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- Herausgeber: Little Tiger Press
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Sprache: Englisch
Abandoned, lost, neglected? There's always a home at Animal Magic! In a perfect world there'd be no need for Animal Magic. But Eva and Karl Harrison, who live at the animal rescue centre with their parents, know that life isn't perfect. Every day there's a new arrival in need of their help. When Bella the baby rabbit arrives at Animal Magic, she's terrified of people and hides at the back of her hutch. Eva's determined to help the shy creature but making friends with Bella isn't the only thing on her mind. Eva also has to solve the mystery of the rabbit's real owner… A heart-warming animal story, perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Magical Animal Friends.
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Seitenzahl: 61
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017
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This series is for my riding friend Shelley, who cares about all animals.
Contents
Chapter One
“But this is a puppy. She’s a living breathing creature – not a machine!” Heidi Harrison told the woman in Reception at Animal Magic.
The visitor had marched in a few minutes earlier carrying a cardboard box containing a tiny black puppy.
Eva sat at the computer, surprised by her mum’s angry tone.
“The breeder told me that this puppy was house-trained,” the woman complained in a whining voice. “But when I got her home, she started leaving puddles everywhere!”
“That’s because Sasha is only about six weeks old,” Heidi explained more patiently. “It’s much too soon for her to be house-trained.”
The woman frowned. She was fashionably dressed in a short skirt and pink flowered top. “They also told me that she slept through the night and that she’d be perfectly happy to be left at home during the day while I go out to work. But it’s not true.”
“You leave Sasha by herself all day?” Heidi raised her eyebrows. She glanced at Eva, who pulled a face as she tapped at the keyboard to update the Animal Magic website.
I don’t believe it! Eva thought darkly. Some people don’t deserve pets!
Her mum took a deep breath. “OK, let me get this straight. The breeders told you that Sasha was a pure-bred Labrador, whereas in fact she’s a crossbreed – a mix of Labrador and collie by the look of it.”
Eva turned to see the puppy raise her cute head over the top of the box and let out a faint whimper. Poor little thing!
“Plus, she’s not house-trained. Plus she cries all night long?” Heidi added.
The woman nodded three times. “So I don’t want to keep her,” she said firmly. “That’s why I brought her here. After all, you are a rescue centre, aren’t you?”
“Cross-breeds are often very good-natured,” Heidi said quietly. “They can make better pets than pedigree dogs.”
Definitely! Eva thought. No way are cross-breeds second best! But it was clear her mum was losing the argument.
“So will you take her, or not?” the woman asked, tapping the side of the box and glancing at her watch.
Sasha whined and scrabbled with her paws.
Heidi succeeded in hiding her irritation. “Sure,” she said brightly. “She’s a gorgeous little thing. It shouldn’t take us long to find her a suitable new home.”
Better than the one you gave her, Eva thought, glaring at the woman’s pink flowery back as she turned to leave. Some people needed a big reality check before they rushed out and bought a pet!
As Heidi showed the woman to the door, Eva came over and lifted the puppy out of the box and put her gently on the desk. “Hey, Sasha, she didn’t even say goodbye to you, did she?” she murmured.
Sasha squirmed and yelped, weeing in panic as her paws slipped on the smooth surface.
“Oops!” Eva smiled, lifting her carefully and cuddling her. “You’re gorgeous!” she murmured as the puppy snuggled close. Soft and silky, with big brown eyes and floppy ears, and a little pointed tail that wagged to and fro.
“It makes me so cross when people dump their pets as if they were dropping off a bundle of old clothes at a charity shop!” Heidi sighed, coming back into Reception. “I’m also worried about that breeder passing off cross-breeds as pure pedigrees. I think it’s worth following up.”
Eva nodded as Sasha licked her hand. “You’re totally gorgeous!” she sighed. “You’ll be snapped up the minute we put you up on our website – just wait and see!”
“Eva’s in lurve!” Karl chanted. “She lurves the new puppy ’cos she’s so cute and fluffy!”
“Who’s cute and fluffy – Eva or the dog?” Eva and Karl’s dad asked, poking his head into Reception. Mark Harrison had just got home from a sunny day delivering parcels. He was in a good mood, ready to tease his daughter. “Or both?” he suggested.
Eva ignored the joke and carried on tidying leaflets in the rack. “We admitted a new puppy called Sasha,” she told him. “Karl just took her picture and put her on the website.”
“L-U-R-V-E – lurve!” Karl laughed, unhooking a dog lead and going to fetch Billy the boxer from the kennels. “I’m taking Billy for a walk by the river,” he told them.
The boxer jumped up when he saw Karl’s lead, wagging his stump of a tail.
“Down!” Karl ordered. “Sit, Billy!”
The lean brown dog did as he was told.
“Good boy.” Karl clipped on the lead and took Billy off across the yard.
“Nice dog,” Mark said. “Pity about his habit of chewing people’s shoes to shreds.”
“And chair legs and tables,” Eva reminded him. “But it’s not Billy’s fault. His owner used to lock him in a room and he was bored.”
Billy was a chewer and it had landed him at Animal Magic and in need of a new home. So far they’d had two sets of people come to look at the lively two year old, but both had turned him down because of his bad habit.
“Hi, Eva. Hi, Mr Harrison!” Annie Brooks said as she breezed in. Eva’s friend from next door had come to see the puppy that Eva had called to tell her about. “So where’s this cute pup?”
“In the kennels. Come on!” Leaving the leaflets, Eva dashed ahead. “Sasha’s mega sweet, Annie. Honestly, you just have to take a peep!”
“Karl’s out walking Billy, and Eva’s in the kennels with Annie,” Mark reported to Heidi, who had just finished talking with Joel, Animal Magic’s veterinary assistant.
“Did Annie bring any news?” Heidi asked. “You know, from Linda – about the Council’s decision.”
“No news I’m afraid.” Mark shook his head. They’d been waiting nervously for a letter from the Council for more than a week. “I only know that Linda wishes she’d never got up that petition to have us closed down in the first place.”
Heidi frowned. “Yes, well, a dose of guilt won’t do Linda Brooks any harm. Meanwhile, we’re living on tenterhooks, wondering whether we’re going to be shut down.”
Mark put an arm round her shoulder. “Fingers crossed they let us stay open,” he said. “Anyway, forget that now, come and see what’s in the van!”
“Hey, go and see who we’ve got in Reception!” Karl told Eva and Annie.
The two girls had spent half an hour cuddling and petting lonely little Sasha. Karl was back from his walk and putting Billy in his kennel.
“Who?” Eva demanded. It was early evening – a busy time for Animal Magic.
“Put that puppy down and go see!” Karl insisted.
“Just because you want to cuddle Sasha!” Eva grinned.
“Yeah, Karl!” Annie joined in. “You won’t admit it, but really you do!”
“OK then, don’t go!” he sulked. “But you’re missing something interesting.”
“Here!” Eva said, making up her mind and handing Sasha to him. “Watch she doesn’t wee all over you!”
Out in Reception, Joel and Eva’s mum and dad were gathered around a low table in the waiting area.
“Who’s a cheeky boy?” a croaky voice asked. “Who’s a cheeky boy?”
“What’s that?” Annie gasped, tumbling through the door with Eva.
“Where’s Neville? Who’s a cheeky boy?” Chirp-chirp-croak!
