Sofia’s Puppy Love

Table of Contents

• Hide-and-Seek
• Runt of the Litter
• A Dream Come True
• A Change of Heart
• Friendly Advice
• One Big Mess
• A Second Chance
• Furry Inspiration
• The Science Fair
• Surprise Delivery

Hide-and-Seek

Sofia Davis pulls on a pair of yellow gloves while glancing at a disgusting pile of cat hair. She had no idea cats shed so much! Sofia’s friends, Keiko Hayashi, Madison Rosen, and Jasmine Arroyo peer into the cage next to her. The four friends were busy volunteering at Rosa’s Refuge Animal Shelter, like they do every Saturday. Jasmine’s mother, Dr. Arroyo, is a veterinarian who volunteers there, too.

Madison coos as she scoops up the cat, Nugget. She moves the cat to an empty cat carrier while the girls get busy cleaning the cage.

Jasmine, grinning, asks Sofia how she thinks she’ll ever own a dog if she thinks cat hair is gross. Most dogs shed even more than cats. And, Sofia would have to pick up dog poop.

Keiko, owner of her dog, Sadie, agrees. She wishes Sadie would learn to use a toilet! Madison, giggling, says that’s why she has cats, so they use a litter box!

Sofia wishes she could chime in. She’s been wanting a dog more than anything, but her parents aren’t eager to get one. For now, Sofia has to be content with volunteering at the shelter.

Jasmine mentions that maybe doing a project comparing how much a cat sheds versus a dog would be a good science fair project. Unfortunately, she already decided to make electricity with a potato. Madison says she’s planning on reporting on exactly what temperature chocolate turns from a solid form to a liquid form. Keiko says she’s going to try to drop an egg with a parachute and prevent it from breaking. Sofia hasn’t figured out what to do for her science project yet, even though she’s one of the best science students in her class. She says she’s waiting to be inspired.

Just then, the girls are interrupted by two animal control officers carrying a large dog crate through the door. Mrs. Wallace, the owner of the shelter, is following. The officers set the crate down on the counter. Sofia and her friends are eager to see what’s inside the crate, but they’re all clueless.

The girls wait patiently until Mrs. Wallace is done with the paperwork. When the officers leave, Sofia is ready to burst. She eagerly asks Mrs. Wallace what’s in the crate. She responds that it’s a new resident. There were reports that a dog was abandoned in Greenlake Park. They found Penny, and brought her here. The officers named her Penny, since it’s easier to write that on the paperwork.

The girls inch closer to Penny. She sniffs Jasmine’s fingers, and wags her tail. She looks friendly, but tired. Mrs. Wallace carries the crate into the examination room. She indicates the girls can follow her, since Penny seems gentle.

Jasmine’s mom gently removes Penny from the crate. Penny lays quietly, resting her head in Sofia’s hand. Sofia can see her stomach looks puffy. When Sofia inquires if Penny is sick, Dr. Arroyo says that she’ll have to see. She looks at Penny’s eyes and ears, and then takes her temperature. As she moves the stethoscope down Penny’s body, she stops at her belly. Dr. Arroyo turns to the girls, and announces that Penny is pregnant, and about two months along. She should be giving birth any day.

Dr. Arroyo tells Mrs. Wallace she’d like to take an X-ray to see how many puppies she’s having. The girls excitedly leave the room. Sofia is beaming. Penny will be having the puppies at the shelter, which means that because they all volunteer there, they’re the ones having the puppies!

A few minutes later, Dr. Arroyo brings the girls back into the room. She flips a switch, and a screen lights up with an image. Sofia can see the curve of Penny’s belly, and inside of it, a bunch of tiny skeletons connected to tiny little skulls. Dr. Arroyo points out the five puppies, gesturing at their skulls. But then Sofia stops Dr. Arroyo from turning off the screen. Sofia points to another round object peeking out from beneath Penny’s spine. Is it a sixth puppy?

Dr. Arroyo looks closely. Sofia may be right. The last puppy is playing hide-and-seek.