Naiya Remnant - Aged 12 - Runner Up

Shelter

 

“Woof” barked a dog named Blue.

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“ Yap yap yap” came a list of calls from Blue’s best mate Peek, it was feeding time at The Shelter. Blue was a black and white collie with stunning blue eyes and Peek was white and a small pomeranian. “Here you are my loves, “ said the lady, putting down two bowls full of food for Blue and Peek. This was the second time they had been sent to The Shelter for nobody seemed to want two dogs and Blue and Peek were a pair. “Humph,” sighed Blue lying

in a corner, “I’m bored,” she sighed.

 

“Me too,” said Peek, “ why don't we bark for Sue to come,” said Peek who was fond of the lady Sue who worked at The Shelter. “ No, we don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves," said Blue, closing her eyes. And Peek came over and snuggled against Blue.

 

The sun had just started to peep through the window, its golden light shining through the room, when Blue and Peek heard a voice. “I’m afraid I don’t know what to do with those dogs,” said Mr Dixon, the owner of the shelter. “Nobody wants them both,” he said to Sue.

 

“Woof woof,” barked Blue “A butterfly,” she exclaimed, jumping up. “Butterfly, where?” said Peek.

 

“There,” said Blue and sure enough there was a beautiful blue butterfly now getting chased by Peek. “Peek,” said Blue, ignoring the butterfly, “Do you think we will ever be adopted?”

 

“Well there’s a good chance,” said Peek, still chasing the butterfly, “We just haven’t met the right people yet,” she said.

 

“Yeah, I suppose you're right.” Said Blue.

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“Look there’s Sue with the food,” said Peek, “Yap yap.” “Hi Peek,” said Sue, tickling her chin.

 

“Sue, We’ve got to face the facts, nobody wants them,” Mr Dixon said, gesturing towards the two dogs. “We may have to do the deed of putting them to rest.”

 

“No you can’t,” exclaimed Sue, “I won’t let you!”

 

“Blue, did you hear that?” Said Peek, “Blue.” “We have to go Peek,” she said getting up.

 

“What, but why?” said Peek.

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“ You heard Mr Dixon,” said Blue, “We’re just not wanted here.” So the two dogs looked for a way out.

 

“It’s no use,” said Peek, “There’s no way out.”

 

“Hhmph,” said Blue lying down. “There must be… Wait!” exclaimed Blue, “Peek, can you not fit through the bars?”

 

“Oh yes!” said Peek, jumping up. “I will get you out of these in no time,” she said, squeezing through the bars.

 

Peek looked up and down and behold she spotted the keys were placed on a hook on the white flaky wall. “I can’t reach them,” she said, jumping up the wall. “Blue can’t you get through,” said Peek, “You could reach the keys.”

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“No, I can’t get through,” said Blue. “And even if I could I don’t think I could reach the keys,” she said sadly.

 

“There has to be a way,” said Peek. “Aha,” she exclaimed looking at a box. “This will do.” She pushed the box with her nose against the dusty wall.

 

“Achoo,” she sneezed.

 

“Quick,” said Blue, “Grab the keys.”

 

“Hum, got them!” Peek said, opening the door of their cage. “Now let’s go,” said Blue rushing out.

 

“Wait!” Blue and Peek stopped.

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“That voice sounded familiar,” said Blue, going towards the noise. “Oh,” said Peek, “It’s Alfie the Jack Russell."

 

“Please let me come with you,” he begged. “Umm sorry to say this Alfie.” started Blue.

 

“Please,” He begged.

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Stomp stomp stomp.

 

“Quick Mr Dixon's coming,” said Peek jumping down off the box. “Oh ok,” said Blue, opening Alfie’s door, “Now quick let’s go.”

 

So the three dogs rushed into the open air, running far from The Shelter.

 

“Golly thanks,” said Alfie. “I thought I was going to be stuck there forever,” He said sitting on the green cool grass.

 

“Yes we did too,” said Blue half lying. “Gosh I’m thirsty, let’s go drink from that spring over there.”

 

“Oh the water is lovely,” said Peek.

 

“I know,” said Alfie, “Cool and crisp.”

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“Cold as ice,” said Blue, lapping up the water.

 

“Now what should we do?” Said Peek lying on the grass and rolling it flat.

 

“Not sure,” said Blue. “Maybe we should look for some food somewhere.” She said,

 

So they split up sniffing for scraps. “Yum,” said Peek.

 

“What?” Said Alfie, “Have you found food?” “Yep,” said Peek, pleased with herself. “Look.”

And there sitting on a bench was a man eating a bacon sandwich. The scent made the dogs tummies rumble .

 

“Should we snatch it?” Said Blue walking up. “No,” said Peek, “I have a better idea.”

 

Then the three dogs started to whine and put on the cutest impression they could. “Oh no.”

Exclaimed the man lifting the bacon sandwich closer to his mouth.

 

“Huh,” said Blue,as she snatched the sandwich and they all ran away, leaving the poor confused man.

 

“Nice move Blue,” said Alfie.

 

“Yes, but I do think you should have waited,” said Peek gruffly.

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“I’m still hungry,” said Alfie after eating his part of the sandwich. “Why don’t we try to get one of those pigeons from over there?” He suggested.

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“Yes, let's,” said Peek. “Woof woof woof.” “Yap yap.”

 

“Bark bark bark.” “Cooo, sqwauk” A flurry of feathers flew into the air.

 

“Well, has anybody got anything?” Said Alfie hopefully. “No, not a thing,” said Blue.

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“Hu,” said Peek lying down. “I wish Sue was here,” she said sadly.

 

“Well she isn’t,” said Blue although deep down she missed Sue just as much. “Maybe we should go back?” Said Alfie to Blue.

 

“But no one wants us there,” said Blue quietly.

 

“Yap yap Help!”

 

“That’s Peek,” shouted Blue, “She is in trouble.” “Quick,” shouted Alfie.

Blue and Alfie running top speed darted to where Peek was standing with the biggest and ugliest dog they had ever seen growling ferociously.

 

“Blue,” said Peek.

 

“Grrrrr Woof,”growled the huge dog launching himself towards Peek. “No!” shouted Blue and she dived in front of Peek.

 

What happened next went in a shudder, as the huge dog dug his teeth into Blue. Alfie bravely jumped onto the huge dog digging his claws into his back.

 

“Howl,” screeched the big dog and he sped away.

 

“Blue,” said Peek in a whisper so small Alfie could hardly hear her. All was silent until, “Peek,” said Blue in a small voice.

 

“Oh Blue, you're alive,” said Peek, licking Blue all over. “Hi Blue,” said Alfie coming over.

 

“Alfie,” said Blue, “Thank you.”

 

It was a horrible wound the dog had left on Blue's side. But Alfie and Peek took care of her. Although the best thing they could do for her was to give her odd scraps and lick the wound. “Peek, can I speak to you?” Said Alfie. “I can’t find any more scraps and all the bins have been emptied.

“Oh dear,” said Peek sitting next to Blue. “I am so hungry.”

 

Now while all of this had been occurring, back at the shelter Sue had been very perplexed to find the three dogs missing. So she quickly conferred it to Mr Dixon, certain he would handle a search party at the ready.

 

But when he arrived there was no search party and it seemed he didn’t care. “Oh, oh well,” he said when he heard the news. “Those dogs have always been trouble anyway.”

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“Mr Dixon, does it not trouble you at all that those dogs could possibly be starving and cold by themselves on a street somewhere.”

 

“ Well,” started Mr Dixon.

 

“ It does matter to me,” said Sue. “ I quit,” she said, stomping off before Mr Dixon got another say.

 

Then Sue, after stomping out, decided to take a walk through the park and as she was thinking to herself she heard a whine soft but pure. She looked behind a bush and there she saw Peek. “Peek!” she exclaimed, “Blue, Alfie” said Sue, very much surprised.

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“Sue, yap yap,”

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“Bark,” said Alfie and Peek excitedly.

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“Woof,” barked Blue, still lying motionlessly on the ground.

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“Oh Blue,” said Sue sitting next to her with Peek and Alfie by her side. Then seeing the wound she scooped up Blue and with Alfie and Peek at her heels took them back to her little cottage on the edge of the park. It was a small but cosy little cottage and there she cleaned Blue’s wound and smiled. “Don't worry,” she said, “I will take care of you.”

 

So Sue cared for Blue and in a short while Blue was back to her normal self. Then one day Peek and Alfie were sitting down on the sofa next to Blue, and Peek said, “Blue I think, I think this is home.”

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“Yes,” said Blue, “Shelter,” she said as Peek snuggled on Sue's lap with Alfie and Blue either side of her.

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