thing just as you describe. Was almost in tears when suddenly the Vet Assistant came out and thanked a woman with her for giving them the crate. I had a moment of relief before I started fretting over what had happened that she no longer needed the crate😧