Movin’ Back!

Chapter 4 Operation Lightening Dog! In fifteen minutes, everyone had gotten a drink of water, ate a few biscuits for energy, and was ready for the big rescue event. The dog, who they heard was named Gossy, was apparently about the world’s fastest runner! The rescue team was composed of Zacuzzi and his two brothers, Zylophone and Zenith, and Snowflake, Ferral’s wife --along with the master rescuer himself, the spirit of Ferral—who was due back any minute. The team stood around talking as the other dogs and cats at the shelter were eating their lunch and talking amongst themselves about the big rescue to start any minute. “Do you think they’ll be able to get her?” asked Little Bobby the dog as he munched his wonderful lunch. “Are you kidding me? With Ferral leading them?!! No one has EVER been able to outrun Ferral! No human, no animal, not anywhere in the world!” a cat named Alfie exclaimed as he enjoyed his lunch, too. “And what about Zacuzzi and his brothers? Aside from Ferral, that Zacuzzi runs like crazy!! He’s probably the second fastest in the world!” interjected Maurice the cat. “And Snowflake’s no slouch in rescues either!” said little Lee Ann, a beautiful white silky cat. “Well , after all, she learned from the best-Ferral, her husband!” The animals continued to talk excitedly about the upcoming rescue. All of a sudden---POOF! A small wisp of smoke, and Ferral showed up in the middle of the rescue team! “Hey, Ferral!” Zacuzzi greeted him . Everyone was always so happy to see Ferral! “Hey, guys—and GAL!” he winked at his wife Snowflake. She smiled and blushed. “Is everybody ready? Now we need to plan this out. Snowflake, you’ve got the food and a paper plate?” Ferral asked her. “Yes, honey. I do. I’ve got some turkey slices and a biscuit to put out for Gossy.” She held the plate out with the turkey and biscuit on it. It was wrapped in cellophane for the trip so it wouldn’t fall out. “Great! Now guys—we have got to find her first-then—Zylophone and Zenith, you will both chase her a little-not too much. It doesn’t take much to get this girl going. Then when we see what direction she’s going in, we will plant the food plate. Then everyone disappear-get as far from her as possible. I will fly ahead invisibly with the net. She won’t be able to smell me since I’m a spirit-another advantage of not being alive!” Ferral laughed his yuck, yuck, yuck laugh! The others chuckled. He loved to joke sometimes! “Then, after Gossy gets to the plate, I’ll throw the net over her. Then I’ll howl a good long howl that means, all clear, you can come out. Then we’ll transport her back here. Hmmm---maybe we should take a wagon.” “Cianan! Cianan!” Ferral called to the office through the curtain. “Yeah, Ferral what is it?” Cianan came through the curtain from the front office. “Oh, HI , everybody! What’s up? Is this the rescue you all talking about the other day?” Cianan asked. “Right, Cianan . This is it-Operation Lightening Dog. We are going to try to catch Gossy today. But I think we are going to have to haul her back in a wagon. I don’t think any of us are strong enough to carry her, and she may fight us, too. So—can you come with us and bring your red wagon?” Ferral asked. “Oh sure. We going now? Let me go tell the others. " Cianan smiled, and went back into the office.. “Hey, guys. Guess what! I get to help the rescue team with rescuing Gossy! Or trying to anyway. So I'll be out of the office for a bit. If anyone comes in, be sure to record any adoptions while I’m gone." Cianan said to Samantha and Josie. “Okay, no problems! Wow-that sounds pretty exciting!” Josie, his cousin who worked the front desk said. “Yeah. Wow. I hope I get to help with a rescue someday!” his sister, Samantha, said just a bit wistfully. She may have felt just a TINGE of jealousy! “Yeah, well—I'll be back—when I’m back!” Cianan went to the back storeroom to get out his red wagon. “This little wagon comes in handy every now and then!” He said to himself. Cianan met up with the team in the backroom. “Okay, Zacuzzi-where’s the last place you saw Gossy?” “Well, let’s see-it was downtown in the back alleys behind some restaurants, near the garbage cans and the dumpsters. She was definitely looking for food in them!” “We’ve also seen her in the city park, usually when there’s hardly anyone there though-like real early in the morning or late at night-searching for food, checking out the trash cans for food. She seems to terrified of people, so she's there either real early or real late. “ Zylophone added. “I've never seen her. What does she look like?” Snowflake inquired. “She's a perfect brown color. She has two white toes on her hind legs-otherwise she’s completely brown with a touch of white on her chest. . Very short, shiny , smooth fur. She is about forty pounds, long tail, and when she's scared, it's between her legs as she bolts at lightening speed. Just a bit of a pit-bull face-and beautiful big brown eyes!” Zacuzzi described her to a T. “Put it to you this way, if you see a brown blur flying past, it's probably her!” Zylophone described her running ability! They all chuckled. It wasn't funny , though, because her fears and her amazing running ability kept her from getting the help she needs. “Why do you think she’s so afraid of everyone-dogs and people alike?” Zenith asked. Everyone turned to Ferral, the wisest dog of all. “I imagine her past life on the streets-people and animals have obviously been mean to her. Maybe every time she trusted someone, a dog or a person, they hurt her in someway. So she apparently doesn’t trust anyone or anything—just herself." “What a lonely way to be. “ Cianan said sadly. “Yep. But she’s about to never be lonely again!” Ferral stated cheerily. Everyone smiled at the thought. “Everybody ready? Let's go. First stop, the alleys behind the restaurants in the town. “