CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE – A NEW PET

Emily led Jasmine down the street, refusing to divulge their next destination. They turned a corner, and Jasmine found herself face-to-face with a colorful storefront, the words "Pawsome Pet Adoption Day" emblazoned across a banner. "Ta-da!" Emily announced. "I thought maybe a furry friend might cheer you up." Jasmine hesitated. "I don't know, Emily. A pet is a big responsibility." "Who said anything about adopting? We're just here to play with some cute animals and spread some love." Inside, the adoption center was a cacophony of barks, meows, and excited chatter. Volunteers bustled about, introducing potential adopters to the animals. A perky volunteer approached them. "Hi there! I'm Megan. Are you looking to adopt today?" "Just browsing," Emily replied. "My friend here could use some puppy therapy." Megan beamed. "Well, you're in luck! We have a litter of Lab mix puppies that just arrived. Would you like to meet them?" Before Jasmine could respond, she found herself being us