Grizzy

 Street View

It’s hard, being a pup on the street. When the wind howls, you immediately duck under a bush or whimper in fright. Everything just seems big. 

Don’t get me wrong. I love living on the street. But I wouldn't trust a human even if they served up a double bacon-wrapped cheeseburger. They were the ones who tricked me, fowl beasts. They left a slice of pizza on the sidewalk and beckoned me over. I actually believed they were nice! What a loser I was. 

Anyways, as soon as I walked over, they took the pizza away and threw it in the trash. The kids kicked me away and left. That taught me never to stay in the city. 

Later, I walked by a building where they kept poor dogs in cages. After that I learned it was an Animal Shelter. I ain’t setting paw in that place, no matter how much food they have. 

Today’s gonna be rough. There’s a rainstorm coming, and I hate those. Thunder especially. It rattles your bones until you feel like a pile of fur. All the animals hoard the food like it might be their last days (because with a rainstorm, it actually might) and never leave me a bite. Darn humans stay inside too. No luck for the poor doggo sitting out in the torrential rainstorm!

I have a friend, though. Goes by the name of Rocky, and he shares his leftovers with me. Nice guy, I must say. We ain’t from the same litter, but it sure darn feels like it. I’ve never left his side and he’s never left mine. Too bad we don’t have a home. Not that I want one. 

A life with humans is the last thing I want. 

Hugo’s Pizza

Yes! The pizzeria. Best place in this filthy town, let me tell ya. The guy who runs it, Hugo something-or-other, gives me a free slice! No tricks, no sits or roll-overs. He’s a nice guy, too. 

I always invite Rocky over when the store closes and Hugo comes out to give us some slices. Today, Hugo might let us lick the plates. I can’t wait. I do a few Tail Twirls. That little tail is just asking to be chased, whirling around like that!

I run over to Nilla’s Nail Salon, where Rocky camps out. Oh, he’s a smart one. Nilla’s dumber than your average doornail. She wouldn’t see an elephant if it sat in her living room, so Rocky ain’t a problem if she can’t see him. 

Rocky’s sitting there, arguing with a grumpy raccoon. Rocky’s way older than me; by a few years. 

“Hey, Rockster!” I call out, and he looks at me with a hey bud, can’t you see I’m doing something IMPORTANT here? look.

“Would you shut up?!” Rocky yelled to the raccoon, who stuck out his tongue. 

“I’ll bet every berry in this forest you aren’t gonna live.” The raccoon said with a shake of his tail. He looked over to me and grinned. “Ooo! A little snack for me, hmm?” He said, and slowly padded over to me. 

I growled my scariest growl and scuttled over to Rocky. Ha! So much for being tough. 

The raccoon looked at me with a devilish smile. “Your friend won’t be around much longer, little pup.” He picked a bug off his fur and then ate it. “Couple of hounds after him.”

Rocky put a paw on my shoulder, which kinda weighed me down, but I didn’t complain. Rocky was already in a bad mood. “That ain’t true, Grizzy.” He growled at the raccoon. “Scram.” He said simply, and the raccoon slowly walked off. 

Rocky walked with me to Hugo’s Pizzeria silently. “Hugo might let us lick plates,” I said, breaking the silence. “Ya know, ‘cause of the rain, he feels bad for us.”

Rocky nodded and kept on walking. He looked at me with an understanding in his eyes. “Ya know, Grizzly,” He said. 

“Aww, come on! It’s just Grizzy.” I said, embarrassed. 

“You’re a brave pup.” He said and turned back to look at Hugo’s Pizzeria. 

I shook my head stubbornly. “Nah, you’re way braver than me.” I point to a scar on his face. “You’re a warrior!”

Rocky laughed. “I ain’t no warrior.” He pointed to the pizzeria with his snout. “Ya want some chow?” He asked, and I nodded enthusiastically. “Then let’s go.” He said, and we both trotted to the pizzeria with purpose. Or, at least, I think we had a purpose. 

Hugo gives us each two slices and lets us lick all the plates. I kinda wouldn’t mind living with him. Not like that would ever happen, though. I lick the plate clean and look up at Hugo. 

Hugo’s so thin and tall, he almost looks like a tree. I look at his funny little mustache that resembles a caterpillar. I tried chasing a real one once. He didn’t appreciate it.  Hugo’s wearing his chef hat, which is really fun to look at. He always looks happy, and I kinda like that about him. He’s the type of guy who likes to make the good of the world his main focus. Ahem. Like me and Rocky. His main focus.

Rocky and I finish the plates off and to our surprise, Hugo opens the door for us. What? I think. Hugo’s never done this for us before. Whatever. It’s probably just because he doesn’t want us to get wet. 

I catch snippets of conversation. “Animal Shelter-” Oh, no. Not that place. “Adopt the little guys-” Humans? Good golly. “Poor stray dogs-” Hey! I ain’t a stray! I’m a brave wild lab, ready to face whatever comes at me. 

Rocky nudges me with his nose. “They're gonna send us to the Animal Shelter down the street.” His tail swings a tiny bit- only I can see it. “We can get… Adopted.” 

“Come on, Rocky,” I say defiantly. “Don’t get soft. We need to stay strong!”

“I ain’t going to.” He said, walking back out the door frame. “Living in an Animal Shelter is tough.”

I shake the water off my fur. “Maybe Hugo’ll adopt us!” 

Rocky laughs. “I doubt it.” He jumped back inside and stared at Hugo. “He doesn’t seem like the German Shepherd type.” I looked at Rocky. He is great! I don’t see why Hugo wouldn’t like him. He’s a great guy, just like I said. 

“Police!” I hear. “We could take the German Shepherd to the police. He’d make a great police dog.” It’s Hugo, talking about Rocky. 

The Police Station

Hugo takes us both to the police station, which looks big and menacing. I look up at the door and see a note taped there. 

Not accepting strays as police dogs. Sorry. We have been getting a lot. Taking a lot of time to train.

Thank you for your understanding, 

Willow Head Police Station

Hugo stops, drops our leashes and frowns. “No!” He exclaims. “They’re gonna take you two, no matter what!” 

We march into the police station, Hugo leading the way. A policeman stands there, looking at a clipboard and drinking coffee.

Hugo looks at him and they share a glance. I sniff. Hmm. Smells intense. 

“More police dogs?” The policeman asked. “There’s been a lot of people who think strays would be good police dogs.”

Hugo nods. “These dogs will.” He picks up our leashes. How did he get us into them? I think back and remember the smell of pretzels. Bribery. 

“No.” The policeman said. “Did you even see the sign on the door?” He asked. 

Hugo nodded. “Please.” He gave the man a look that said, please. These dogs  don’t deserve this. 

The man tapped his chin. “Okay. We’ll come up with something.” 

Home

I have one. 

Me & Rocky

Rocky. He’s finally my brother. 

 That policeman at the station adopted us. I couldn’t believe it. 

“Come on, Grizzy,” Bill says to me. I pop up and follow him out the door. “Wanna play?” He asks and picks up a rubber ball. 

I wag my tail to show that I approve of playing. Bill, the policeman, smiles. He throws the ball, which looks like a graceful cardinal, and I chase it with all my doggie heart. 

Rocky comes outside to the backyard too. He’s a part-time police dog, only working when there’s a shortage of police dogs. What can I say? He’s a good guy. 

Maybe... just maybe... I did miss out on humans.