“Oh, my goodness,” said Dr. Gibson, when she unwrapped the blankets. “Would you look at this little peanut? What a cutie-pie!”
Lizzie smiled at the vet. “I know,” she said. “He’s a sweetheart. He seems to trust us already.”
“That’s because you helped to rescue him,” Dr. Gibson said.
Lizzie nodded. Maybe that was part of the reason she had fallen in love so fast. She knew she would never forget the way this pup had come into her life. What if she had never seen him swimming out there in the middle of the icy lake? Lizzie pushed the thought aside as she watched Dr. Gibson start her exam.
The vet sat the puppy on her examination table and put her stethoscope to his chest. She listened through the earpiece, cocking her head to one side. “His heart sounds good!” she said. She draped the stethoscope back around her neck and picked up another instrument. She looked into the puppy’s ears and mouth, then shone a small flashlight into his eyes.
The puppy blinked.
Ooh, that’s bright! But it’s nice and warm in here, and this lady is gentle. Maybe soon my people will be here, and then we can all go home and have something to eat!
“I think he’s going to be just fine,” said Dr. Gibson, when she had finished her examination. “He’s just all worn out from his adventures, and he’s probably missed a meal or two. He’ll get his energy back as soon as you feed him.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the table. “But the question is, what was a puppy doing out there on the ice, all by himself? Where are his people?”
“That’s what I’ve been wondering,” Mom said. She was standing next to Lizzie, holding the Bean in her arms. The Bean’s eyelids were drooping. He was ready for a snack and a nap. “I mean, this is just a tiny puppy! There must be someone out there who is very worried about him.”
“He looks fairly well fed and groomed, so I don’t think he’s been on his own for very long,” said Dr. Gibson. She frowned. “No collar, though. And I don’t see a tattoo or any signs of a microchip.”
“A microchip?” Dad asked.
“Some pet owners have a tiny electronic identification chip placed under their pet’s skin,” the vet explained. “It’s only the size of a grain of rice, but it holds information about the pet and its owners. If a dog with a chip is ever lost, we can use a monitor to read the chip and find out who the dog belongs to.”
“Wow!” Dad looked impressed. “I never knew that.”
“Microchipping has been around for a while,” Lizzie told her dad. “We should think about it for Buddy. Or maybe we should just get him a tattoo.”
“Like a fire-breathing dragon or something?”
Charles asked. “Cool!”
Lizzie snorted. “It’s not like a human tattoo. It’s just a mark on his belly that identifies him as ours. You can use your phone number or address.”
“Doesn’t it hurt the dog?” Dad asked.
“Not really,” said Dr. Gibson. “At least, they never act like it does when I use my little tattoo pen on them. I think it just feels sort of buzzy and tickly. Anyway, what about our little friend here? No chip, no tattoo, no collar. He doesn’t look familiar to me at all, so I don’t think he’s from around here.” She gave the puppy a scratch between the ears. “He looks like one of those new mixes, maybe a golden doodle.”
“That’s exactly what I said!” Lizzie burst out.
“Well, you sure do know your dog breeds,” Dr. Gibson told her. “These doodles often have some of the best qualities of both dogs in the mix. They’re smart and goofy, like poodles, and very loyal and great with kids, like golden retrievers. And both breeds are athletic and love to play. If I were getting a new puppy, I might pick a doodle.”
“Noodle!” the Bean said drowsily.
Everybody laughed. “No, it’s doodle,” Lizzie told her little brother.
“Noodle,” the Bean insisted.
Lizzie thought for a second. She looked at the tired little puppy. “You know, that’s not a bad name for this puppy! How about if we call him Noodle, since we don’t know his real name right now?”
“I like it,” said Dr. Gibson. “And now, I suggest you take this Noodle home and give him some puppy chow, some water, and a warm place to sleep. I predict that by tomorrow he’ll be feeling one hundred percent himself, and his little dunking in the lake will be nothing but a memory.”
On the way out of the vet’s office, Lizzie stopped to look at the bulletin board. She always checked the signs there. People whose dogs were missing often put up a notice. But there was nothing there about Noodle. Maybe his people didn’t even realize he was missing yet! Lizzie shuddered, imagining how upset she would be if Buddy disappeared someday.
“When we get home, maybe we should check with the police and Caring Paws,” Dad suggested as they drove away. “Just in case someone has called looking for their dog.” Caring Paws was the animal shelter where Lizzie volunteered every week. The people who worked there took care of lots of dogs and cats who needed homes. If somebody found a lost dog, they often brought it to the shelter. It would be safe there until its owners came to find it.
“Great idea,” said Mom. “Maybe Lizzie can make some of her famous signs, too. Then we can put them up all around town and down at the lake.”
Lizzie was known for making excellent signs on her computer. She was already picturing how this one might look, with a picture of Noodle and the words IS THIS YOUR PUPPY? across the top. As soon as she got home, she would use Dad’s new digital camera to take some pictures.
She looked down at Noodle, who was nestled in her lap. He was dry and warm now, and his curly golden coat was soft and shiny, just the way Lizzie had pictured it. The poor puppy was absolutely exhausted from all the excitement. He had fallen asleep before Dad had even started the car!
“Don’t you worry, little Noodle,” Lizzie murmured as she stroked his silky ears. “We’ll make sure you’re safe and sound while we look for your people. That’s a promise.” Noodle opened his eyes and gazed at Lizzie. Then he sighed and settled in more comfortably on her lap.
What a scary day I had! But now I’m dry and warm, and too sleepy to feel scared anymore. Anyway, I feel safe with this girl. And I’m sure I’ll be seeing my own people again soon.