Puppy Litter Box Under Soft Winter Light

Dust motes hang suspended in shafts of soft, overcast light filtering through the high windows of an Asheville fish bagging counter. A stainless steel clamp box sits low on the floor, its mesh sides catching the pale winter glow. Inside, layers of fleece and paper tags rest against the cold metal, while a small litter of puppies nestles near the corner. The scene is anchored by the rough texture of the concrete floor and the gentle curve of the wire mesh. Shadows stretch long across the ground, showing the quiet space just after sunrise. One tag flutters slightly in the still air, resting against the warm fur of the nearest puppy.