Free Lucky Dog Days by Judy Delton Page A

the park.
    Still it took a long time for Tuesday to come.
    Finally it was time for the Pee Wees tomeet again. They were going to the animal shelter for their meeting.
    As they tumbled out of the cars at the shelter they could hear barks. And meows. They heard whines and whimpering.
    “Someone is crying,” said Mary Beth.
    A lady came out to meet them. “I will take you on a tour,” she said.
    The Scouts followed the lady. Her name was Miss Penn.
    “This is our cat room,” she said.
    Cages, cages, cages.
    All around the room were cages.
    In every cage was a cat.
    Striped cats. White cats. Brown cats. Cats with long hair. Cats with short hair. Big cats. Little cats. Medium cats.
    Every cat was crying. They wanted the Scouts to take them out. They put their paws through the bars. “Me-ow,” they called. Take me home.
    Miss Penn opened a cage door. She took out a tiger cat. She put him in Molly’s arms.
    “Oooh!” squealed Molly. “He is so soft. I wish I could take him home.”
    Miss Penn handed each Scout a cat to hold.
    When she gave Tracy a cat, she began to sneeze. Then her eyes started to tear. Tracy’s nose started to run too. More than usual, thought Molly. Yuck.
    “You must be allergic,” said Mrs. Peters.
    She took the cat and put it back in the cage.
    The longer they were in the shelter, the more Tracy sneezed.
    When they got to the dog room, the dogs barked at them. Tracy’s eyes were nearly swollen shut.
    “Dear me,” said Mrs. Peters to Tracy.“You will have to wait in the car.”

    “My cousin is allergic too,” said Rachel. “He has to get shots.”
    “Sonny is allergic,” said Roger. “That’s why he couldn’t come today.”
    “That’s not why he stayed home,” said Tim Noon. “He didn’t come because he’s scared of dogs!”
    “Baby,” said Rachel. “Only babies are afraid of dogs.”
    More dogs began to bark. “Arf! Arf!”
    “Now!” said Mrs. Peters loudly. “Miss Penn said these dogs would love to have a walk. You may each choose a dog and take it for a short walk around the shelter yard.”
    Molly wanted the cocker spaniel.
    So did Roger.
    “There are plenty of dogs to go around,” Mrs. Peters said.
    “Selfish,” said Molly to Roger as she chose a beagle in the next cage.
    Mary Beth chose a poodle.
    Tim chose a dog that looked like a spaniel in front and a Labrador in back.
    “He is a Heinz dog,” said Mrs. Peters. “Fifty-seven varieties!”
    Lisa chose a terrier.
    And Rachel chose a St. Bernard called Snooks.
    “That is a pretty big dog,” said Miss Penn.
    “Do you think you can handle him?” asked Mrs. Peters.
    Rachel nodded. “My uncle has a Great Dane,” she said. “I always take him for a walk.”
    “Liar!” said Molly.
    Rachel made a face at Molly.
    When they got outside, Molly’s beagle walked at her heels.
    So did Mary Beth’s poodle.
    Lisa’s terrier ran and tugged at his leash. Lisa pulled him toward her.
    But when Snooks got to the door, he took off like a bullet. He ran toward a little pond and he pulled Rachel with him.
    “Help!” shouted Rachel as she flew past the girls.
    The other dogs saw Snooks and they began to run too.
    They each pulled a Scout along behind them.
    Tim’s Heinz dog got so excited that he ran around Tim in circles. He wrapped the leash around Tim’s legs.
    “Hey,” called Tim. “I’m all tied up!”
    Soon all the dogs were racing toward the pond behind Snooks. They pulled the Pee Wees behind them, all except Tim. He was on the ground. He tried to get unwound.

    The dogs ran amuck.
    The Scouts were yelling and shouting.
    “Let go of the leash!” called Roger. Everyone did. Everyone but Rachel.

Soaked!
    “S plash!” went Snooks into the pond. “Splash!” went Rachel right after him.
    Tim finally got his legs free.
    Roger and Tim ran to the pond. They grabbed Rachel’s arms and pulled her out. She was dripping wet and she had a water lily on top of her head.
    Molly and Lisa and Mary Beth got there next.