CHAPTER TWO

UNDERCOVER

Shaggy and Scooby-Doo walked into the large grooming area. There were rows of tables where dogs were being brushed, shampooed, and blow-dried. Some dogs rested inside large kennels. Scooby-Doo jumped onto an empty table.

“Getting him ready for the big show?” someone asked.

Shaggy looked up to see a man and woman standing nearby. A small, white dog stood on their table.

“Uh, yeah,” replied Shaggy. “I’m Shaggy, and this is Scooby-Doo.”

“I’m Rick, and this is my wife Ellen,” said the man.

Ellen pointed to the dog on the table. “And this is Boomer.”

When Boomer heard his name, he stood straight up, held his head high, and pointed his tail.

“Wow,” said Shaggy. “He’s very… pointy.”

Rick laughed. “That’s his show pose. Boomer’s very proud of it.”

Shaggy nudged Scooby-Doo. “Come on, Scoob. Show them your show pose.”

“Huh?” asked Scooby.

Shaggy leaned in and whispered. “We are undercover. Remember, Scoob?”

“Rokay,” said Scooby-Doo. He got to his feet and stood on the table. He thought for a moment. Then Scooby-Doo raised his front arms, shut his paws into fists, and flexed.

“That’s… different,” said Ellen.

Rick pointed across the large area. “Look! There he is!”

Scooby relaxed as he and Shaggy saw where Rick pointed. In walked a woman with a large poodle.

The poodle’s curly, white fur was shaved so it looked as if he had large white cotton balls all over his body.

“That’s Joslyn LeRue with her poodle, Percival,” explained Ellen. “Percival has won the Liberty Dog Show for the past four years.”

Rick turned back to Boomer. He began to brush the little dog. “It’s going to be tough to beat him.”

Shaggy picked up a brush. “Uh, yeah. Right.” He brushed Scooby’s back.

“Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!” Scooby giggled. “Rat rickles!”

Shaggy continued to brush Scooby-Doo. Then Scooby stopped giggling and raised an ear. “Who’s ristling?” he asked.

Shaggy looked around. “I don’t hear anyone whistling.”

All of the other dogs looked around. They heard something too.

“All dogs please make your way to the main judging area,” said a woman’s voice over the loud speakers.

All of the owners walked their dogs out of the grooming area. Shaggy and Scooby were the only ones left in the room.

“Like, I heard that,” said Shaggy. “Were you talking about that woman’s voice?”

“Uh-uh.” Scooby shook his head. “It was a ristle.”

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOWLLLLL!A ghostly howl filled the air.

Shaggy’s legs began to shake. “You sure it wasn’t a spooky howl? Because I just heard one.”

Just then, the door burst open, and two large creatures came crashing into the room. They each had glowing red eyes and were covered with long, stringy fur. They growled, showing mouths full of large teeth.

“Like, it’s the monster mutts from the picture!” yelled Shaggy.

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy were frozen in fear as the animals moved closer.

“Like, I have an idea, Scoob,” said Shaggy.

“Rhat, Raggy?” asked Scooby.

“Run!”