by Andrew Kole
“We couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“Amos... I need to talk to you about that,” Shuttleworth said in his serious business voice.
“You’re not taking your donation back!?”
“Let me finish! I am not taking anything back! But you are going to need more money if you’re going to run the best shelter in Colorado,” Shuttleworth said.
“Best in the country,” Amos corrected him.
“Would you be quiet,” said Shuttleworth, annoyed and amused at the same time.
“I would be if you’d get your facts straight!” blustered Amos. “I paid off the mortgage and I’m giving you the deed to this
place. And I’m going to make sure you stay fully funded... forever!”
Amos threw his arms around Shuttleworth and gave him a gigantic bear hug, lifting him in the air, squeezing until Shuttleworth begged for mercy. Amos then put him down.
“I take back everything I ever said about you. Well, almost everything” Amos said.
“Likewise. You’re not really a completely stubborn old coot,” Shuttleworth said.
“And you’re not really the obnoxious, pompous blowhard I thought you were,” Amos retorted. “At least, not most of the time.” The two men continued to cheerfully rib each other. Despite their unusual way of showing it, this was a friendship they both
cherished and knew would last forever.
Taylor and Spencer tossed balls for a couple of the dogs who eagerly chased them across the lawn. “I can’t believe summer’s over already,” Spencer said with a sigh. He had to leave for school the next day and he was dreading it. Spencer had never had a friend like Taylor and he was going to miss her.
“It’s certainly been exciting,” Taylor said.
“I just hope you don’t forget me,” said Spencer.
“You’ll be back for Christmas. We can go skiing,” Taylor said. “That’s months away,” Spencer said, sounding a bit sad.
Taylor could tell this separation was going to be hard on Spencer. “I promise to keep in touch. Besides, school might not be so bad this year. How many people can say they spent their summer vacation surviving a plane crash and fighting off a pack of wolves?”
Back at the shelter, Bohdi, sporting his Aspen Search and Rescue vest, was telling a group of shelter puppies a story.
“And the Westminster dogs and Spencer and his dad worked together and pulled us all up to safety,” said Bohdi as the adorable puppies listened wide-eyed.
“Pups, that’s the kind of teamwork we want you to take with you to your new homes,” added Indy as he walked over with Lady Maya, stopping in front of Bohdi and the puppies.
“I’m curious. What have you learned from this experience, little brother?”
asked Indy.
“That being a champion is about attitude, not pedigree,” said Bohdi.
“Which means that any kind of dog can be a champion,” Lady Maya added.
“Even a little mutt like you,” Indy said, teasing.
A gigantic smile came to Bohdi’s face as he thought about the adventure he had just been on, and the many new adventures he was sure were coming his way.
“Yeah... even a little mutt like me,” Bohdi said, proudly. Then the three dogs smiled at each other.
Friends forever. Mutts forever.
About the Author
Andrew Kole’s career includes working at Warner Brothers as the head of Special Promotions, co-owning The Movie Section, a film and Broadway marketing and promotions company, partner in KMI, a private investment/lending company, fundraising for The Hook & Ladder Foundation, and creating, producing and hosting a daily television show in Aspen, Colorado.
After adopting Bohdi, a rescue mutt who totally stole his heart, Andrew decided he wanted to make a difference in the world of dog rescues. A creative marketing entrepreneur with a very eclectic background, Andrew decided to use his marketing savvy along with his love for dogs and appreciation for rescue organizations to build an indie publishing house, Rescue Mutts Press. Integral to Rescue Mutts Press is the unique Fundraising Partnership Program for non-profit rescue organizations to finance their philanthropic needs, and a corporate program to promote dog rescue and adoption on a national level.
About Bohdi
Rescued off the “ruff ” streets of Venice, California, Bohdi was found in a small bodega scavenging for his next meal. Luckily for both Bohdi and Andrew, Much Love Dogs, a Los Angeles-based non-profit animal rescue organization, took Bohdi in as a foster. A few weeks later he was adopted by the author of this book.
