The Story of Dot
By: Katie Jane Brashier
Yet another smiling face appeared in front of the chain fence. Yet another voice saying, “Awwww! She’s so cute!” And yet another pair of feet walked away. It was the same cycle, over and over again. The volunteers, the visitors, and the adopters all stopped by to admire me, but never removed me from this cold, small space I called home. As far as I can remember, I had never left this home. First I was with all of my brothers and sisters, then I was separated to just my sisters, and then it was just Bella and me. Another person walked up. “Here we go again.” I thought.
“We want to see this puppy!” said an adolescent girl who was volunteering. The man who fed me opened the door and the girl stepped in. “Awwww! You’re so cute!” she exclaimed. “Get her out, Katie Jane. I want to see her!” said a woman who appeared to be the girl’s mother. Katie Jane. So that was the name of my hero. She took me out to a small, fenced-in park and set me down. All the new sights and smells were wonderfully overwhelming! My nose took control of me and I was off. “Wow look at her!” Katie Jane exclaimed. “Mom, call Ms. Liz! Tell her we found a puppy with a great nose!” I continued my exploration as the two conversed. “I am not bothering Liz about a puppy that we found in the shelter!” Katie Jane’s mother replied. “Oh come on! You’re the one who wanted to see her! And look at what she is doing! Instead of opting to play like all the other puppies, she has chosen to find, and discover with her nose! That is amazing! If you don’t call Ms. Liz, then I will!” she declared. “All right, fine. She does seem to have a good nose. I’ll call Liz.” said Katie Jane’s mom. A few minutes later Katie Jane came to get me, much to my dismay, until I discovered that she carried food with her. She took me to a quiet corner of the park area and sat me down. She broke the treats into tiny pieces and scattered them in the grass. “Find!” Katie Jane commanded. I guessed that she meant to find the food, or more that I hoped she meant to find it. I went off nose to ground and found the strong scented treats above all the other strong smells of the earth, grass, trees, and past potty places of other dogs. I gobbled down every single one, with Katie Jane right beside me, encouraging me on. “Good girl! What a good girl you are! What a good find!” she cried excitedly. “Mom, we have to get her! She is amazing!”
Finally, I had a new home with no chain fences. It was a little scary at first, but then I got used to it, and even got the courage to explore! I found a wonderful cat and I love him, but I don’t think he loves me. We have this game where I chase him into a corner and bark and play with him, and he swats at me with his paw and hisses! I love that game! I also have a big sister named Trixie. At first she didn’t like me, but now she plays with me when we’re together and we have lots of fun! For the first month in my new home, Katie Jane’s older brother Matthew took care of me. He fed me, watered me, and named me Dot! After that month, Katie Jane started taking care of me. When I was afraid of the dark, Katie Jane would go outside with me with a flashlight to light my path when it was time to potty. And when I was afraid of getting wet, Katie Jane would play with me in the water and now I love water! I still don’t like baths, though, no matter what she does! I also learned that if I do what Katie Jane says, I get yummy treats! And if Katie Jane’s smell changes, then she wants me to tell her so that I can get really good treat! She has also taught me what things are, like the front door, and the bathroom, and the kitchen, and then stuff like, stick, ball, grass, and motorcycle!
I’m so glad that I don’t have to live in that horrible cage ever again! I love my new home, and I would never want to leave it, not for all the rib bones in the world! Any dog to have Katie Jane is the luckiest dog in the world, and I’m glad she’s mine! She takes care of me, and I take care of her! I love Katie Jane, I love her family, and I love my new home! Katie Jane thinks I’m her hero but really she’s my hero!