Chapter Text
There it was again. Phil groaned. There had been an annoying clunking noise out behind his house for the past day. he just hoped it wasn't raccoons rummaging through his bins. The last thing he wanted to do was chase off some feral creatures.
Phil sighed as he got a broom to shoo away any vermin that might be lurking. Then he walked around his fenced yard to the rubbish bins in the back.
"Alright!" Phil called tiredly, "get out with your paws up and no one gets hurt."
Obviously getting no response, Phil started poking around with the broom. A loud snarl made him freeze. That was no raccoon.
Phil set down the broom, moving the bin over. His eyes widened. Tied way to tightly to the fence, were three dogs. The biggest one, a matted poodle that may have been white, but was dyed a dirty shade of pink, was growling at him. Behind that one, was a slightly smaller poodle, just as matted but this one was brown. And right under their paws, was a tiny, golden ball of fluff Phil thought might be a golden retriever.
Phil dropped to one knee slowly, "hey mate, it's okay. Can I take that leash off?"
The pink poodle bared his teeth at the man, but let Phil reach out to him. Phil carefully felt around in the tangled fur to find the knot. It was so tight around his neck Phil was surprised the dog could breathe.
"Hold on." Phil backed away slowly from the snarling dog, "I'll be right back, I promise."
Phil all but ran to his house. He searched for a pair of scissors, hoping the dogs wouldn't freak out and cut themselves when he tried to snip the rope. He also grabbed some old leashes one of his friends left a while ago. Phil was about to go back out when he glanced at the fridge. He took an extra moment to snag some pepperoni and dashed out the door.
"Hey." Phil greeted the dogs as he slowly approached, "are you hungry?"
Phil held out a pepperoni slice. The pink poodle growled, eyes occasionally flicking to the food. Phil tossed it at the dogs feet. The poodle hesitated for a moment, then snatched up the pepperoni, gulping it down in one bite.
Phil chuckled, scattering a few more on the ground. The dog eagerly licked it up, letting Phil creep closer and closer. Soon, Phil was close enough to put a leash around the first dog.
The poodle noticed, growling at him but unwilling to leave the food. Phil took his time. He let the dog adjust to the new thing, until eventually he was able to put the lead on. Then, as carefully as he could, Phil cut the thin rope that held the dog to the fence.
The dog yelped, jumping away from the fence and Phil. The other two dogs strained against the rope, whining and crying.
"It's okay! It's okay!" Phil tried to tell them, "you're safe now."
The brown poodle started whining, shrinking back twords the golden puppy. Phil hushed him, moving forward. The dog was shaking violently, but didn't seem to be aggressive. Phil managed to get the lead on him and cut the rope no problem.
The problem arose trying to get the puppy. The poodle standing over him refused to move, blocking Phil's path to the golden fluffball.
"Come on, it's okay." Phil managed to shuffled the poodle over just enough to cut the rope around the puppy.
The puppy bounded twords him, flopping into his lap. Phil laughed, scratching behind the puppies ears.
Phil hummed softly, "I think you all need names. What do you think?"
The puppy yipped, snapping at Phil's nose. Phil laughed, standing up.
"You are going to be named Tommy." Phil stated, "and I think the pink one is Technoblade, and the other one is Wilbur."
Tommy rumbled, bitting Phil's fingers as the human lead them all inside. Surprisingly, Techno and Wilbur followed, walking well on a lead. He wondered where they came from, and why anyone would want to abandon them.
"Alright." Phil sighed, "you guys need food... And not just pepperoni."
Tommy looked up, chewing an a piece of meat. Phil shook his head, letting all the dogs loose in the house. Techno immediately went over, sniffing Wilbur and Tommy.
Phil went to the kitchen and found some eggs and leftover bacon. He smiled, dishing out small portions into bowls and walking back to the dogs.
Tommy was tugging on Techno's ear. The poodles both had settled down, curled up close to each other. Phil set down the bowls. Tommy immediately perked up, bounding over to scarf down the food. Techno and Wilbur were a bit more hesitant, but eventually warmed up to the food.
Phil hummed, sitting next to the dogs "you two need haircuts. I don't know if either of you will be able to keep all that hair."
Carefully, Phil reached out to pet the pink poodle. He growled, flashing his teeth before going back to eating. Phil rested his hand on the dogs dirty coat. To his surprise, it didn't feel too tangled. He might be able to keep some of his coat.
Then Phil went to comb through Wilbur's fur. The brown poodle flinched, sinking to the floor. Phil paused for a moment before Wilbur let himself sink into Phil's hand.
"Ah." Phil's fingers caught in mats and tangles as he scratched behind the dogs ears, "you're definitely going to be shaved."
Tommy jumped up on his leg, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Phil laughed lightly, picking up the puppy.
"And you all need baths!" Phil smiled, "but today just rest. I'm sure you've all been through a lot."
Tommy yawned, showing off puppy teeth. Phil awwed, rubbing the puppies small ears. The poodles settled down further away, curled up together. Phil sighed. It was late, tomorrow he would take the dogs to the groomers to get them washed and clipped.
Phil set the now sleeping puppy next to the poodles. It was going to take a lot of time for these pups to become healthy again. But as Phil watched the sleeping dogs, he felt like it would be worth it.