The Lost Puppy

by Holly Webb

  “We’ll find him tomorrow, Ruby, I promise,” Mum said.

  Ruby nodded. But how could Mum promise that when no one knew where Toby was?

  “Hey, pup!”

  Toby yawned and opened his eyes. Why was Ruby waking him up, in the dark?

  Then he sat up properly, looking around in panic. That wasn’t Ruby!

  “Sshh, don’t worry. I just thought you might need a quick trip out to the garden before I go to bed. I’m not sure whether you’re house-trained yet.” Jake opened the back door, and the security light came on, sending an orangey light into the kitchen, and all of a sudden, Toby remembered where he was.

  Or actually, where he wasn’t. He wasn’t at home in his lovely red basket with Ruby asleep upstairs. He was lost.

  He whimpered, staring out at the strange, dark garden.

  “I know. We’ll find your owners tomorrow, hopefully. We’ll ring the shelter again in the morning.” Jake picked him up, and carried him out into the garden. “Go on, just a quick wee, then you can go back to sleep.”

  Toby wandered out on to the lawn, sniffing the night smell of wet grass. Everything was different, and wrong! Where was Ruby? Why hadn’t he just stayed and waited for her? Then he would be home by now.

  He sat down, raised his head to the sky, and howled.

  Chapter Seven

  “What if someone’s found him and doesn’t know who he belongs to?” Ruby said worriedly, looking back at Dad as they hurried into the woods early the next morning. It was chilly, and leaves were whirling on the cold wind.

  “He’s microchipped too, remember,” Dad pointed out. “If someone takes him to a vet or the dog shelter, they’ll be able to scan his microchip, and then they’ll call us.”

  “So why haven’t they?” Ruby wailed. “Maybe he got stuck down a badger hole! Auntie Nell said that ages and ages ago dachshunds were bred to chase badgers down their holes. Are there badgers in Norbury Copse, Dad?”

  “Probably,” Dad admitted. “But I don’t think Toby would chase one…”

  “He would!” Ruby told him sadly. “He tried to show that German shepherd who was boss, didn’t he?”

  “Excuse me…” someone behind them called breathlessly.

  Ruby wheeled round in surprise. She’d been so busy imagining Toby stuck down a badger’s sett, that she hadn’t seen the old lady coming up the path after them. She hadn’t expected anyone else to be here at half-past seven in the morning.

  “Have you lost a dog? I’m sorry, I heard you calling…”

  “Yes!” Dad replied, and Ruby raced up to the old lady.

  “Have you seen my puppy?” she gasped. “Do you know where he is?”

  “A little brown-and-black dachshund? I saw him yesterday – I come here birdwatching, you see. I did try to catch him, as I thought he might be lost, but he ran off again.”

  “That’s Toby,” Ruby whispered. “Did you see which way he went?” she added, rather hopelessly.

  “No, but…” the old lady paused thoughtfully. “There was a man jogging, and I saw him again as I went back home. He had a little dog with him, and it might have been the same one…”

  “A man’s taken Toby!” Ruby gasped. “He’s stolen him, he must have, or why didn’t he call us?”

  Dad hugged her. “Don’t panic. Toby slipped his collar, remember? Perhaps the man took him to the police station. Or the dog shelter in town! That’s more likely. We’ll go home and call them. Thanks so much,” he told the old lady. “You’ve been really helpful.”

  “I do hope you find him,” the lady smiled. “He’s a sweet little thing.”

  Ruby nodded. She was right – Toby was so little. Far too little to be out on his own. He’s at the shelter, she told herself firmly. He has to be…

  Dad put down the phone, making a face. “Answering machine. But the recorded message says Oakley Shelter opens at nine…”

  He checked his watch. Ruby had been up at six wanting to go back to Norbury Copse, and it was still only half-past eight. “It’ll take us twenty minutes or so to get there,” he said thoughtfully.

  “Let’s go!” Ruby grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the front door.

  They sped off in the car, Ruby waving to Mum and Anya, who were watching from the door. Anya was really missing Toby, too. She’d been up almost as early as Ruby had, and when Ruby and Dad got back from the woods, Ruby had found her little sister sitting in Toby’s basket, looking confused and sad.

  As they drove through town to the shelter, Ruby leaned forward, her fists clenched so tightly her arms ached.

  “Relax, Ruby,” said Dad. “You’re not making us go any faster. The shelter doesn’t open for another quarter of an hour, anyway, and we’re nearly there.”

  Ruby was out of the car the moment they stopped in the car park, and she was off, running towards the doors to the shelter. But it was still locked, and she rattled it uselessly.

  “It’s only five to,” Dad called, following her across the car park.

  Ruby paced up and down as they waited outside, checking her watch every ten seconds or so, certain each time that it must be nine o’clock by now.

  At last, they saw a figure coming towards the glass doors, and a young woman smiled at them as she put the key in the lock.

  Ruby hung on to Dad’s arm, as the woman swung the door open. “Wow, you’re keen!” she said cheerfuly. “Have you come to see about adopting a dog?”

  Dad shook his head. “I’m afraid not. We’re really hoping that our puppy is here. We lost him yesterday afternoon.”

  “Oh, right.” The young woman looked doubtful. “I haven’t heard about a puppy being brought in.” She saw Ruby’s face fall, and added quickly, “But I wasn’t here yesterday, so don’t take my word for it. I’ll have to check with one of the others. Come on in, anyway.”

  She led them into the reception area. Ruby could hear the noise of barking from down the passage that led into the main shelter area. She strained her ears, trying to hear Toby’s sharp dachshund bark. But it was too hard to pick it out. There was a clang of metal too, which she guessed was the food bowls being put out.

  “There’s nothing on the computer about a new puppy…” The woman was frowning as she tapped at the keyboard. “Let me go and ask Lucy. She’s the manager, and she was in yesterday.”

  Ruby swallowed. It felt as though there was a huge lump stuck in her throat, and she was fighting back tears. “Dad, where can he be, if he’s not here?” she whispered chokily.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Dad murmured, hugging her. “He might be here.” But he didn’t sound all that hopeful.

  A dark-haired woman came into the reception area. “Hi, I’m Lucy Barnes. Bella says you’re looking for a lost puppy? I’m really sorry, but we didn’t have any dogs brought in yesterday.”

  “None at all…” Dad murmured worriedly.

  “Where can he be, then?” Ruby asked, giving up the fight with the tears, and feeling them trickle down her cheeks.

  “It may take a couple of days for him to get to us,” Lucy explained gently. “Don’t give up. Someone may have found him, and they could be holding on to him to see if they can find the owner themselves.”

  “That man might have stolen him,” Ruby sobbed. “The old lady said she saw a man carrying a dog.”

  “Let me take your number, and the details of your puppy,” Lucy suggested. “Then if someone brings him in to us, we’ll get straight back to you.”

  “Thanks. He’s a dachshund puppy, fifteen weeks old, and he’s brown and black,” Dad explained, and Lucy keyed the details into the computer.

  “He’s called Toby,” Ruby gulped.

  “And he went missing yesterday?”

  “Yes, from Norbury Copse. He’s microchipped – that should help, shouldn’t it?” Dad asked hopefully.

  Lucy smiled. “That’s great. If he’s brought in to the police, or a vet’s, they’ll call you straight away.”

  “Right
. Well, thanks, Lucy. Come on, Ruby.” Dad led her out to the car park. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Look, we’ll call in at the police station on the way back. Maybe he got taken there. And if not, we’ll pick up some rolls of sticky tape on the way home, then we can make a poster and put it up on all the lamp posts.”

  Ruby nodded, but tears started welling up in her eyes again. If they put up LOST posters, it meant they really had no idea where Toby was at all.

  Chapter Eight

  Ruby trailed across the car park, tears still trickling down her cheeks even though she kept wiping them away. Dad had his arm around her, but it wasn’t making her feel any better.

  Dad was just unlocking the car when Ruby heard someone calling behind them, and running footsteps.

  “Wait a minute!” Lucy, the centre manager, was chasing them across the car park, looking excited. She spoke into the phone in her hand, “Yes, I’ve caught them. A brown-and-black dachshund? That’s wonderful!”

  Ruby turned round to look at Lucy, her eyes wide with sudden hope. “Someone’s found him!” she whispered.

  Lucy nodded at her, smiling hugely as she listened to whoever it was on the other end of the phone.

  Ruby felt like grabbing the phone. She wanted to know where Toby was – now now now!

  Finally Lucy ended the call, and grinned at Ruby and Dad. “Thirty-six Elm Lane. A very nice-sounding man called Jake Harper went jogging in Norbury Copse last night, and found a little brown-and-black dachshund puppy, with no collar or lead. He rang us, but we’d closed, so he tried again just now to ask if it was OK to bring the puppy over.” Her grin got even bigger. “I told him we’d save him the trouble and send you there instead! I hope you don’t mind…”

  “Thank you!” Ruby flung her arms round Lucy, and hugged her tight. “Oh, that’s the best news!” She let go and looked up at Lucy worriedly. “It has to be Toby, hasn’t it?” she asked. “There couldn’t be another dachshund in the woods…”

  “Jake was sure it was your puppy. The age sounded about right, and dachshunds aren’t that common. Now go and get him!”

  Dad smiled at Lucy. “Elm Lane, right? Thanks for all your help. Come on, Ruby!”

  “Bye!” Ruby jumped into the car, fighting with her seat belt. She was suddenly so nervous that her fingers seemed to have stopped working. It had to be Toby, it just had to. She couldn’t bear to be disappointed again.

  Toby was lying in the middle of the cushion, with his head on his paws, watching as Mickey ate his breakfast. It was dog food from a tin this time – different to the biscuits Toby had at home. He quite liked the smell, but somehow he wasn’t very hungry, even though there was also a big helping for him.

  “You’re quiet this morning.” Jake crouched down by the basket. “I hope you’re not sickening for something. Especially as I think I’ve found your owner. A young lady’s very worried about you, apparently. Maybe you’re just missing her, mmm?” He stood up. “Well, it won’t hurt you to miss one breakfast, I suppose, if you don’t feel like it. Do you want to go out? Quick sniff round the garden? No?” He patted Toby’s smooth head. “Not long now, pup. Cheer up.”

  Toby had lifted his head to look at Jake while he was talking, but now the big man was walking away, he let it flop back down. He didn’t want food, and he didn’t want to go out in the garden. He wanted Ruby.

  He wanted Ruby pouring out his dog biscuits, and watching him lovingly while he wolfed them down. He wanted to race up and down the garden with her and Anya. He liked Jake, and Mickey was good to share a bed with for one night. But he didn’t want to stay here. He’d never really known another dog before. Especially not one that stood on his ears! This was Mickey’s house, and Jake was Mickey’s special person. Mickey had made that very plain, and Toby didn’t mind. He just wanted to be back home with Ruby.

  Elm Lane wasn’t far from the shelter, and Ruby and her dad pulled up outside number thirty-six about ten minutes later.

  They could hear barking from inside, even before they rang the bell, and Ruby looked up at Dad with shining eyes. It was a squeaky sort of bark. A bossy little dog’s bark…

  “It’s him, isn’t it?” Ruby whispered, and Dad nodded, beaming.

  On the other side of the door, Toby scrabbled and yelped, clawing at the wood panels. He could hear Ruby! She’d come to find him!

  As the door opened, a small brown-and-black ball of fur hurled itself at Ruby, barking and yapping.

  She picked him up, laughing and crying at the same time. “Toby! Where did you go? We looked everywhere for you! Oh, I missed you!”

  Toby licked her face lovingly, then went back to jumping and wriggling, and wagging his tail so hard his whole back end wagged too. He leaned dangerously far out of Ruby’s arms to lick Dad too, and even licked Jake.

  Jake laughed. “Yes, you’re happy now, aren’t you, pup?”

  “Thank you for finding him,” Ruby said shyly, so quietly that Jake could hardly hear her over the mad barking.

  “That’s all right. He didn’t have a collar. I suppose he must have lost it.”

  “He was wearing one.” Ruby nodded. “My little sister fell over, you see, and I was helping Mum cheer her up. I hooked Toby’s lead over a branch, and by the time we’d sorted Anya out, he was just gone!” Her voice squeaked with fright as she remembered it. “I bet you went off chasing squirrels, didn’t you?” she asked Toby. “The woods were full of them.”

  Then her eyes widened, as Mickey lumbered into the hallway to see what was going on. “Oh! You’ve got a dog, too.” She looked worriedly up at Dad, and then at Jake. “I’m really sorry if Toby fought with him…”

  Jake laughed. “Actually, he tried being a bit bossy, but Mickey stood on him. After that he was very good!”

  “Stood on him?” Ruby gasped, looking at Mickey. He was huge. He looked like he could squash Toby.

  “Just on one ear, just for a moment. His way of showing Toby who was in charge, I think. Has he been difficult with other dogs before, then?”

  Ruby shuddered. “He barks at them. It’s like he thinks he’s as big as they are.” She looked down at Toby, who’d wriggled out of her arms and was dancing round Mickey’s legs, nuzzling him playfully. “But he’s being so nice with your dog now!”

  Jake grinned. “Maybe he just needed a lesson on who’s in charge of the pack. Have you tried puppy parties?”

  Dad shook his head. “I’ve not even heard of them. Is it like training? We’re booked in for a class that starts in a couple of weeks.”

  “Oh well, the people running your training might do puppy parties too – you should ask. It’s like a safe place for young dogs to get to know each other. It teaches them how to get along, and work out who’s in charge. But you’re there to step in if there’s any problems.”

  “You know lots about dogs,” Ruby said wistfully. She wished she knew as much. She felt like she’d let Toby down so badly, losing him in the woods, even if Mum had said it wasn’t her fault.

  Jake smiled at her. “He really missed you, you know. Mickey distracted him last night, but when I woke him up to go out for a wee before I went to bed, he seemed miserable. And this morning, he just sat in the basket looking lonely – didn’t even want any breakfast. He didn’t want me, even if I have been a dog-owner for years. He’s your puppy.”

  Ruby nodded, watching as Toby wove in and out of Mickey’s legs. Then he stopped suddenly, looking round, as if he was checking that Ruby was still there.

  She crouched down, and he raced over to lick her hand quickly, before going back to his game.

  “See?” Jake nodded at Ruby. “Your dog.”

  Ruby smiled. It was true. And she was going to make sure she never lost him again.

  Dad had called home to let Mum and Anya know that they’d found Toby, so Ruby wasn’t that surprised to find Anya in the front garden waiting for them. She was standing on the bottom of the gate, peering over the top, and she waved madly as soon as she saw the car.

  For onc
e, Dad had let Ruby carry Toby on her lap instead of putting him in his travel crate. Every so often, as they drove along, he turned and looked up at her, as though to check she was still there, and he kept giving her hands loving little licks.

  “Toby, Toby!” Anya flung open the gate, and rushed over to them, with Mum chasing after her.

  “Oh, Ruby, I’m so glad you’ve got him back,” Mum said, smiling through the car window.

  Ruby got out of the car, and Toby licked Anya, very gently. He could see that the white patch on her face meant he had to be careful.

  “Good boy,” Ruby whispered. She went in through the gate, expecting Toby to jump down and race around the garden, like he usually did. But this time he stayed snuggled in Ruby’s arms.

  There was nowhere else he would rather be.

  About the Author

  Holly Webb started out as a children’s book editor, and wrote her first series for the publisher she worked for. She has been writing ever since, with over sixty books to her name. Holly lives in Berkshire, with her husband and three young sons. She has a pet cat called Marble, who is always nosying around when she’s trying to type on her laptop.

  Other titles by Holly Webb:

  Lost in the Snow

  Lost in the Storm

  Alfie all Alone

  Sam the Stolen Puppy

  Max the Missing Puppy

  Sky the Unwanted Kitten

  Timmy in Trouble

  Ginger the Stray Kitten

  Harry the Homeless Puppy