Imke and Elise are in the play corner and have their hands full. Next to Imke lies an open doctor's case and all around them many stuffed animals lie, sit, and stand. 'Now it's the rabbit's turn,' says Imke and takes the grey animal into her arms. 'So, dear rabbit, we have to check your ears,' says Imke and hands the stuffed animal to Elise. 'Please, veterinary assistant, hold the rabbit still. I'll take my instruments and then we'll get started.'

Then Lilli and Mali come to the two girls. 'What are you doing with the animals?' asks Mali. 'I'm a veterinarian and I take care of all the patients here. Some animals are very ill and we have a lot of work. Do you want to play along too?' asks Imke. 'Oh yes!' call Lilli and Mali and sit down next to Imke and Elise.

'Then I'll be a veterinarian too and you two are our assistants,' says Elise. She gives Mali the stuffed rabbit and takes a dog in her arms. 'Look, Lilli, the dog has sprained its paw,' Elise explains to her friend, 'we have to treat that. Can you wrap a thick bandage around the paw?' Lilli nods and takes a roll of white bandage from the doctor's case.

'How do you know so much about animals?' she asks Imke and Elise. 'We have a dog at home,' Elise says. 'His name is Lucky and he has a soft white coat with black and brown spots. I like him a lot and he often accompanies my dad in his work as a forest ranger in the woods.' 'But he wasn't with us on our autumn trip to the woods,' says Lilli. 'That's right,' confirms Elise, 'in autumn Lucky injured his paw and couldn't come along. That's why I also know that dogs need a bandage then. We took Lucky to the vet and he was treated there.' She checks the bandage that Lilli wrapped around the paw of the stuffed dog.

'We also had to go to the vet yesterday,' Imke says. Mali looks very shocked: 'Why? Are Muckel and Stupsi not well?' Those are Imke's rabbits. 'Well, the day before yesterday they suddenly started sneezing. And that's why we went to the vet yesterday. When rabbits sneeze it can be a cold or a runny nose. And rabbit snuffles is dangerous,' Imke says. 'The vet examined them very carefully and listened to them. Then the two of them got an injection and the vet said we should put a heat pad in their cage. Luckily that helped and Muckel and Stupsi were much more lively this morning than yesterday.' Mali, Elise and Lilli are relieved. All three have already visited Imke and therefore know the two rabbits very well.

Veterinarian Imke on duty 'Where is Imke? We have an emergency!' calls Felicitas as she rushes into the group. 'Here I am. What's going on?' replies Imke. Felicitas takes a deep breath and tells the girls: 'Milla and I looked for the first seedlings in our beds. And there we found a beetle lying on its back and wriggling its legs.' 'Oh dear, we have to come quickly and help,' says Imke and she runs with Elise, Mali and Lilli to the cloakroom. The girls dress in no time and shortly after stand by the kindergarten beds.

'There, look, there's the beetle!' greets Milla the girls. Indeed: on a stone slab next to the beds a small beetle lies on its back. 'That's no problem at all,' says Imke, holds out a leaf to the beetle and gently nudges it with her finger. And whoosh, it comes back onto its feet and crawls away. 'You are really good with animals,' says Milla. 'I always find beetles so creepy-crawly, eww, it really makes me shudder.' 'But you are great at comforting,' says Mali to Milla and squeezes her hand. 'Well, I find it easier to help people. But I don't like insects at all. And I'm actually afraid of dogs too,' Milla replies. 'But our dog Lucky is very sweet,' says Elise as the girls go back into the group. 'Maybe you'd like to come and visit me sometime? Then you can meet Lucky and I'll show you how to behave with dogs,' Elise suggests to Milla. 'Oh, that might not be a bad idea. I'll think about it,' promises Milla.

Mali hangs her jacket next to Imke's. The friends have their places next to each other. 'Good that you could help the beetle. You're almost a real veterinarian,' says Mali to Imke. 'Well, for Muckel and Stupsi we needed a real vet. But at least we can already treat all the stuffed animals and rescue beetles,' replies Imke, pulling Mali toward the play corner. 'So let's go: Many patients are waiting in our veterinary practice. Felicitas and Milla, do you want to play too?' 'Oh, I think we'd prefer to open a children's doctor practice,' Milla replies. 'Oh yes!' replies Felicitas and runs to the dolls' corner. 'You are the pediatrician and I'm your assistant, ok?' Milla nods and follows Felicitas: 'Hopefully the veterinarians left some bandages and medicine.' 'Of course they did!' says Elise and gives Imke a stuffed tiger: 'Veterinarian Imke, are you coming? The stripes have slipped here, we have to do something.' Imke laughs and is happy that she has so much fun with her friends. As soon as she gets home from kindergarten she will check on Muckel and Stupsi. Luckily her rabbits are now only half sick.

If you feel like it, you can reenact the story with the Little Friends dolls or make a picture with Imke and her rabbits. For that there is the Coloring page Imke with rabbits.