A Forever Home for Tilly Read online

  “Can we have her, Mum?” Chloe asked eagerly. She giggled as Tilly licked her nose. “Please!”

  “She needs a lot of training and exercise,” Jack warned.

  “I’ll make sure she gets that!” said Chloe. “I’ll walk her every day before and after school and take her to training classes.”

  Mrs Simms tickled Tilly’s ears. “Would you like us to be your new owners?”

  Tilly barked once. Loudly. Grace grinned. “I think that’s a yes!”

  The twins’ mum came out to meet Mrs Simms and agreed that the twins should go back with Chloe to do a house check. Hoping that the Simms would pass their checks, they took Tilly with them, as well as some dog food. They also took a crate, bedding, bowls and toys that the Simms could borrow until they could get to the pet shop to buy their own.

  “I’ll drop Grace and Jack home later,” said Mrs Simms, “hopefully without Tilly, if we pass their checks!”

  It was just a short drive from Grace and Jack’s.

  First, the twins checked the back garden. As Chloe had said, it was large and properly fenced in. “This looks great,” said Grace.

  “Come inside,” said Mrs Simms.

  Grace crossed her fingers. What would the inside of the house be like and how would Tilly fit in?

  Chloe led the way to the lounge. The house was cosy and messy with a few boxes still half unpacked. Tilly started nosing around them, her tail wagging. “We can soon clear these away,” said Mrs Simms. “And we’ll make sure there’s nothing at tail height!” She quickly lifted up a silver sports cup engraved with Chloe’s name that Tilly’s tail almost wagged into.

  Grace exchanged a look with Jack. It seemed like Mrs Simms was quite sensible and didn’t mind a bit of mess. It really did look like they had found Tilly the perfect new home.

  The lounge opened into a small conservatory. “This is where I paint,” said Chloe. On a low table, there was a painting. At the end of the room, Chloe had arranged some sports equipment that she was painting for the school exhibition – a cricket ball, a bat and a glove.

  “Your picture’s good,” said Grace.

  Chloe pulled a face. “It’s not quite right. It needs something else.”

  Tilly bounded towards the things. “Tilly, no!” gasped Grace, grabbing her collar and stopping her just in time.

  Tilly whined. When she was quiet, Grace let her go. Tilly immediately trotted back into the lounge.

  “Tilly, leave!” said Jack in alarm, as Tilly grabbed the silver cup.

  The puppy ignored him and carried the cup through into the conservatory.

  “Like we said, she does need some more training,” said Jack hastily.

  “That’s fine,” said Mrs Simms to the twins’ relief. “I know puppies need lots of attention. What’s she doing?” she went on. Tilly trotted up to the sports equipment and put the cup next to it. She nudged it slightly with her nose then she wagged her tail.

  “It’s just a weird habit she has,” Grace explained. “She likes arranging things. She’s been doing it ever since we got her.”

  “The cup looks good there,” said Chloe. “I’ll add it into the painting. Are you going to help me with my pictures from now on?” she asked Tilly. “You clever puppy!” Tilly sat down by the cup and woofed. Jack grinned. “I think she’s saying you should paint her too!”

  Tilly spun round.

  “It wouldn’t be much of a still life!” Chloe giggled.

  Her mum opened the doors on to the garden. “She looks like she needs some exercise. Maybe you should take her out to play?”

  “So, I can keep her?” said Chloe breathlessly.

  Chloe’s mum nodded. “Yes, if Grace and Jack agree we’ve passed their house check?”

  Jack looked at Grace, who nodded hard. “I declare you have passed the Forever Homes’ rehoming tests!” he said.

  “Yay!” Chloe shrieked. She crouched down and hugged Tilly. “You’re going to be my dog, Tilly. You’re going to live with me forever and ever.” Then she burst into tears of joy, giggling as Tilly licked them from her face.

  Tilly’s tail wagged so hard it was as though she understood what Chloe had said. She wriggled free and trotted over to Grace and Jack. She licked them both, as if she were saying goodbye, and then bounded outside. Chloe ran to join her.

  Watching Chloe and Tilly chase each other around the grassy garden, Grace swallowed back a hard lump of happy tears in her throat. She was going to miss the little puppy so much. But now she had a new home and family who’d love her, play with her and even enjoy her unusual artistic skills!

  “We’ve found Tilly the perfect home,” she whispered to Jack.

  “We really have!” he replied happily.

  Two weeks later, Grace and Jack sat together in a special assembly to announce the winners of Mrs Drew’s art exhibition. Grace’s painting of Tiny was one of the runners-up but the winning painting was Chloe’s still life.

  “The sports equipment is so lifelike,” said Ms Drew, handing Chloe the prize, a set of paintbrushes. “But what the other teachers and I really liked was the reflection of a fluffy dog you can just see in the cup. Great artists always concentrate on the details. Well done, Chloe.”

  Chloe looked thrilled as she shook Ms Drew’s hand and everyone clapped. “Thank you,” she said. “The painting is dedicated to my new puppy, Tilly. She’s the best puppy in the whole, wide world!”

  Jack and Grace were walking home after school, thinking about Tilly and Chloe. Jack nudged Grace. “Another success for Forever Homes!” he said. “Being organised really pays off!”

  Grace nodded, her expression dreamy. “And understanding the animals and their owners!” she said. “What animal do you think we’ll get in next? I hope it’s a cat. We haven’t had one in ages.”

  Jack grinned. “I don’t mind so long as we have another animal to find a perfect home for very, very soon!”

  Are you a TOP DOG?

  Take the quiz to find out where you are in the pack!

  1. WHAT IS THE LONGEST TIME YOU CAN LEAVE A PUPPY ON ITS OWN?

  a) All day

  b) Two or three hours

  c) Overnight

  2 HOW DO YOU STOP A PUPPY FROM JUMPING AT YOU?

  a) By ignoring the puppy

  b) By shouting at him/her

  c) By making a big fuss of the puppy

  3 WHAT DO ALL DOGS HAVE TO WEAR?

  a) A neck tie

  b) A doggie coat

  c) An identity tag

  4 WHERE SHOULD YOU PUT A PUPPY TO KEEP HIM/HER SAFE WHEN YOU ARE BUSY OR OUT

  a) In your bedroom

  b) In your garden

  c) In a dog crate

  5 WHAT SHOULD A PUPPY BE ABLE TO GET TO AT ALL TIMES?

  a) Plenty of dog treats

  b) A television

  c) A dish of fresh water

  6 HOW SHOULD A PUPPY TRAVEL IN A CAR?

  a) In the front seat

  b) On a passenger’s lap

  c) In a doggy seat belt or crate

  7 HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU EXERCISE YOUR PUPPY?

  a) Short walks twice a day at least

  b) One really long walk a day

  c) Twice a week

  ANSWERS ON PAGE 89

  GRACE’S FACT FILE

  NAME: Grace Josephine Taylor

  AGE: nine

  LIKES: ANIMALS!

  DISLIKES: people who are mean to animals.

  FAVOURITE COLOUR: turquoise

  FAVOURITE SCHOOL SUBJECT: art

  FAVOURITE FOODS: meringues, peaches, Dad’s lemon-drizzle cake

  FAVOURITE ANIMAL: I can’t choose between dogs and cats. I love them both!

  FAVOURITE JOKE:

  Q: What do you get when you cross a sheepdog with a rose?

  A: A collie-flower!

  DREAM JOB: vet or owner of an animal rescue centre

  WHAT DOG WOULD YOU BE: I’d be a border terrier: they’re lively, bouncy and fun; they have lots of energy; they
never give up and they can be fierce when they want to be!

  CRAZY COCKAPOOS!

  QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  WHAT IS A COCKAPOO?

  A cockapoo is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. They are medium-sized dogs with a curly coat or wavy coat.

  WHAT COLOUR ARE COCKAPOOS?

  They come in lots of different colours. Cream, white, brown and black are the most common.

  DO COCKAPOOS MAKE GOOD PETS?

  YES! Cockapoos are clever, sweet and they love to be cuddled.

  HOW MUCH EXERCISE DO COCKAPOOS NEED?

  They need a good, long walk with free running every day to keep them happy.

  WHAT ELSE DO COCKAPOOS NEED?

  Regular grooming, meeting up with their doggy friends and lots and lots of love and cuddles!

  I WANT A COCKAPOO PUPPY LIKE TILLY. WHAT ARE THE THINGS I SHOULD DO?

  First, ask the adults who you live with if you can have a dog. If they say yes then make sure that you really have enough time to look after one properly. Always get your puppy from a reputable breeder or dog rehoming charity. Never ever buy a puppy from a puppy farm.

  WHAT OTHER THINGS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT COCKAPOOS?

  Cockapoos adore their owners and nothing makes them happier than being as close as possible to you at all times. The second you stand up they will be at your heels and they will follow you everywhere – even to the toilet! Also, most cockapoos love water so be careful when you take a bath. If you leave the bathroom door open, they might just take a flying leap and join you in the tub!

  ANSWERS TO QUIZ ON PAGES 81–83

  1)b 2)a 3)c 4)c 5)c 6)c 7)a

  6-7 CORRECT: Woof! You are a true doggy genius who is leading the way. Give yourself a very big pat on the back and a cuddle with your favourite dog as a reward!

  4-5 CORRECT: Well done! You have a really excellent knowledge of dogs. You definitely deserve a big round of “applawse”.

  2-3 CORRECT: Good work! It seems like you know a fair bit about our doggy friends. Take a bow (wow!).

  1-2 CORRECT: There’s still some work to do – your knowledge is a bit “ruff’. Keep reading lots about dogs and finding out more if you want to get up there with the pack leaders!

  0 CORRECT: Oops! A paw result this time. Better luck next time!

  For more information contact the Cockapoo Club of Great Britain http://www.cockapooclubgb.co.uk

  COPYRIGHT

  First published in the UK in 2020 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place

  Crosby Row, London SE1 1YW

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text copyright © Linda Chapman and Julie Sykes, 2020

  Illustrations © Sophy Williams, 2020

  The right of Linda Chapman, Julie Sykes and Sophy Williams to be identified as the authors and illustrator respectively of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright,

  Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book will be available from the British Library

  All rights reserved

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  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Nosy Crow Ltd.

  Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A.

  Papers used by Nosy Crow are made from wood grown in sustainable forests.

  978 1 78800 792 4

  eISBN: 978 1 78800 791 7

  www.nosycrow.com