Studio Fun International
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Copyright © 2019 Studio Fun International
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Written by Brenda Scott Royce
Illustrated by Colleen Madden
Designed by Candace Warren
Printers Row Publishing Group is a division of
Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC.
Studio Fun International is a registered trademark of
Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
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eBook ISBN: 978-0-7944-4454-9
eBook Edition: April 2019
5-7% of the purchase price will be donated to
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®),
with a minimum donation of $50,000 through December 2019.
For Susie, a fellow lover of
birds and books.
—B.S.R.
Contents
1. A New Assignment
2. Amanda’s Plan
3. At the Shelter
4. A Big Offer
5. Down in the Dumps
6. Meeting Arnie
7. Grooming Days
8. Finding a Family
9. A Fitting Tribute
10. Fine-Feathered Friend
A New Assignment
A sign posted outside the library read NO ANIMALS ALLOWED. Meg Harper was about to enter the building when she saw the sign and stopped short. Stepping to one side of the door, she signaled the black and white dog at her side to sit. When he did as instructed, she patted his head and said, “Good boy, Chance.” Then she gave him a treat from the small pouch she always carried when they were out together.
Meg’s cousin Amanda Midori caught up to them a moment later. In contrast to Meg’s relaxed attire—jeans and a plaid shirt with rolled-up sleeves—Amanda looked positively professional. She wore a black skirt with a lavender blouse and had a large presentation board tucked under one arm. She balanced a tray of cookies in both hands.
Meg pointed at the sign, and Amanda shrugged. “It’s okay. Chance is a certified service dog. Besides, he’s the star of the show.”
“It’s not a show,” Meg protested.
“It’s an educational demonstration, a.k.a., a show,” Amanda said. “I should know, since I’m the one who booked it.”
The library appearance was the first event Amanda had organized as part of Project PAW, which the two cousins had started along with their friends Drew Bixby and Blanca Montez. The goal of the project was to spread the word about the amazing abilities of working animals—including Chance, who’d been trained to help Meg cope with her epilepsy. She’d been diagnosed with this disorder, which caused her to have periodic seizures, when she was about six years old. Chance had come to live with her recently, after she and Amanda found him abandoned in front of Amanda’s parents’ animal grooming salon.
Meg looked back toward the parking lot. “Where’s Aunt Becky?”
“She said to go ahead without her. She’ll be in as soon as she gets Willow dressed again.” Amanda’s little sister had a crazy habit of pulling off her clothes during car rides. The library was only a few blocks from the Midori’s house, but the toddler had managed to take off her shoes, socks, and most of her shirt along the way. “Can you get the door?” Amanda said. “My hands are full.”
Meg reached for the door, then hesitated, pointing at another sign. This one read NO FOOD ALLOWED.
“Yeesh, Meg, you worry too much,” Amanda said. “I discussed everything with the librarian last week. He knows we’re bringing snacks. Now, let’s get inside or we’ll be late.”
Amanda was pleased with the turnout. Not counting her mother, who sat in the back row with Willow in case her little sister got cranky (or decided to disrobe), there were about twenty people gathered in the library’s reading room. Some had come specifically for the event; others ambled in after seeing the presentation board Amanda had set up on an easel near the entrance.
The board read MEET CHANCE, SUPERHERO SERVICE DOG in bold, glittery letters, and then, in a smaller font: PRESENTED BY PROJECT PAW (PETS AT WORK). Underneath the text, Amanda had pasted photos of Chance in his official red vest, including one of him and Meg graduating from the training program they’d both had to pass in order for Chance to become a certified service animal.
The librarian, Mr. Henderson, introduced them, then Amanda went to the podium. Even though Chance was Meg’s dog, they’d planned the presentation so that Amanda would do most of the talking. Meg tended to get tongue-tied around strangers, and besides, she needed to keep her attention focused on Chance to make sure the dog didn’t get stressed or overexcited being around so many people.
Amanda didn’t mind being in the spotlight one bit. Standing up straight, she began: “Chance is a border collie, a breed known for being intelligent and hardworking. As you may know, border collies are often used by farmers to help herd sheep. Chance has a different job. He’s a seizure-response dog, or seizure dog for short. A seizure dog goes through special training to help someone with epilepsy.”
“Eppaweppy!” Willow shouted from the back row. Amanda was embarrassed by her little sister’s outburst, but several audience members giggled. She waited for the laughter to die down before continuing.
The presentation concluded with Meg guiding Chance through some of the behaviors he had been trained to perform—summoning help, pressing an alarm button, offering comfort, and providing physical stimulation in the event Meg became woozy or lost consciousness. Chance performed to perfection, and Amanda thought everyone in the audience seemed very impressed.
Several people approached them afterward with questions. Others wanted their picture taken with Chance. As the last of the guests filed out of the reading room, the librarian approached Amanda. “Your mother wanted me to tell you that she took your little sister to the kids’ section and that you should meet her there when you’re ready to leave.”
Amanda nodded. “Would you like us to stack the chairs or put the tables back to the usual arrangement?”
“No, thank you,” Mr. Henderson replied. “We’re having a poetry reading here tonight, so the chairs and podium are fine just the way they are.” To Meg, he added, “I didn’t see your parents. Did they come today?”
Meg shook her head. “They don’t like to watch me have seizures—even when it’s make-believe—and I’d have been even more nervous if they were in the audience, so I came with my Aunt Becky.” Chance stood by her side, tail wagging as she spoke.
“This guy certainly looks happy,” Mr. Henderson said. “May I pet him?”
“Thanks for asking,” Meg sai
d. “Yes, you may. When the presentation ended, I gave him an ‘off-duty’ signal. That lets him know it’s okay for him to relax, play, or interact with people. He especially enjoys the people part.”
“Chance is a real ‘people dog’!” Amanda added.
The librarian leaned over and gave Chance a good scratch behind the ears. “You were terrific,” he told the dog. Then he straightened and said, “All three of you did a great job. I think people learned a lot about service animals.”
Amanda nodded in agreement. “Most people have heard of seeing-eye dogs, but they don’t realize that there are lots of different types of working animals.”
“I read an article recently about dogs who act as ‘reading buddies’ at schools and libraries,” the librarian said. “Kids who have difficulty reading often improve their skills by reading aloud to animals.”
“Dogs don’t judge,” Meg said matter-of-factly. “They’re good listeners, too. It makes sense that they can help kids be better readers.” She looked down at her dog and patted his head lovingly. “I wonder if Chance would make a good reading buddy?”
“Chance already has a job,” Amanda reminded her. “But we could find another dog for the library. Maybe that could be Project PAW’s next assignment!” Her brown eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked up at the librarian.
Mr. Henderson stroked his chin as he considered the suggestion. Finally, he said, “If a library dog can help children improve their reading skills, then it’s sure worth a try. Especially if you can find one as sweet and well-behaved as Chance!”
Amanda’s Plan
“Next time maybe Willow can stay home,” Amanda told her mother as they walked to the library parking lot. “I was so embarrassed when she shouted in the middle of the show!”
“It was a presentation, not a show,” Meg said again. “And I thought it was funny. I wasn’t embarrassed, and I’m the one with ‘eppaweppy.’ ”
Willow looked up at Meg from her stroller and laughed.
Mrs. Midori clicked her key fob to deactivate the car’s alarm. “At least Willow kept her clothes on!”
Amanda was putting the presentation supplies into the trunk of the car when she saw a white pick-up truck slide into a nearby parking space. She recognized the vehicle even before she saw her friend Blanca climb out of the passenger seat. “It’s Blanca and Mrs. Montez,” Amanda called to her mother. “Can we go say hi?”
Mrs. Midori was lifting Willow into her car seat. “Yes, just be quick. Tell Mrs. Montez I said hello.”
Blanca grinned when she saw Amanda and Meg approaching with Chance. “Sorry I couldn’t come for the presentation,” she told them. “I had to wait for my mom to get off work. How did it go?”
“Great!” Amanda told Blanca about the event and their conversation with Mr. Henderson afterward. “We’re going to try to find a dog who’d make a good reading buddy for the library.”
Blanca bounced up and down with excitement. “That’s a great idea!”
Mrs. Montez greeted the girls with hugs. “Are you staying for the poetry reading?” She held up a bright yellow flyer advertising the event. At the center of the flyer was a photo of a serious looking man with a gray beard and round glasses.
Amanda shook her head. She wasn’t crazy about poetry—and even if she wanted to attend, it wouldn’t be a good idea to bring her baby sister. “We have to get Willow home, and I still have Saturday chores.”
“And I need to feed and walk Chance.” Meg gestured at the flyer. “Is that the poet? He looks familiar. Will he be here?”
Blanca’s face fell. “He died last month. Tonight’s event is a celebration of his life and his work. He lived around here, so lots of people in town knew him.”
“Maybe you saw the article in yesterday’s paper,” Mrs. Montez told Meg. “‘Local poet leaves rare book collection to library.’ ”
“The article said he had thousands of books in his house,” Blanca added. “Can you imagine? I love books so much! I wish I had thousands of them.”
“Then where would we keep your stuffed animals and all the other things you love so much?” Mrs. Montez gave her daughter an affectionate pinch on the cheek. “We should get inside.”
Amanda stifled a yawn. It was Monday morning and she’d stayed up late the night before researching animal reading buddies. She found an article online that confirmed what Mr. Henderson had told them—that reading aloud to dogs can improve children’s literacy skills. Her excitement grew as she learned that reading buddy programs can also have positive effects on the animals who participate. By the time she finally went to bed—two hours past her bedtime—she’d printed several articles and prepared a plan of action.
Now, sitting on the front stoop of her neighbor Drew Bixby’s apartment building, she held a stack of four presentation binders with the Project PAW logo on the cover. They look professional, she thought with pride. She knew she sometimes went overboard with stuff like this, but she couldn’t help it. She enjoyed making reports and presentations for school, and now that she and her friends had started Project PAW, she wanted to use those skills to help animals.
When Drew emerged from his building, backpack slung over one shoulder, she handed him one of the binders.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“It’s our first official assignment,” she announced. “We’re going to help Mr. Henderson find a dog to be a reading buddy at the library.” As they walked the four blocks to school, Amanda filled him in on her conversation with the librarian. “Do you still volunteer at the Grant County Animal Shelter?” she asked him.
“I go there on Saturdays,” he said, bobbing his head. “I have almost enough hours to earn my Wildlife Wings.” Drew belonged to the Ready Rangers, a local scouting group. Of all the activities he’d participated in through the program, helping out at the animal shelter had been his favorite.
“Good,” Amanda said. “Next time you’re there, see if any of the dogs might make a good reading buddy.”
Drew cast a sideways glance at Amanda. “How am I supposed to do that?”
She smiled and pointed at the presentation binder he’d tucked under one arm. “I researched what makes a good animal reading buddy. I also made a list of dog breeds that have been used as reading buddies at different schools and libraries. It’s all in the prospectus.” Amanda liked the word prospectus. It sounded more professional than report.
“Prospectus?” Drew rolled his eyes. “Since I started hanging out with you, Amanda, I feel like I’m in business school instead of the third grade.”
Even though she wasn’t sure he meant it as a compliment, Amanda was flattered. She dreamed of starting her own business one day. “Thank you.”
At the Shelter
Most kids his age wouldn’t think of helping the other shelter volunteers clean kennels as a fun way to spend a Saturday morning, but Drew didn’t mind doing dirty work—especially if it meant being around animals. He liked all animals, but dogs were his favorite, so he was especially happy when he was assigned to the canine wing—like today. A few other Ready Rangers were also earning their Wildlife Wings by volunteering at the shelter. On Saturdays, Drew’s father or one of the other troop leaders drove them and stayed to supervise the Rangers while they worked at the shelter. Today, Mr. Bixby was using his handyman skills to build a large perch for a recently arrived macaw named Maxine.
“Watch out, Dad, Maxine is a flirt,” Drew warned his father when he stopped by the shelter’s office to get more cleaning supplies. The large blue-and-yellow macaw had been at the shelter for just a few weeks, but she’d already gained a reputation. Drew had learned that macaws are very sociable birds. The shelter’s director, Mrs. Noland, had decided to keep Maxine’s cage in the shelter’s office so that she’d be around a lot of people. Drew had noticed the bird liked to be the center of attention. Whenever anyone talked to her, she bobbed her head and made happy chattering sounds. But when she was left alone, she’d call out loudly, �
�Hellllloooooo!”
Mr. Bixby laughed as he drilled holes into a large wooden rod. “I think I can handle a flirty bird.”
Returning to the dog wing, Drew thought about Amanda’s request that he help find a dog that could become a reading buddy for the library. He’d read her “prospectus,” so he knew that the best dogs for the job are calm, patient, and attentive. Golden retrievers and Bassett hounds topped Amanda’s list of possible breeds, but there were none of those currently at the shelter.
“Hello, pal.” Drew knelt beside a kennel where a dachshund named Stryker was curled on a cushion. At the sound of Drew’s voice, Stryker hopped up. The little dog yapped as he jumped and twirled in circles. “You’re a hyper hotdog,” Drew said, smiling down at the dog. Stryker was friendly, but Drew feared his perky personality might not be the best fit for library visits, so he moved down the row.
A half hour later, Drew had found the dog whose personality, in his opinion, best fit Amanda’s criteria. It was a schnauzer named Arnie. “You’re a mellow fellow,” Drew told Arnie after talking to him for a while. Mostly gray with a white beard, the dog sat calmly staring up at Drew while he spoke. At least, Drew believed he was staring at him—it was hard to tell with so much hair hanging in the dog’s eyes!
A shelter worker named Chad told Drew that Arnie had arrived in terrible condition—filthy, matted, and covered with fleas. The dog had been bathed and treated with flea medicine but still looked pitiful. The poor creature looked like he’d walked through a car wash and dried off in a wind tunnel. Despite his sweet temper, Drew didn’t think kids would want to cuddle up and read with Arnie.
He considered asking Mrs. Noland her opinion about Arnie but decided to talk to Amanda first. She was the project’s leader, after all. If she thought Arnie was suited to library service, they could come to the shelter together to discuss the idea with Mrs. Noland.
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