“They got him!” Janey cried, bursting out of the school’s main office.
It was the next afternoon. Mr. Wells had dismissed the class a few minutes earlier. Janey had run straight to the office so she could use the phone there to call the shelter.
“Hip hip hooray!” Lolli cheered, jumping up and down. “What did Kitty say?”
“The animal control officer went out yesterday and talked to the dog’s owners,” Janey said. She and Lolli wandered down the hall toward the school exit. “They agreed to give the dog to the shelter. He’s there now!”
“We should go see him!” Lolli grabbed Janey’s arm. “Let’s call home and see if our parents will let us walk over to the shelter.”
They turned around and rushed back to the office. They got there at the same time as Ms. Tanaka.
“Everything okay, girls?” the teacher asked.
“Yes,” Janey replied. “We just need to use the phone.”
Ms. Tanaka nodded and held the door open for them. Then the teacher went to check her office mail cubby as the girls headed toward the desk to ask the secretary for permission to use the phone.
“You can call first,” Janey told Lolli.
Lolli’s father gave permission right away. But when Janey called home, her mother sounded reluctant. “Maybe you should come home first,” she said. “I can drive you and Lolli to the shelter.”
“Please, Mom. We don’t want to wait that long. Besides, the shelter is only a few blocks from school,” Janey said. “Lolli’s parents already said yes.”
“That’s right, Mrs. Whitfield,” Lolli said, leaning over Janey’s shoulder to talk into the phone. “We’ll be careful, we promise!”
“Did I hear you girls say you’re going to the Third Street Shelter?” Ms. Tanaka asked, walking over.
“Maybe,” Janey said. “If I can talk my mom into saying yes.”
Ms. Tanaka smiled. “If it helps, you can tell her I’ll walk there with you,” she offered. “I was thinking about heading over there myself.”
Her offer did help. Janey’s mother finally said it was okay. Soon Janey, Lolli, and Ms. Tanaka were walking down the sidewalk toward Third Street.
“Why are you going to the shelter?” Lolli asked her teacher.
Ms. Tanaka chuckled. “Actually, you guys inspired me. I just moved to a new apartment last month, and this one allows pets. I’ve been thinking about getting a dog, and hearing you talk about the shelter made me decide it’s time to start looking for the perfect best friend.”
“That’s awesome!” For a second, Janey was envious. It seemed everyone could have a pet except her! Then she had a great idea. “I know—you should adopt the dog we saved!”
“Hmm. I like the idea of rescuing a dog that really needs me.” Ms. Tanaka sounded interested. “What does he look like?”
Janey showed her the picture from her blog. “He looks kind of bad here,” she said. “But I bet all he needs is a good brushing and some food and he’ll be supercute!”
“Oh, he’s cute—but awfully small. I was thinking about a bigger dog.” Ms. Tanaka smiled. “See, I had horses growing up, so I’m used to big pets. A really huge dog is the next best thing to a horse!”
Lolli laughed, while Janey smiled weakly. “Are you sure you don’t want him?” she asked.
“Sorry.” Ms. Tanaka patted her arm. “But don’t worry—your dog is adorable. I’m sure he’ll find a home fast.”
When they reached the shelter, Ms. Tanaka said good-bye and headed into the dog room. Meanwhile, Kitty rushed over to greet the girls.
“I’m so glad you came!” she said. “Stay right here, and I’ll go get Truman so he can thank you in person!”
“Truman?” Janey echoed.
“That’s the dog you saved. He’s a real sweetie.” Kitty smiled. “Be right back.”
Moments later she returned with a dog on a leash. Janey barely recognized him from his picture! Someone had given him a bath, brushed the tangles out of his silky fur, and trimmed the hair on his ears and paws.
Janey had memorized every breed from her dog books, and she thought Truman looked as if he might be a cross between a schnauzer and a shih tzu. Whatever he was, he was one of the cutest dogs she’d ever seen!
“Oh, you’re so adorable!” she cried, reaching for him.
Truman ducked away from her touch, but he wagged his short tail and pricked up his ears with curiosity. “You’ll have to take it easy and be patient with him,” Kitty advised. “He’s still a little shy. But he’s very sweet once he trusts you. Come on—let’s hang out in the Meet and Greet room so you can all get to know each other.”
They all went into the small room. Truman sniffed everything carefully, then flopped down on one of the beanbag chairs. Meanwhile Kitty told the girls what the animal officer had found out.
“Truman belonged to an elderly man who adored him,” she said. “Then the owner died, and Truman went to live with the man’s relatives. But one of the kids in the house was allergic.”
“Just like Janey’s dad,” Lolli said.
Janey nodded. “The family stuck him outside and kind of forgot about him, I guess. One of the other kids was supposed to feed him and give him water but he didn’t always remember.”
Janey clenched her fists. “How could anyone be so horrible?” she exclaimed. “Especially with a sweet dog like Truman!”
“Try not to think about it,” Lolli advised. “He’s safe now, and I’m sure somebody great will adopt him.”
“I wish I could adopt him,” Janey said.
Lolli gave her a sympathetic smile. “Try not to think about that, either.”
Janey tried. For the next hour, she and Lolli stayed with Truman. He was shy at first, but eventually he seemed to decide the girls were okay. After that, they could hardly get him to stop playing!
Janey was disappointed when her mother arrived to pick them up. “We’ll come visit you again soon, Truman,” she promised the little dog.
“Right,” Lolli agreed. “Unless someone adopts you before that!”
“I’m sure it won’t take long.” Janey smiled and rubbed Truman’s silky ears. She giggled as the little dog licked her from her chin to her forehead. “Who could resist a face—or a tongue—like that?”
