A Forever Home for Bella

  Poppy’s face softened. She crouched beside the eager puppy. “Hello, Bella,” she murmured. Bella wagged her whole body, her little tail thwacking from side to side as Poppy rubbed her ears. “Do you remember me? Do you really?”

  To Nathalie Fellows, Callie’s favourite vet, and to the real Bella and her little brother Muzzy, two wonderful Labradors with ever-wagging tails!

  Grace Taylor and her twin brother Jack were at the vet’s for Tiny’s annual check up. Despite his name, Tiny was a huge dog, with pointed ears, a very waggy tail and a thick white coat.

  Grace gave Tiny a hug. “You’ve been such a good boy,” she told him, giggling as Tiny licked her face.

  Nathalie, the vet, handed Tiny’s vaccination card to Jack and gave Tiny a bone-shaped biscuit. “Tiny’s in great condition. You two obviously look after him really well. But then I wouldn’t expect anything less. How’s Forever Homes going?”

  Forever Homes was the twins’ animal rehoming business. They took in cats and dogs whose owners couldn’t keep them any more, and found them perfect new homes.

  “We’ve rehomed two kittens,” said Jack proudly. “Fluffy and Luna.”

  “And two puppies, Tilly and Pip,” put in Grace. “They were super cute!”

  “But we haven’t got any animals in at the moment,” said Jack. “I really wish we did.”

  “I’m sure another animal will come along soon,” said Nathalie with a smile. “They usually seem to!”

  The twins led Tiny back to the waiting room, where their mum gave him a hug. As she went to pay the bill, a woman with a yellow Labrador puppy burst through the front door. The puppy’s tail wagged frantically. When it saw Tiny, it yapped and pulled to the end of its lead to say hello. The two dogs sniffed noses. The puppy had dark eyes that sparkled with mischief and fun. It was so cute, Grace just wanted to scoop it up and cuddle it.

  “Is it OK if I stroke your puppy?” Grace asked the puppy’s owner.

  The woman nodded. “Of course. She’s called Bella. I’m Fliss.”

  Grace crouched down. “Hello, Bella.” The puppy jumped clumsily on to her lap. Grace giggled as she kissed the puppy’s head. “She’s gorgeous.”

  “Is she here for her vaccinations?” Jack asked, joining Grace.

  “No, she had her last vaccination two weeks ago.” Fliss swallowed. “The company I work for have just told me they’re posting me abroad and I can’t take Bella with me.” Fliss looked at the puppy and her eyes filled with tears. “It’s breaking my heart but I need to find Bella a new home as soon as possible. I came in because I remembered seeing a poster on the vet’s notice board advertising a pet rehoming service.”

  “Maybe we can help,” Grace said quickly. “We run Forever Homes, the rehoming service. We put the poster up.”

  Together, the twins explained all about Forever Homes.

  “So you really think you could find Bella a new home for me?” asked Fliss.

  “Absolutely,” said Jack. “We’re experts. And our mum runs a doggy daycare, so she can help look after Bella too.”

  Mrs Taylor smiled and nodded. “I’m sure Jack and Grace can help,” she said. “They make sure they find every animal the right home.”

  The two grown-ups talked until everything was agreed.

  “I really don’t want to say goodbye,” said Fliss sadly. “But it will be tougher for both of us if I keep her until I move, and it won’t be easy to pack with a lively puppy around who likes to chew things up!” She kissed Bella’s head.

  Bella wagged her tail so hard her bottom wiggled.

  Grace gave Fliss a sympathetic look. “Please don’t worry. We promise we’ll take very good care of her.”

  Jack nodded. “We will. We’ll find her an absolutely perfect new home!”

  Grace carried Bella out to the dogmobile, their mum’s van. Their mum’s doggy daycare business was called Top Dog, and her van was painted to look like a real dog. While Mum loaded Tiny into the back, Grace and Jack found a puppy seatbelt and strapped Bella into the front seat between them.

  Bella started to chew the seatbelt. Grace chuckled. “Bella, stop it!”

  “Don’t giggle. Say it like you mean it,” said Jack.

  Grace rolled her eyes at him but she knew that he was right. Bella would find it confusing if Grace laughed when she was telling her not to do something. “Leave,” she said more strictly.

  Bella stopped nibbling the seatbelt, “Good girl,” said Grace. Bella looked at her for a second and then grabbed the ends of Grace’s long hair and tried to chew them. “No, Bella!” Grace said, as she opened Bella’s mouth and freed her hair. “No chewing.”

  When they arrived back to their old, rambling house, they took Bella through the yard and into the garden. The shed they used for their office was at the bottom. Grace, who loved to paint, had made the Forever Homes sign that hung on the door. It was cosy inside, with a stripy rug on the floor, a comfy chair and a desk with another chair. Grace had stuck some of her drawings on the walls and there was also a large pinboard covered with photographs of all the animals they had helped. There were boxes of dog and cat toys on the floor and several large jars full of treats.

  “Welcome to Forever Homes, Bella,” said Grace, putting the puppy down on the floor. While Jack sat at the desk and wrote Bella’s details in their special blue notebook, Bella trotted around the room, her tail wagging non-stop as she explored her new surroundings.

  Bella spotted the crate of dog toys. She stuck her nose inside and picked up a squeaky rubber bone. She chewed it for a moment and then lost interest. Going back to the desk, she put her paws on Jack’s legs. Jack lifted her on to his lap and immediately Bella nibbled at the notebook.

  “No,” Jack said.

  Bella stopped and looked at him with her head on one side. “This is for writing in, Bella,” Jack told her, “not chewing.” Bella watched as he made some notes. “She seems like a fast learner and very inquisitive,” Jack said to Grace. He put Bella back on the ground. “Try some of our tests.”

  The twins always tried out personality tests on the animals they were rehoming. It helped them to match each puppy or kitten with their perfect owner.

  Grace took a ball on a rope from the crate of toys and rolled it across the floor. Bella bounded after it and brought it back to Grace, her tail wagging. “She’s good at retrieving,” said Jack, noting it down.

  “Good girl,” Grace praised Bella, giving her a treat in exchange for the ball. Bella gobbled it up and then nudged Grace’s hands hopefully.

  “I think she’s going to be quite greedy,” said Grace. “Write that down, and also that she’s very friendly,” she added, giggling as Bella jumped on to her lap and licked her face.

  “Full of energy,” noted Jack as Bella bounded away again. “She’ll need an owner who can give her lots of exercise.”

  Bella had gone to the toy crate again. This time she pulled out a paperback book.

  “That’s mine! I wondered where it had got to,” said Grace. Bella trotted around the shed, looking very proud of her find. Plonking herself down in one corner, she started to chew the spine. “No!” said Grace, hastily taking the book away. “That’s naughty.”

  Bella rolled over on to her side, showing her pink tummy. Grace smiled. This was the puppy’s way of asking not to be told off any more. “OK, I forgive you. You’re probably teething at the moment, so you like to chew things, but no more chewing books.”

  Jack came over to join them. “I’ve written that she likes books … for dinner.”

  Grace smiled. “She is cheeky, but so sweet. We’ll find a home for her soon, I know we will.”

  Jack nodded. “But only the perfect home will do!”

 
“Has anyone seen my drumsticks?” said Ollie, the twins’ seventeen-year-old brother, later that night. They were all sitting in the lounge after dinner.

  “Nope,” said Amelia, the twins’ thirteen-year-old sister, barely looking up from her phone.

  Bella peered out from behind the sofa. She was holding a drumstick in her mouth and her tail was wagging hard.

  Grace put down her book and pulled a dog treat out of her pocket. “Here, Bella!” Bella trotted over and dropped the drumstick. Grace handed it back to Ollie.

  “It’s got teeth marks in,” Ollie complained.

  “You shouldn’t have left it lying around then,” said Jack. “We did warn you that Bella chews.”

  “With any luck, the teeth marks will make you play better,” said Grace grinning.

  “She’s so cute.” Ollie stroked Bella’s head and she tried to bite his hand.

  “No, Bella!” scolded Grace. “Settle down and I’ll play with you when I’ve finished this chapter.” Grace picked up her book again. Bella climbed on to her lap and nibbled the edge of the page. Grace held it out of her way, reading the words aloud, hoping it would calm her. Gradually Bella stopped struggling and snuggled down in Grace’s lap with her brown eyes fixed on Grace’s face.

  “Jack, look,” whispered Grace, pausing. “Bella’s listening to the story.”

  “Dogs can’t understand stories,” said Jack. But as Grace continued reading, he became less sure. Bella really did seem to be listening. She tensed as the story got more exciting then relaxed when the children in it managed to save themselves from danger.

  Grace grinned. “Maybe we should find a librarian to rehome her with!”

  She was joking but Jack looked thoughtful. “That’s not a bad idea,” he said. “Why don’t we call into the town library tomorrow after school?”

  Bella started to chew Grace’s book again. Grace whisked it out of her reach. “OK! But no more chewing books, Bella. They’re just for reading. Understand?”

  Bella gave her a cheeky look and thumped her tail in reply.

  At school the following day the twins’ teacher, Ms Drew, took the class to the school library. “We are starting a new science topic called ‘Living Things’. You should each choose a partner for a project on baby animals.”

  Baby animals, thought Grace. Brilliant!

  Ms Drew handed out large pieces of card. “Each pair must research a particular animal baby and record their findings on a poster. You can use the books and the computers.”

  Grace caught the eye of her friend Poppy Hyder. They weren’t usually allowed to sit together because they could never help chatting and giggling. Grace silently mouthed “Partners?” to her, and Poppy smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

  When Ms Drew had finished explaining the project, Grace and Poppy walked over to the bookshelves and sat down. “This is going to be so much fun,” said Grace.

  “Yes, I’ve got loads of animal books at home,” said Poppy. “Baby animals are really cute, much cuter than baby humans.”

  “How’s your baby sister?” Grace asked. Poppy’s mum had had a baby a month ago.

  Poppy pulled a face. “Boring. All she does is drink milk and burp.”

  Grace giggled. “Bella, the new puppy that we’re trying to rehome, does tiny burps after she’s eaten. I think it sounds really sweet.”

  “I wish we had a puppy instead of Rose. There is nothing sweet about her,” said Poppy. “She burped during Sunday lunch and was sick all down Mum’s T-shirt. It was gross but Granny laughed and clapped like Rose had done something amazing! Grandad gave her this weird goofy look and said, ‘That girl is going to go far.’” Poppy sighed. “I told him that Rose could definitely win a gold medal for burping at the next Olympics, but Granny said I was being silly. Then Mum sent me to the kitchen to get the pudding.”

  Grace burst out laughing. “I’d love to see an Olympic burping competition.”

  “Me too,” said Poppy, but then she frowned. “I thought it would be fun having a baby sister but it’s not. Mum and Dad are so busy with her, they hardly seem to notice me any more. Mum even forgot to pick me up from running club last week. The coach had to phone her to remind her to come and get me.”

  Grace didn’t know what to say. Poppy was usually so cheerful and funny, nothing ever seemed to bother her, but now she was looking miserable. She thought for a moment and then nudged her. “Hey, Pops, how does a baby tell its mum it needs a nappy change?”

  Poppy frowned. “How?”

  “It sends its mum a pee-mail!”

  Both girls burst out laughing.

  Ms Drew came over. “Have you decided on your topic, girls? Where are the books you’re going to use?”

  Poppy sent Grace an alarmed look.

  “We … um … we don’t need books, miss!” Grace invented quickly. “We’re going to do a project on the new Labrador puppy that Jack and I are looking after.”

  “Oh,” said Ms Drew.

  “She’s called Bella and she’s really cute,” Grace continued. “We’ll be able to write loads about her.”

  “Our project is going to be the best!” Poppy chimed in.

  “Could I bring her into school one day?” Grace asked Ms Drew hopefully. “Then everyone can see a real baby animal.”

  “That’s a great plan, Grace,” said Ms Drew. “I’ll have a chat with your mum about it first to check that it’s OK. Well done, girls.” She smiled at them and walked on.

  Grace and Poppy breathed out sighs of relief. “That was a brilliant idea!” Poppy whispered.

  “Why don’t you ask your mum to bring Rose in and the class could see a human baby too?” suggested Grace.

  Poppy pulled a face. “No way! It’s bad enough putting up with Rose at home. I don’t want her in school.” She jumped to her feet. “Let’s go back to the classroom and start on our poster. You can draw some cartoon dogs around the border and then we can write some facts in boxes.” She hurried off, tickling their friend Chloe as she passed and making her squeal.

  Grace followed her more slowly. Poppy had looked so unhappy when she talked about her baby sister. She’s been an only child for so long, it must be weird sharing her mum and dad now, Grace thought, watching her friend. She wished there was something she could do to help Poppy. But what?

  Mrs Taylor brought Bella with her when she came to collect the twins after school. Mrs Drew arranged with her that Bella could visit at the end of the week. Then Grace, Jack and their mum walked Bella to the town library. Mrs Taylor held Bella while the twins went inside to talk to the librarians, as only trained assistance dogs were allowed inside.

  “I’d love a Labrador puppy,” said Margaret, one of the librarians, when the twins explained why they were there. “My grandchildren would like a dog too and they’d help walk her. I only work part-time so maybe I could take your puppy on.”

  “Can you come outside and see her?” said Grace, exchanging hopeful looks with Jack.

  “You can bring her inside for a few minutes,” said Jayne, the chief librarian. “It’s not too busy at the moment and I’d love a quick cuddle with a puppy!”

  The twins fetched Bella. She looked around inquisitively with her ears pricked and greeted the librarians with tail wags.

  “She’s so sweet,” said Margaret, putting a pile of books down on the floor. “Would you like to come and live with me then, Bella?”

  Bella licked her hand then sniffed at the pile of books. She started to chew the corners. “Oh, no!” Margaret gasped, pulling the books out of Bella’s reach.

  “Sorry, Bella’s teething at the moment so she often chews things,” said Jack.

  “She could be trained not to though,” said Mrs Taylor.

  Margaret shook her head. “I’m sorry but my house is full of books and they’re all really precious to me. What if Bella damaged some of them while she was being trained? She’s lovely but I think I need an older dog who’s past the chewing stage.”

  Jack sighed.
“Yes, that probably would be better.”

  When everyone had finished cuddling Bella, the twins and their mum walked her home.

  “None of the librarians will give Bella a home then,” said Jack.

  “Nope, we’d better keep searching,” agreed Grace sadly.

  On the morning of Bella’s visit to school, Grace and Jack brushed her coat until it shone. As Bella trotted into the playground with them the children crowded round, all wanting to pat her.

  “Please can you all stand back a bit?” said Jack. Bella didn’t look worried at all but he was concerned that someone was going to stand on one of her paws.

  “Come on, everyone, you heard Jack. Move back!” ordered Poppy, marching over, clapping her hands and shooing people away.

  Grace shot her a grateful look. Poppy was sometimes a bit too bossy but right now it was good to have her there to organise things.

  “You’re still too close!” Poppy told some Year Fours. “Stand back, please.”

  Everyone shuffled aside and Grace led Bella through the gap Poppy had created. Poppy followed them into school. “I’m doing a project on Bella. I’m allowed to go in too!” she said importantly before shutting the door behind them.

  “Thanks, Poppy!” said Grace.

  Poppy crouched down. “Aren’t you the cutest puppy ever!” she said, grinning as Bella climbed on her knee and licked her face. “And you have a very tickly tongue!” Bella started to pant. Poppy looked concerned. “Are you thirsty, Bella?” She looked at the twins. “Shall I go and get her some water?”

  “That would be great,” said Jack. “Thanks.”

  Poppy hurried off and came back with a plastic bowl filled with water. She put it down and Bella lapped it up. Poppy grinned. “OK, you two wait here and get her settled and I’ll go and find Ms Drew.”