Domino (5 page)

When an indoor cat like Domino gets out, he may not be able to find his way home. But if the pet can be identified, the chances of his being brought to his family are good. What is the best way for a cat owner to identify a pet in case it gets lost?

The answer is C. A collar with a tag is the easiest way for someone to identify a lost pet. Information such as his family’s name, phone number, or address can be written on the collar’s tag. But sometimes that isn’t enough. Pets can lose collars, and many house cats do not wear them. That’s where a microchip comes in.

A pet microchip is tiny, about the size of a large grain of rice. It can be inserted under a cat’s skin between the shoulders. Then if the cat gets lost, a vet or shelter worker can use a special scanner to pick up the chip’s radio signal and find its registration number. That number can be used to find the name and phone number of the cat’s owners. It sounds like a complicated process, but it has helped return more than 500,000 lost pets to their grateful owners. Home sweet home!

Domino isn’t the only kitten in need of a home.

Otis is a sweet orange tabby, and he needs

Michael and Mia’s help!

When an adorable kitten is abandoned
at the local community center,
Michael and Mia step in to help….

Michael slid the crate of blocks over to where the kitten was hiding. “Ready?” he asked.

“Ready,” said Mia.

As fast as they could, Mia and Michael lined up all the blocks so they filled the space under
the cart, without a single opening for the kitten to escape through.

“Okay, Pete,” Michael said.

Pete came up and leaned over the cart. “Hey, little fella,” Pete said softly. “We’re just trying to help you.” Pete stretched out his arm and made a soft
wsshhh-wsshhh
sound.

Peeking between the stacks of yoga mats, Michael could see the little kitten looking up at Pete, his yellow eyes wide with fear.

“That’s it. Stay right there. Okay. I gotcha,” Pete murmured softly. Then he started to straighten up, his hand under the tabby’s belly. The kitten’s orange-striped legs hung loosely in the air.

“Nice teamwork, guys,” Pete said as he pulled the kitten to his chest.

“Good plan, big brother.” Mia nudged Michael in the ribs with her elbow. He grinned at her, then stood up and peered at the kitten cradled in Pete’s arms. There was still a little French fry salt on his whiskers. He didn’t look fierce at all. He was adorable, even though his fur was sticky and matted in places.

“Why would anybody leave a little kitten behind like that, stuck in a bag like he was garbage?” Michael asked. It made him mad. How could people treat animals so badly?

Pete shook his head. “Who knows? He must have been left here. I haven’t seen any missing-kitten posters around. Anyway, at least we rescued the little guy,” he said. “Now what?”

“We should make sure he’s not hurt,” Mia suggested.

Pete held up the tiny tabby cat, both hands just under the kitten’s front legs, and looked into his big yellow eyes. “Are you okay, fella?” The kitten let out a raspy meow, and his tiny pink nose
quivered. “You look pretty good for someone who’s been stuffed into a paper bag. You’re much cuter than a hamburger, but you should still see a vet. And” — Pete wrinkled his own nose — “you sure could use a bath!”

The tabby blinked up at Pete.

Michael laughed. The kitten’s wide-eyed expression was hilarious. It was almost as if the tabby understood what Pete was saying.

“We could take him to Dr. Bulford, at Wags and Whiskers,” Mia said. She clasped her hands together and bounced on her toes. “That’s where we took Callie.”

“Who’s Callie?” Pete asked. While Michael told Pete all about Callie, Mia scratched the tabby
kitten under his chin and whispered into his little pointy ears.

“We could foster this kitten, too, right?” she asked Michael. “He needs help. He needs a family of his own.”

Michael swallowed. He looked from Mia to the tiny tabby to Pete. It was true. The kitten did need a family, but were they the family he needed?

Look for OTIS, available now,
and find out if this sweet kitten
finds his forever home.

THE
PUPPY PLACE

SO MANY PERFECT PUPPIES — COLLECT THEM ALL!

Don’t miss any of these
other stories by Ellen Miles!

KITTY CORNER

THE PUPPY PLACE

E
LLEN
M
ILES
loves dogs, which is why she has a great time writing The Puppy Place books. And guess what? She loves cats, too! (In fact, her very first pet was a beautiful tortoiseshell cat named Jenny.) That’s why she came up with a brand-new series called Kitty Corner. Ellen lives in Vermont and loves to be outdoors every day, walking, biking, skiing, or swimming, depending on the season. She also loves to read, cook, explore her beautiful state, play with dogs, and hang out with friends and family.

Visit Ellen at
www.ellenmiles.net.