“He’s fine, thanks,” Dad replied. “A bit bumped and bruised, but nothing that a few days’ rest won’t sort out, we hope.”
“Rest? Pickle?” Mr Turner chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “That’ll be a first.”
“Oh, I am pleased,” Mrs Turner said. “What a scare!”
Pickle opened his eyes at all the voices and gave a sleepy little woof. Then he licked Emily’s face for the hundredth time, just because he could.
“Is that Pickle? You found him!” came another voice, and there was Mrs Jackson, walking Buster along the lane. “What happened? Where was he?”
And then, just as Emily had finished explaining, along came Mr Warburton with his dog, Sammy, who made a fuss of Pickle, too.
“I feel like I’m friends with a film star or something,” Emily laughed, once she’d told the story again. “All this attention you’re getting from everyone, Pickle. Next, you’ll be signing autographs with your paws!”
“Paw-tographs,” Dad quipped with a grin.
“Let’s get this famous pooch inside, anyway,” Mum said. “Inside – and straight to bed. He’s got a lot of sleep to catch up on.”
Emily carried Pickle inside and tucked him cosily into his basket in the kitchen. As soon as he was comfortable, he fell fast asleep all over again. Emily curled up next to him, listening to him breathing. She’d never been so pleased and happy to be home before. What’s more, the house felt like home again, now that Pickle was back.
While Pickle slept, Emily drew a chart of when he had to have his next antibiotics so that they wouldn’t forget, then helped Mum make a special cake for her family of intrepid animal-rescuers. Meanwhile, Dad and Jack went around the village, taking down their lost-puppy posters, grateful that they were no longer needed.
Chloe and her mum popped in later with a doggy treat for Pickle, and a couple of other friends phoned up to say how pleased they were that he was all right. Even the local radio station had got hold of the story and rang, wanting an interview.
Pickle slept through the whole thing. Every now and then he would open his eyes blearily, see Emily and his cuddly bear, and then give a little sigh of contentment and fall straight back asleep.
“Bless him, he’s worn out,” Mum said. “Too tired even to be cheeky.”
Emily grinned. “Ah, just you wait,” she said, stroking him gently. “Pickle won’t be quiet for long. In a few days, he’ll be bouncing about, as daft as ever.” She buried her nose in his soft brown fur and breathed in the smell of him. “And we’ll have lots and lots of fun together again, won’t we, boy?”
Pickle thumped his tail sleepily in reply, and Emily smiled. Her best friend was home, and that was all that mattered. She couldn’t wait for their next adventure together. But one thing was for sure – from now on, all adventures would definitely be above ground!
Meet A Real RSPCA Inspector - Gary Eastwood
Although the characters you’ve just read about are fictional, Pickle’s story is based on a rescue that really did happen. In real life, it was a dog, not a puppy, that fell down the mineshaft, and that dog’s name was Bean. Inspector Gary Eastwood was part of the rescue team.
Bean after the rescue
Tell us about the rescue you were a part of.
Bean’s owners had been on a camping trip when Bean disappeared. They contacted the RSPCA, and I was the Inspector on call. I was worried about how we were going to pull Bean out of the mineshaft safely, and I came up with the idea of lowering a long crate into the shaft using two ropes. I realized that if we encouraged Bean into the crate, then tilted it and pulled it up using one rope, the dog would be unable to jump out and hurt himself more.
We tried lots of things to get Bean into the basket – old socks and dog food – but it was only when we put in his blanket and told Bean to “get in his basket” that Bean actually did – just like Pickle!
What was the trickiest part of the rescue?
The trickiest part of the rescue was working out how we were going to lower something down to Bean and what equipment we needed. I am especially proud of this rescue, as I thought of how to lower something down for Bean to jump into.
Why did you want to become an RSPCA Inspector?
I became an RSPCA officer by accident! I was unemployed and on the bus one day in Leeds, on the way to do some voluntary work. I missed my stop and got off outside the Leeds branch of the RSPCA. I heard lots of dogs barking and went to investigate.
Noticing the RSPCA building, I banged on the door and the centre manager came to answer it. I was invited in for a tour and ended up volunteering for the RSPCA and working at the centre. A little bit later, one of the RSPCA staff suggested that I apply to be an Inspector – so I did and the rest is history!
Could you describe what a typical day is like for an RSPCA Inspector?
A lot of my time is spent on housing estates following up calls from members of the public concerned about an animal and how it is being cared for. Sometimes this means catching an abandoned animal, or helping one that isn’t being looked after properly.
Occasionally I get involved in a more exciting rescue like Bean’s. Today, for instance, I helped out with the rescue of a young calf that had strayed on to a main road through a hole in the hedge. I had to help guide the calf back through the hole into the field and then help patch the hole up!
What is the best thing about being an RPSCA Inspector?
The best thing about being an inspector is helping an animal out of a sticky situation and seeing it healthy and happy again and in a loving home.
What To Do if Your Dog Goes Missing
If your dog goes missing, get an adult to contact your local police station to ask if a dog like yours has been found.
Your milkman and postman may also be able to help you by looking out for your dog on their rounds.
It’s a good idea to put up a poster in your local area with a picture of your dog, for example in newsagents and schools. You need permission to put posters up, so make sure you ask first – even if it’s just a lamp post, you need to ask the council.
Local newspapers may have a section for advertising lost pets – you could even ask your local radio to make an announcement.
Five Tips: Training a Puppy
Start training your puppy from an early age.
If your puppy obeys you, reward him or her with a treat. Your puppy will quickly learn that nice things happen when he or she pleases you!
Only use positive, reward-based training.
Never shout at or punish your puppy.
Always make sure that treats are appropriate for a puppy’s diet. You should only give treats that are designed especially for dogs. If your puppy receives treats through training, you may need to adjust the amount of food in his or her food bowl.
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SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
First published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2013
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Text copyright © RSPCA, 2013
Illustration copyright © RSPCA, 2013
eISBN 978 1407 15226 4
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