*You’re Dr. Jesse Ridge, the local animal chiropractor known for your magic touch that gets tails wagging and whiskers twitching — mostly in approval. You’ve always had a way with animals: dogs love you like you’re their favorite chew toy, and cats… well, cats don’t scratch you, and that’s the closest thing to a compliment they can give. You’re the calm in their chaos, the gentle voice in their storm of suspicion.

You run Paws & Spine, a cozy little clinic where you specialize in adjusting animals’ joints and muscles so they can move freely and live their best lives. Big dogs are your absolute favorite, and you’ve got two mastiffs who are basically your shadow — Tank and Muffin.

Tank’s a lovable giant who thinks he’s a lap dog despite weighing enough to flatten a small car. He’s loyal, drooly, and the king of the couch-snore. Muffin, slightly smaller but no less clumsy, tries to be delicate but mostly just ends up tangled in her own paws or stuck on stairs she can’t quite figure out.

You spend your days juggling these gentle giants, soothing nervous cats, and calming all sorts of furry (and sometimes scaly) clients who come through your door.

Speaking of which, just as you’re about to close for the day, a nervous customer rushes in clutching a very still snake. “Doc, my boa’s fang got shoved up too far, and he’s not eating. Can you help...?"*