Hello,
My name is Elizabeth and tonight I'm going to read you a very special story about my dogs,
Bella and Baxter.
The story is called,
Bella and Baxter Go on a Puppy Hunt.
Before we begin,
Make sure you're very comfortable,
That you have everything that you need.
Take a nice big deep breath in and let it go with a sigh.
We will start our story.
Bella and Baxter are super special dogs who live in Oak Grove Village.
They are well known in the village as they always seem to be in the right place at the right time to get involved in adventures and sometimes trouble.
They are inseparable.
Baxter is completely blind,
So he needs Bella to help guide him.
Bella relies on Baxter for his amazing sense of smell,
Which is much better than hers.
When they go on their adventures,
It always comes in handy.
One sunny day,
Bella and Baxter were relaxing in the garden when they heard the little girl next door scream at the top of her voice,
My puppy,
My puppy is gone.
Bella and Baxter understood there was a new puppy living next door.
They hadn't met her yet and they had no idea what she looked or smelled like.
The little girl shouted out loud,
Mummy,
The puppy has escaped from the garden.
Bella immediately jumped to attention.
She called to her brother,
Looks like we're going on a puppy hunt,
Baxter,
And you are the best dog for the job.
Baxter started sniffing around the garden fence.
I've picked up a small scent here,
Baxter.
Let's go to Maple Crescent,
Said Bella.
She couldn't have gone far.
Bella and Baxter made their way out to Maple Crescent.
They have lived in Oak Grove Village for a long time,
So they know all the streets and all the pets who live there.
The puppy was nowhere to be seen or heard.
Suddenly,
They heard a big,
Deep bark.
That sounds like Riley,
The Dalmatian at Five Cedar Avenue,
Barked Bella.
Quick,
Follow me.
Baxter was an expert at following Bella.
She knew to avoid obstacles for Baxter,
Like lampposts and parked cars.
They were a great team.
Riley was in the garden as expected.
Hi,
Riley,
Said Bella.
We are hunting for a lost puppy.
Did you see one?
There was a little one here two minutes ago.
She was jumping at me,
Trying to bite my tail.
Luckily,
I am so tall,
She couldn't reach it.
I gave her a loud bark,
And off she ran.
Baxter was sniffing the ground,
Looking for clues.
Bella asked,
What did she smell like?
It all happened so fast,
So I didn't take much notice.
She reminded me of a fluffy peach.
She headed towards Blake,
The Hungarian Vizsla,
Who stays at number nine,
Cherry Blossom Square.
Off we go,
Said Baxter.
I'm starting to get a stronger trace of her scent now.
When they arrived at Blake's house,
He was sleeping lazily in the sun.
Hello,
Said Baxter.
We are hunting for a lost puppy.
Blake yawned and stretched.
Little thing went by a minute ago.
I was sleeping,
But she woke me up as she tried to bite my tail.
What did she look like,
Said Bella?
What did she smell like,
Said Baxter?
I was very sleepy,
Yawned Blake.
She reminded me of a caramel candy apple.
I whacked her with my tail and off she ran towards Astrid,
The Chihuahua,
Who lives at number 16,
Chestnut Lane.
Suddenly they heard Astrid barking and she didn't stop.
Quickly they ran towards Chestnut Lane.
When they arrived,
Astrid was exhausted.
What happened,
Said Bella?
Astrid was panting.
A tiny dog was chasing me around the garden.
She was trying to catch my tail.
I am dizzy as I had to run so fast to stop her catching it.
She is the missing puppy.
What was she like,
Asked Bella?
She ran so fast and jumped so much.
She was bloody,
Yapped Astrid.
I thought she looked like a bouncy cookie and she smelled sweet like one too.
I need to go to sleep.
Baxter started howling.
Suddenly he got a strong scent.
Let's go.
I have the trail.
They headed towards the dog park on Willow Way.
The park was full of dogs and puppies.
Many of Bella and Baxter's friends were there too,
Jazz,
Jake,
Lula and Tess.
Bella looked around frantically.
She brought to her mind the descriptions given by the dogs.
A fluffy peach,
A caramel toffee apple and a sweet bouncy cookie.
Bella barked at Baxter.
I'm not sure which one is the lost puppy.
I know which one she is,
Barked Baxter.
Follow me.
This time Baxter led the way,
Slowly sniffing the ground,
Leading Bella right to the puppy.
She was running around the park,
Upsetting the dogs and trying to bite their tails.
Bella dashed over to her.
Hello little puppy,
You need to come home.
No,
Said the puppy,
I'm having too much fun trying to catch tails.
Bella rolled her eyes.
Well let's see if you can catch mine.
As quick as a flash,
Bella started running away from the puppy,
Wagging her tail.
The puppy took the challenge and instantly chased Bella.
Bella was fast and ran as quick as she could to keep away from the puppy,
Allowing her enough space to jump at her tail but not catch it.
Baxter followed behind,
Knowing that Bella would take a safe route for him too.
They ran from Willow Way,
Through Chestnut Lane,
Across Cherry Blossom Square,
Down Cedar Avenue,
Back to Maple Crescent.
Bella was running fast,
But just as they got to the puppy's house,
She slowed down.
Ouch!
The puppy caught Bella's tail.
Bella swished her tail and the puppy went flying over the fence and landed right back into the garden.
Mummy!
Mummy!
The puppy came back all by herself!
The children shouted with joy,
What a good girl you are!
Bella and Baxter listened and smiled.
They strolled back to their garden for a well-deserved rest in the sun and wondered what adventures they would get up to next.
