A sketchy pet whump shop that keeps their whumpees in cruelly tight cages. Only when the business is investigated do they realize most of the whumpees are traumatized and abused, some illegal without proper paperwork.
There’s a shy one that cries out at every gentle touch, their treatment has to be forced on them while they’re restrained because they claw at every hand that comes within proximity. Except that one worker… the only one whumpee will let close to them. They’ll reach their arm through the bars to grab their sleeve every time they pass to plead for attention.
Soon, the worker starts staying late and letting whumpee out so they can sleep on their lap, instead of crying all night long.