by Claire Garth
Grover stared at the glass window, but nothing happened.
Hmm, normally it knows that I want it to go down, Grover thought.
‘Open, window!’ he barked. But the window didn’t move.
That’s strange, Grover thought. Maybe it’s broken.
‘OPEN!’ he barked even louder. But the window didn’t go down.
Through the glass, Grover could see Annie talking to one of the neighbours.
I wonder if she knows the window is broken? Grover thought.
With his wet nose pressed up against the glass, Grover gave it one last try. ‘Window, please listen to me. When I say “Open!”, you’re supposed to go down. Okay? Now, let’s try this one last time …’
Just then, Annie entered the car. She sat down and put her seatbelt on.
Grover looked at her and then straight back at the window. He was determined to do this on his own.
‘OOOPPPEEENNN!’ he barked.
With that, the window started moving. It must have heard him! The glass slid all the way down, disappearing into the door.
‘I did it, I did it!’ Grover jumped around with joy on the back seat.
Then he settled down on his seat next to the window, and stuck his nose out to breathe in all the fresh air and wonderful smells.
‘Thank you, window,’ he whispered.
The drive to the shelter wasn’t very long – but it was long enough for Grover to sniff in lots of smells. There were grass smells and dog smells and cat smells and food smells.
As they turned a corner, Grover knew exactly where they were. The shelter was just up ahead. He could smell it.
Once the car stopped, the window went up. Grover didn’t need to say anything this time. He jumped out of the car and trotted along the pavement with Annie to the shelter.
The first time Grover had arrived at the shelter, he’d been so scared that the vet, Dr Cole, had to carry him inside. But now he trotted confidently into the front office and towards his big, round bed, which was next to Annie’s desk.
Sometimes, when he was lucky, the office staff left a delicious treat on his bed. Grover couldn’t wait!
But today there was no treat on his bed. Today there was something else!
CHAPTER 5
Curled up in the middle of Grover’s bed was the smallest puppy he had ever seen. The puppy had a tiny white body with big brown spots on his back, and a little head with big brown floppy ears.
As Grover stared at the puppy, Annie and Dr Cole walked up behind him. The little pup slept peacefully, completely unaware that he was being watched.
‘Oh goodness!’ said Annie. ‘He really is tiny, isn’t he? See, Grover? I told you there was a very small pup who needed your help today.’
Grover leant forward and nudged the puppy with his nose.
The puppy stretched his paws out slowly and let out a long, loud yawn. Then he curled up again and kept sleeping.
‘Psst, hey there!’ whispered Grover. ‘I didn’t mean to wake you, but you’re on my bed.’
The little pup’s eyes opened.
‘EEEEEK!’ he yelped. He sat up with a fright. ‘Where am I?’
‘Don’t worry, Peanut,’ said Annie. She knelt down to pat the pup’s head. ‘You’re okay. Don’t be scared.’
Peanut darted off the bed. He ran under Annie’s desk and across to the other side of the room.
Grover could see that Peanut was very scared. He remembered being that frightened himself once.
‘Hi, Peanut, I’m Grover. Now, now, don’t worry. You’re safe.’
But Peanut didn’t seem to listen. He kept running around the room.
Grover wasn’t sure what he could do to help. He knew Annie was depending on him. He didn’t want to let her down.
Maybe if I lie down, Peanut will know it’s okay to lie down too, thought Grover.
He settled down on his bed.
Peanut continued running around the room.
After a little while, Peanut sat down on the floor in front of Grover. He seemed exhausted.
‘I’m very scared,’ he whispered to Grover, his big eyes wide.
‘I know you are, Peanut,’ Grover replied. ‘But you’re at the animal shelter now and you’ll be looked after here. It’s going to be alright. I promise.’
On Grover’s first day at the shelter, a greyhound called Clara had made him feel safe. That’s what Peanut needed. To feel safe.
‘Umm, Gwover, what is an animal shelter?’ Peanut asked. He was edging closer to Grover’s bed.
‘Well, it’s a place where all the lost dogs and cats are taken so their owners can find them,’ Grover replied.
‘Oh! Well, then, I think there’s been a mistake. I’m not lost!’ said Peanut.
‘What do you mean?’ Grover asked.
‘My owner brought me here this morning. She knows where I am.’
Now Grover was very confused. Why would an owner take their dog to the animal shelter? The shelter was for lost or sick animals. But Peanut was a healthy puppy with an owner. It didn’t make sense.
Peanut crawled up onto Grover’s bed. The little pup looked sleepy now.
Grover knew he had to find out more before Peanut fell asleep again. ‘Do you like your owner?’
‘Oh, yes!’ said Peanut, wagging his little tail.
‘Did she say when she was coming back?’
Peanut gave a big yawn. His eyes were slowly closing. It looked like he was very close to falling asleep. ‘No … I don’t know why I’m here.’
Without another word, the exhausted puppy snuggled into Grover’s fur and fell asleep.
This was so strange. What was Peanut doing here? Wasn’t the shelter just for lost or sick animals, and for ones who didn’t have owners?
Annie and Dr Cole were talking in the doorway. They were whispering, but Grover heard them say Peanut’s name. He pricked up his ears to listen in.
‘So there’s no way she can keep him?’ Annie asked.
‘I’m afraid not,’ said Dr Cole. ‘It’s very sad, but she’s not well. She has to go to the hospital for a while, so she can’t look after a puppy.’
‘Oh, that’s so sad,’ said Annie.
Oh no, thought Grover. Peanut’s owner can’t look after him.
Dr Cole continued. ‘She’s asked us to help find him a new home. He’s very sweet. And Jack Russells are lovely dogs, so I’m sure lots of people will want to give little Peanut a home.’
Grover looked down. Peanut’s head was buried under Grover’s tummy. Only his little tail was sticking out.
Poor Peanut! thought Grover. He has no idea his owner isn’t coming back. No wonder Annie told me Peanut needed a friend!
Grover wasn’t sure what he would say to Peanut when he woke up, but for now he rested his head down next to him and fell asleep.
CHAPTER 6
Grover slowly opened his eyes … to find Peanut right in front of him.
‘Hello, mister,’ Peanut chirped as he bounced around under Grover’s nose. ‘Do ya wanna play?’
Peanut pawed at Grover’s nose and then quickly ran around behind Grover and hid under his fluffy tail before Grover could react.
Wow! He got his energy back quickly, thought Grover.
Annie was at her desk. She turned around to face Grover and Peanut.
‘Well, don’t you two make the cutest pair!’ she said.
Annie picked Peanut up. He looked even smaller in Annie’s arms than he had looked on the ground.
‘Grover, Peanut is going to stay at our house for a night – I hope that’s okay.’
Grover loved that Annie called it ‘our house’. It made him feel so special. And of course it was okay for Peanut to stay. It wasn’t like he would take up a lot of room!
Grover wagged his tail at Annie.
‘I’m going to get a bed for Peanut to sleep on and some special puppy biscuits,’ said Annie. ‘And then we’ll head home.’
She placed Peanut back on the bed beside Grove
r and left the room.
Peanut looked anxious. ‘Where are we going?’ he asked. ‘I thought I had to wait at the animal shelter so my owner will know where to find me when she comes back.’
Grover didn’t know what to say. Would Peanut be upset if he told him his owner wasn’t coming back? Grover’s first owner had not been kind to him, so he had been happy to get Annie and David as his new owners. But Peanut had said he liked his owner …
‘Um, it’s just for one night,’ said Grover. ‘You’ll be back here tomorrow.’
Peanut still looked anxious, but he let Annie pick him up and lift him into the car beside Grover.
All the way home, Grover felt worried. He knew he should have told Peanut the truth. But how could he break the news that Peanut’s owner was not coming back? Wouldn’t he be upset? Grover was so worried he forgot to tell the window to ‘open!’.
‘Peanut,’ said Grover. ‘I know you’re a bit scared right now, but it’s going to be okay. When I first came to the shelter I was very scared too.’
Peanut pricked up his ears. ‘Was that when you were a puppy, Gwover?’
‘No, when I was a puppy I was owned by the Man with the Big Boots.’
‘Oh … but isn’t Annie your owner?’ asked Peanut.
‘Annie and David are my owners now,’ explained Grover. ‘But my first owner was the Man with Big Boots. It was very lonely at his house and I was cold and wet and sad a lot of the time. But one night I ran away and Ranger Dan, the animal ranger, found me and took me to the shelter. The vet, Dr Cole, looked after me. Then Annie and David took me home. That’s why I know you’ll be safe at the shelter. They gave me a jacket and a collar and a bath. Well, I didn’t like the bath bit much … but they gave me lots of food and told me they would look after me for ever and ever.’
Peanut’s eyes were wide. He looked a bit scared. ‘And … and … did they?’
Grover laughed. ‘Yes! Of course. I’m a rescue dog,’ he said, proudly. ‘Rescue dogs get second chances. Life with Annie and David is better than I could ever have imagined.’
Peanut relaxed a little.
Grover remembered what his new friend Boris had said that morning. ‘Remember – there is always more good than bad, Peanut!’
Peanut didn’t say anything. But he nuzzled at Grover’s tail and started jumping around on the back seat, so Grover figured he must be feeling a bit less scared.
CHAPTER 7
‘Okay, boys, who’s up for the park?’ said Annie, when they got home.
‘Oh, Peanut, you’ll love the park!’ said Grover. He ran to the front door to wait for Annie.
Peanut scampered after him, copying his every move.
Annie opened the door for them. ‘I’ll meet you outside in a minute, boys. I am going to get a ball for you to take with you.’
Grover and Peanut bounced down the front steps to the garden to wait for Annie. As they ran forward, Grover caught a glimpse of a fluffy grey tail with a white tip beside the gate.
‘Good evening, Dog,’ said a slow, deep voice.
‘Mr Tibbles, didn’t I tell you to be gone by the time I got home?’
‘Dog, please. Do you think I actually listen when you speak?’ Mr Tibbles replied, not moving. ‘If I want to relax in your garden, I shall. Need I remind you that this is my territory, Dog? Has your little brain forgotten already?’
Peanut bounced out from behind Grover. ‘Oh! Oh! Who’s this, Gwover?’ he asked.
Mr Tibbles sprang up onto the fence and stared down at Peanut.
‘Dog! What – is – THAT?’ he asked.
‘I’m a puppy,’ barked Peanut. ‘Are you a cat? A real cat? I’ve never met a cat! This is so exciting!’
‘A puppy! This is an outrage!’ said Mr Tibbles, glaring at Grover. ‘First, Dog, you arrive on my street without my permission. Then you treat me with no respect. And now, NOW, you have the nerve to bring A PUPPY to Cavendish Lane?’
Mr Tibbles looked furious.
Grover had never seen a cat look so angry. Mr Tibbles looked like he was about to burst. It was actually quite funny, but Grover knew that laughing was probably not a good idea.
‘You there,’ said Mr Tibbles to Peanut. ‘You teeny, tiny, pathetic excuse for a dog. YOU must leave at once.’
Peanut looked terrified.
‘Mr Tibbles! You leave him alone!’ Grover growled in his deepest, scariest voice. ‘My friend Peanut will not leave Cavendish Lane unless he wants to. We are not afraid of you. You are not the boss of me or Peanut – or anyone else!’ Grover’s heart was racing. He was excited and scared all at the same time.
Annie stepped outside. ‘Oh, Grover! Stop barking at that cat!’ she called out.
Grover sat down quietly by the gate. He was quite happy to stop barking now that he’d made his point.
Annie clipped on their leads and led them past Mr Tibbles and along the street to the park.
‘Wow, that was awesome, Gwover!’ said Peanut. ‘I’ve never seen anything like that! You’re very brave.’
‘Well, I wasn’t always brave, Peanut. When I first arrived at the animal shelter I was very scared. But rescue dogs need to be brave, because they have to do lots of new things. They get a second chance – a new home and a new family. And they have to learn to trust people. At the shelter I had a bath for the first time. And later I met a little girl …’
Peanut was staring up at Grover and nodding along with everything he said. But as Grover was talking, he realised there was something he hadn’t been very brave about after all.
It’s now or never, Grover thought. I need to tell him the truth.
They walked through the park gates and Annie unclipped their leads. Grover didn’t run off to play straight away like he normally would. Instead, he walked alongside the fence with Peanut.
‘Peanut,’ said Grover, ‘I haven’t been completely honest with you.’
‘What do you mean, Gwover?’ asked Peanut.
‘I’m afraid your owner isn’t coming back for you.’
Peanut stopped in his tracks. ‘Was I bad?’ he whispered.
‘No, Peanut! You were not bad at all. Your owner loves you very, very much. But unfortunately right now your owner needs someone to look after her. She is sick, and she knows that puppies need lots of love and attention. So she has decided to help you find a new family. That’s why she took you to the animal shelter.’
Peanut sat down on the grass, his little face filled with worry.
‘But what if no-one else wants me, Gwover?’ he asked.
‘Oh, Peanut, are you kidding? You’re a wonderful puppy! And the animal shelter helps lots of puppies find great new homes. I bet they will find you the best new home. The best!’
Peanut was silent for a few moments, looking at his paws. Then he looked up. ‘Gwover, if I need a new family, does that mean I’m a rescue dog?’
‘Well, yes, I guess it does, Peanut,’ Grover replied.
Peanut wagged his tail. ‘A rescue dog! Just like you!’
He seemed to like that idea.
CHAPTER 8
Hamish and Boris came running towards Grover and Peanut.
‘Grover! You’re here!’ said Hamish. ‘Wanna play? Wanna play? I brought a ball! Actually, I brought three balls. I can go get them if you like!’
‘Hi, Hamish!’
Peanut sat down right between Grover’s front paws.
‘Well, well, well, who’s the new recruit, Grover?’ asked Boris, leaning in for a closer look at Peanut.
‘Psst, new dog, this is K9 Officer Boris,’ whispered Hamish. ‘You have to be polite to him.’
Peanut looked a little nervous, but he sat up straight and looked Boris in the eye. ‘Um, I’m Peanut, K9 Officer Boris. And I’m a rescue dog just like Gwover.’
‘Well, young man, that’s a very fine kind of dog to be. Some of the best dogs I worked with in the police force were rescue dogs. In fact, I was a rescue dog myself,’ Boris announced proudly.
‘NOOO WAAAAYYYYYYY!’ Hamish yelped. ‘You’re a rescue dog, Officer Boris?’
‘I most certainly am,’ said Boris.
‘We’re all rescue dogs!’ Hamish yelped. ‘Can you believe it?’
Peanut wriggled and wagged his tail. ‘You’re a rescue dog too?’
‘Yes, I am! We should start a club, or a team. Yeah, a rescue-dog sports team. We could be a football–cricket–soccer rescue-dog team. What do you think, guys?’
Grover and Boris burst out laughing.
Hamish and Peanut bounced around at their feet.
‘I think we need to wear these pups out a bit, Boris,’ said Grover. ‘What do you think? Perhaps a little game of hide and seek?’
‘Oh yes, Grover, I think you’re right. But first, a good, long … RUN!’ Boris barked.
He sprinted off across the park.
‘Oooh, a race!’ squealed Hamish. He ran after Boris, with Grover and Peanut close behind.
The four rescue dogs ducked in and out of bushes, under slides, and back and forth across the basketball court.
‘This is the best day!’ Peanut called out.
As they ran past the big tree for the fourth time, Hamish and Peanut flopped down on the ground.
What a relief, thought Grover. I don’t know who has more energy – Hamish or Peanut!
Boris and Grover panted heavily. They were pooped! The four dogs lay down on the grass to rest.
‘Gwover, do you think my new family might have someone for me to play with?’ Peanut asked.
‘I hope so, Peanut,’ said Grover. ‘Come on, let’s see if it’s dinner time. I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely starving!’
Grover and Peanut said goodbye to Hamish and Boris.
As Grover trotted back to Annie, he thought how lucky he was to have friends. Peanut seemed a lot happier now too – Hamish and Boris had made the little puppy feel completely welcome. Even though they all had different lives and backgrounds, they all knew what being a rescue dog was like.
Having friends was a very good thing, Grover decided.