Treats & Tales

Contents

Part I

Novel: Lil’ Red and Friends

PART II

Treats: Recipes For Canines

Good Manners For Dogs

Short Story: Candy

PART III

Treats: Dressing Your Dog

(How to Make Dog Clothes)

Dedication

To my grandchildren:

Isaac, Grace and Cana Hunt

It’s always fun playing together, especially with our animals.

This book is for you!

My love to you always,

Grandmother (Rotha)

Acknowledgements

Creative Advisor—Cover and Title: Rebekah Driggers

Text Director/Layout: Janis Moore

PART I

Lil’ Red and Friends

Novel

Rotha J. Dawkins

Peppermint Dawkins

Age 4

When you acquire your dog or cat, it’s a real moment. That bonding is like love at first sight.

Peppermint was in the Davidson County Animal Shelter. Probably, she had been bounced around and not treated well prior. She was too thin and a bit frightened. It was only days before she came around as though she had always been mine.

To have a baby like her is to not be lonely, someone there and never to talk to yourself anymore.

There is a special void that animals replace. The love, attention, frolic and play is worth it all. No words can ever say how we feel. I guess it’s simply magic!

I love you Peppermint!

Mother Rotha

Chapter 1

Get in there! screamed the helper. He reached down to unsnap the leash on the red dachshund who was holding back, and sliding. She gulped and gritted her teeth. Opening the big door to a space full of other dogs, he slung her all the way inside. As she soared in the distance, her ears flew outward as did all four legs as if in flight.

The landing wasn’t comfortable when she plopped onto the head of a huge pit-bull that quickly flipped her off. He growled, gobbling at her with his mouth and shook the little body bringing blood with pain.

The helper then hit a cage with a stick. The Sunnydale Animal Shelter was jammed full of creatures. There was literally no more space.

The left entry hallway consisted of cages with assorted puppies and dogs. For most of these varied animals: Being born was a mistake.

In the wide aisle that smelled like a combination of ‘Pine Sol’ and smeared ‘po-do’ people could scrutinize the animals. A little girl screamed, Oh look, it’s a ‘weenie’ dog! She started singing, I’d like to be an Oscar Mayer Wiener!

The red dog dropped to the floor, remarking to a tail-wagging white French Poodle, Did you hear that? She’s calling me an Oscar Mayer Wiener! I hate that! Besides, that’s a Jewish name. I’m German American.

Well, look at the options; go with the kid or stay here. In three days you’ll burn. They’ll put you to sleep, answered the poodle. I’m showing off for her! Watch this!

Quickly, the white dog dropped to the floor and rolled. The little girl exclaimed, Let’s get that cute curly dog. Please!

As fast as you can say scat to a cat, the iron doors of the cage-room slid open. A uniformed arm snatched up the pretty white dog and placed her in the arms of the child.

Poodle looked at Red sadly, It’s been nice knowing ya Red Dog. You’d better cop a better attitude or you’re gonna smoke! Hope you’ll each find a home!

Red Dog walked to a German Shepherd. Hey big dog!

The shepherd grunted, Hey. Me and Terrier here are trying to get a grip on things.

It ain’t great here but it’s better than last week, Terry said. An old woman picked me up behind a shopping center. I sort of lived there while I was homeless. I hate being homeless, especially in the winter. She didn’t like me though. I don’t mean to be so nuts, but when you have to whiz, you gotta ‘go’. I did it in her kitchen floor; guess it teed her off, so here I am!

"I chomped a mail man. Actually, I barely nipped him. He’d kick me for no reason when coming through the fence. I’ll be here until the quarantine is over. My ole man got real mad about ‘Sue’ somebody," the shepherd moaned.

Sue? Oh yeah, humans hate that word. It means somebody will take their stuff if they can. You can’t bite ’em; just scare them to death! Red smiled than settled onto the cement.

Red was happy the pretty poodle bonded with the new family. ‘Poodles are curly and French fashionable. They never have to take ridicule. They are accepted for the fluffy, uppity, eccentric creatures they are. Give them a bow in their hair, then watch that nose stick in the air,’ thought Red. ‘Fluffy would be a good name for her.’

Another dog was slipped into the cage. Looking at her Red could see the stomach sagging almost to the ground with her sides extra wide. The dog plopped to the floor and sighed, See they dumped me! I’m going to have puppies. This will be my first time. You know what, I’m just eight months old myself.

Gee, that’s too bad. Didn’t you know about the puppy thing?

Well, I do now! Ouch! One just kicked me in the belly! She grunted, What’s going to happen to us?

You’re a beagle, people like you because you can hunt rabbits and stuff. Red sniffed her long hanging ears.

I suppose, sighed the black and tan.

I’ve got an idea. If we stay in this dog pound three days, we’ll be dead. We’ve got to find a way out of here! They try to pretend we’ll get adopted and cared for but that’s not always true. There’s too many dogs and not enough homes, snapped Little Red dogmatically.

The big German Shepherd overheard. You’ve got the right idea. We have to do something. Look over here. See where that bucket of water sits? It’s dirt! Tonight we can dig under this wall and leave this jungle.

I’m afraid! squeaked a mix-breed Collie, Dalmatian and Shepherd.

Don’t be stupid! Just keep yourself quiet and help, growled the Shepherd.

But we might get caught! She shook. Her whole body was nearly vibrating.

Dumb ox! So? What can happen if we are found out? Die; that’s the plan if we don’t escape, yelled Little Red. I wish I could fly. Oh how I wish I could fly! Sometimes I think I can!

Chapter 2

Dogs don’t fly! Never! Dogs don’t fly! laughed the Beagle. She flipped her long brown ears.

We will all fly when we get out of here. This place is on a real high hill. I’ll show you! whispered Little Red. Sh! Here comes old grouch with our food. Play possum!

Possum? winced Beagle.

Yes, act like you’re asleep—that’s what possums do! Red quickly rolled on her side and shut her eyes.

The fellow opened the door and poured a bag of dry food into a huge container. He snickered to himself. Look at these lazy ugly devils. Ain’t got nothing going for ’em but sleep. Come Friday, you’ll all go to the state lab. They’ll use you like rats, then burn you. Too bad you were ever born. He touched the fat belly of the Beagle. Poor little girl. Maybe I’ll take you home to my grandpa. He likes hunting dogs. You’ll be able to have eight or ten more litters of pups. At three hundred dollars a puppy and about six of them at a time, you can make some money for us.

None of the dogs moved. Finally, he walked out the door and down the long hallway. The day was almost over. Someone began turning lights off; only the dim rays from the fleeting sun and a few night-lights remained. Soon vehicles outside the building were driven away in other directions. Everything became quiet.

A dog outside the building began to whimper with a scared cry. Those inside the various rooms keenly listened.

Red stood, It’s the Poodle! Mercy what happened to her?

Finally the doggy cried out, Red? Ohhh! Red Dog?"

Hush! We’re in here! replied Red. We hear you."

I want to come back! I’d rather die than be with that mean little brat! wept the Poodle. Help me in!"

Are you crazy? We’re coming out! All of us!

That’s right! snorted ‘Mark’ the Shepherd. How did you get back here?

Didn’t get far at all. Those people put me in their car with that girl. She smacked me around, pulled my hair, and even spit in my face. Can you imagine how humiliated I felt?

"Milliated? Is that like rich? Millionaire you mean!" whispered Beagle.

The Poodle adjusted the new pink collar. "No, oh no. Humiliated means the most horrible of feeling awful, like spit-dirty and nasty. I should be so lucky to be rich. I’d rather die in this gas chamber than be with a terrible person like that."

It’s good you’re back. We’re breaking out of here tonight, informed Red. We must be real quiet. You can keep watch out for us."

This will be hard to do, complained the mixed breed just beside Red.

But we’ll do it! We can start digging in here, in fact, right in front of Fluffy on this side of the wall, Red promised.

I have never dug anything in my life, breathed the Poodle. Tell me how and I’ll dig out here."

Great idea! praised Little Red. Just stretch your front feet before you and scratch at the ground. Do one paw at a time. As you get good at it, go faster. Try it!

Little Red began digging inside creating an indention. It was tiring work; she began to pant. Being small and long seemed easy. Still the short legs could only open the passage the size of her tiny head making it quite tight on her shoulders. Finally she backed out revealing red dirt on her black nose and paws.

The dogs standing around laughed. I look funny but I’ll bet that white Poodle is a sight! smiled Little Red. She called out, Poodle? Are you alright?

The fluffy dog stopped to answer, Whee! This is fun! I love it!

The Dalmatian giggled, Fluffy, how far have you dug?

I can crawl all the way into this hole! Hot dog, this is super! squealed Fluffy, and then groaned. There’s something real hard here! Oh no, what will we do?

From the inside Little Red discovered the same wall. She backed out of her neatly dug tunnel. We have to figure this out. It can’t be the end. Maybe it’s a wall.

That’s a footing. They pour them to keep us from digging, Dally said. "When I was at the fire department I watched them dig a trench for