by Claire Garth
CHAPTER 9
As they walked home, Peanut asked, ‘Do you think my new family will love me forever and ever, Gwover? Just like Annie and David love you?’
‘Yes, I do, Peanut,’ Grover replied.
As they got to the front gate, Grover saw Lucy, the little girl who lived next door, running towards them.
‘GROOOVERRR!!’ she called out.
Grover wagged his tail. He loved Lucy!
Grover had met Lucy on his first day in Cavendish Lane. She had come to visit Grover every day since. Some days she gave him a good long back scratch. Other days she threw the ball to him for hours. Grover had never known a little girl before – he felt like the luckiest dog in the world to have a friend like her.
‘Oh, Grover! I missed you today,’ said Lucy. She gave Grover a big hug.
Peanut wiggled his way forward.
‘OOOOOH!’ Lucy squealed, ‘Who is this?’
Lucy bent down to give Peanut a pat. He rolled onto his back so she could pat his belly.
Lucy giggled as Peanut’s little legs wriggled with excitement when she tickled his pink spotty belly.
‘Aww, Grover, he’s so cute!’ said Lucy.
‘I like this girl, Gwover,’ said Peanut, still flat on his back getting belly rubs. ‘Do you think my new home might have a little girl?’
‘I don’t know, Peanut … we’ll have to wait and see!’ said Grover.
Lucy’s mum called her in for dinner, and Lucy gave the two dogs a pat goodbye. Then Annie appeared at the front door to call Grover and Peanut in for their dinner too.
Grover had biscuits with steak, and Peanut had puppy biscuits and mince.
‘Mmm, so delicious!’ said Grover.
Peanut didn’t say anything. He was too busy munching.
After dinner, Annie led the two dogs upstairs to the bedroom. She placed the little bed for Peanut right beside Grover’s big soft bed.
Grover settled down on his bed.
Peanut trotted over towards his little bed. He sniffed it hesitantly, but didn’t sit down.
‘Good boy, Peanut!’ said Annie.
Peanut sat down on his bed but he looked longingly at Grover.
‘Alright,’ Grover sighed. ‘Come on over.’
Peanut bounded off his bed, and snuggled up beside Grover, resting his little brown-and-white head beside Grover’s fluffy chest.
‘Aww, you two are just way too cute!’ Annie said.
David walked into the room. ‘Looks like you’ve got yourself a new best mate there, Grover,’ he said.
‘Peanut, I was just talking to Lucy’s mum,’ said Annie. ‘She said that one of her friends from work wants to meet you at the shelter tomorrow. So get a good night’s sleep!’
Annie rubbed Peanut’s little belly.
‘Night, boys!’ called David, as he closed the bedroom door.
‘Psst, Gwover, did you hear what Annie said? Someone wants to meet me. ME!’ Peanut was so excited he let out a little bark.
‘I told you, Peanut. You’re a rescue dog – you get a second chance,’ said Grover.
But there was no reply.
‘Peanut, did you hear me?’
Grover turned his head to check on Peanut. But he was already fast asleep with a little smile on his face.
CHAPTER 10
The next day, Annie drove them back to the shelter.
‘Watch this!’ said Grover, when he jumped into the car.
Peanut jumped in behind him on the back seat.
Annie got into the car.
‘OOOOOOOPEN!’ barked Grover, as strongly as he could.
Grover hoped the window would listen to him this time!
Sure enough, the window started lowering down.
‘OHHH!’ said Peanut. ‘That’s magic!’
All the way there, Peanut jumped up and down, trying to see out the window but he was too little.
‘Are we there yet? Can you see my family? Are they waiting?’ he asked.
Grover laughed. ‘Geez, Peanut, you’ll be exhausted by the time they arrive! We’re nearly at the animal shelter. They’ll be waiting for us there.’
Annie parked the car at the front of the shelter and Grover and Peanut jumped out.
As they walked towards the shelter, Peanut kept looking from left to right to catch a glimpse of his new family.
‘Maybe they’re not coming, Gwover.’ Peanut hung his head. ‘Maybe they changed their minds.’
‘Chin up, Peanut. I’m sure they’ll be here.’ said Grover.
Annie opened the door to the front office and as it swung open, Grover saw four feet in front of him. Two of the feet had white shoes with pink polka-dots, and the other two feet had white socks with pink polka-dots.
‘He’s here, he’s here!’ Two little girls rushed forward towards Peanut. Two identical twin girls.
A woman was standing at the front desk. ‘Grace and Rachel,’ she said, ‘keep that squealing down. Everyone on the street can hear you!’
It was no use. Grace and Rachel were too excited. They squealed and cuddled Peanut.
‘Oh, you are just the cutest puppy!’ said one of the girls. ‘We’ll love you and play with you every day. And we’re going to take you to the park, aren’t we, Rachel?’
‘Yup!’ said Rachel. ‘And we live by the beach, so we can go swimming. And you can chase balls and sticks and anything else you want to do!’
Peanut wriggled with joy.
‘Peanut, we’ve picked out this bed for you, and this bright blue collar and lead too,’ said Grace.
‘Yeah, and we bought you a nametag. We’ll put your name on the front, Peanut, and we’ll put our names on the back, so everyone will know you’re part of our family,’ said Rachel.
Peanut was wagging his tail like crazy.
‘Gwover, look!’ he called out. ‘I didn’t just get one little girl. I got TWO!’
Grover was thrilled for his friend. ‘I told you the animal shelter would find you a perfect home,’ he said.
‘You were right, Gwover!’ Peanut replied. ‘I’m a rescue dog so I get a second chance.’
Grover sat at the door watching everyone in the office. Annie was talking to Grace and Rachel’s mum. Grover heard Annie telling her what a special little dog Peanut was. Grace and Rachel were smiling and laughing. And Peanut had never looked so happy.
As he said goodbye, Peanut said, ‘Thank you for looking after me, Gwover! You’re the best Animal Shelter Office Dog EVER!’
That made Grover feel pretty good.
‘Oh, and you were right, Gwover – there IS always more good than bad!’
As Peanut headed off with his new family, Grover felt a little pang in his chest. I’m going to miss that little guy, he thought, as he watched Peanut and his new family drive away.
Grover trotted back to the office and settled down for a nap after all the morning’s excitement.
But then he heard Dr Cole’s voice. ‘Grover, we’ve just had a new arrival. She’s very scared. Can she stay in here with you for the day?’
Grover looked up. Dr Cole was carrying a fluffy white dog in her arms. The dog was trembling. Dr Cole placed her on the floor, and Grover got up from his bed. He knew just what to do.
‘Hi, I’m Grover,’ he said. ‘Don’t be frightened. You’re in a safe place now, and you’re going to be just fine. Life will get a lot better from here. Trust me! I know.’
MEET GROVER McBANE
AND HIS FRIENDS…
GROVER
AGE: Three
BREED: Border collie
LIKES: Warm beds, travelling in the car, playing hide and seek
DISLIKES: Rain, water, baths
FAVOURITE FOOD: Roast chicken, and a sneaky roast potato
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Chasing cats
HAMISH
AGE: Nine months
BREED: Terrier
LIKES: Tennis balls, soccer balls, footballs, cricket balls
DISLIKES: When no one will play ball
with him
FAVOURITE FOOD: Liver treats
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Stealing tennis balls from other dogs
MR TIBBLES
AGE: Twelve
BREED: Domestic cat
LIKES: Attention
DISLIKES: Dogs
FAVOURITE FOOD: Salmon
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Teasing dogs
BORIS
AGE: Eleven
BREED: German Shepherd
LIKES: Routine
DISLIKES: Rule breakers
FAVOURITE FOOD: A sneaky sausage from the barbecue
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Barking loudly
PEANUT
AGE: Eight weeks
BREED: Jack Russell
LIKES: Climbing, digging
DISLIKES: Being kicked off the couch
FAVOURITE FOOD: Milk treats
NAUGHTIEST TRICK: Chewing on Grover’s tail
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Garth is a former primary school teacher. She now works as the PR and Marketing Manager at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home. Claire adopted the real Grover in 2013, and together they work to raise awareness about animal rescue.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Johannes Leak is an illustrator and commercial artist who specialises in cartooning, magazine illustration, music album artwork and storyboards. He lives and works on the New South Wales Central Coast, where he can also be spotted surfing and walking his dog, Calvin.
SYDNEY DOGS & CATS HOME
The Sydney Dogs & Cats Home (SDCH) is an animal pound that has been taking care of Sydney’s lost and abandoned animals since 1946.
Each year, the Home helps over 3000 animals just like Grover to find a new family. Dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits, birds, chickens, guinea pigs and ducks – even occasionally sheep and llamas! The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home searches far and wide to find new homes for the animals. Sometimes they fly them to other parts of Australia or even overseas. Animals stay at the Home as long it takes to find them new owners.
The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home is open 365 days of the year. If your family is looking for a new pet, consider adopting a lost animal from the Home instead of buying one from a pet shop. Adopt, don’t shop!
www.sydneydogsandcatshome.org
By purchasing this book, you are supporting the work of the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.
DID YOU KNOW GROVER McBANE IS A REAL DOG?
Author Claire Garth adopted him from the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
You can see more photos of Grover on Instagram: @grovermcbane
READ MORE OF GROVER’S ADVENTURES IN:
GROVER FINDS A HOME
Grover McBane escapes from his owner’s yard and is taken to the animal shelter.
GROVER, BENJI AND NANNA JEAN
Can Grover help his blind friend Benji find a home where he will be loved and appreciated?