Chapter 5

Dot was nervous. She didn't want to ruin her first time on public TV by screwing it up. She wished that Lucky was there for support, but he wasn't. So she had to be brave, and make the best of it. So, she sat on the couch with Phoebe and her parents, and just got ready for the camera to begin rolling. She felt like she was on a talk show.

"Greetings!" Phoebe greeted for the camera. "I have a very special guest with me this evening. Little Dot Henderson!"

"Hi!" Dot greeted, waving.

"Now Dot wrote a school assignment, and I read the essay, and I loved it and I think everyone needs to be reminded of it." She looked at Dot. "Can you tell the viewers what you wrote about?"

"Sure thing, Phoebe!" Dot replied. She looked at the camera. "I wrote about Puppy Mills and how wrong they are. I also wrote about how you should treat your dogs and other pets."

"Now Dot, why do you think puppy mills are so wrong?"

"Because they're inhumane. They don't care about the dogs, all they care about is money. The dogs there are really unhealthy, and oftentimes don't make it because of it. The cages are so small that the dogs can't do much in them. The food that they get are contaminated and can have bugs in them. They also malnourish the puppies. I think puppy mills should be banned everywhere in the world."

"And why is this important to you?"

"I like dogs, and things like this angers me. Dogs just want to be loved like everyone else. It sickens me how some people can be so cruel to animals. Animals are people too. They have feelings like we do and we need to respect that."

"And where did you get the inspiration to do this assignment?"

"I rescued a puppy bred in a puppy mill." Phoebe was about to ask when Dot beat her to it. "And I know she's from a puppy mill because I just do."

"And where is this puppy now?"

"My friend, McKenna Mack's mother is a vet at the animal clinic. She's there."

"I see, and do you know how this puppy is doing?" Dot smiled.

"She's doing really good. She's finally eating and drinking. I feel that she will be released to my friend."

"That's great! Any last words?" Dot was about to speak when she heard toe nails clicking on the floor.

"I can't believe we have to do this again." Squirt said when the Pound Puppies

were out looking for the puppies. "I feel like this is déjà vu." Niblet was confused.

"I don't know what that means," He said. "But believe it because we are doing

it again!"

"I know, I just wish we weren't."

"I wish we weren't either, Squirt." Lucky told him. "But we are, and that's all

there is to it." He then sighed. "I'm going to miss Dot's interview with the TV news

because of this." The dogs were confused so he explained it to them.

"That's great, Lucky!" Cookie said. Lucky nodded, and sighed.

"I don't get it. I don't know why they would do this. We'd told them that we'll

help them find their perfect people.

"Maybe they were just sick and tired of not having them already." Squirt suggested. "I know I would if I were in their shoes." Niblet laughed. Squirt looked at him, and sighed. "Oh, boy. I know what's coming now."

"Dogs don't wear shoes, Squirt." Niblet said. "That's just silly."

"GET OUT, DOGS!" The dogs heard someone shout. They then saw Riley and Nell

going as fast as they could. Behind them was an angry man, shaking his fist. Niblet beamed.

"There they are!" He said. The man saw the other dogs.

"GET OUT; ALL OF YOU!"

"Is he yelling at all of us?" Niblet asked out loud. "What did we do?"

"I don't know." Strudel said to the big sheepdog. "But, let's do what he says and Mach schnell!"

"Strudel, you know I don't understand German."

"Just, hurry up!" Cookie ordered.

"Oh, that I understand! Why didn't you just say that Strudel? It would have been much more simpler then confusing me." He, and the others ran off after the handicapped puppies.

Back near Shelter 17, the dogs were all panting in exhaustion. When Lucky was done, he looked down at the puppies.

"Why did you two run off like that?" He asked.

"We were tired of not being with our perfect people." Riley replied.

"Told you." Squirt spoke.

"No you didn't." Niblet told him. "You said that they would be sick and tired. Riley just said they were tired."

"So, we ran away." Nell continued. "Since you guys couldn't help us; we wanted to find them on our own."

"We're sorry that you two aren't with your perfect people yet." Lucky told the pups. "But you just can't run off on your own. We were worried. The world is a big place."

"We could've handled it." Nell said.

"You say that now." Lucky said. "But…" He sighed. "Oh, you are too young too understand this. Just, don't run off like that again."

"Told you we should've stayed." Riley said to Nell.

"Let's just go and…"

"Lucky…" Cookie said to him. Lucky sighed.

"Let's go, and find your perfect people." The puppies brightened.

"Really?" Nell asked, tail wagging.

"Sure!" Lucky told him. "We stalled long enough. It's time for your pups to find your perfect people." He looked at the others. "Let's go dogs, go!" All of the dogs went off.

"Lucky," Cookie told him. "You go to Dot's house. Don't worry, we'll take them to their families."

"But…"

"Cookie's right." Strudel said to him. "Dot may need you."

"But…but…"

"We want you to go." Riley told Lucky. "We don't want to force you away from your owner. I don't know what an interview is, but if it's important for your owner, you need to be there."

"Yeah!" Nell agreed. "We don't need all of the Pound Puppies to help find our owners. You need to go." Lucky smiled.

"Okay." He looked at the others. "Find them good homes." Cookie smiled.

"We will, Lucky." She responded. With that, Lucky and the Pound Puppies went their separate ways.

Lucky went through the doggy door when he entered Dot's house. He was about to bark for her, when he saw that she and Phoebe were filming. Dot turned to him and a big grin spread across her face. She ran to him, Phoebe and the cameraman stood up and followed.

"This is Mr. Chewy-McFluffster." She said. She then hugged him, a bit tight. "He is the BEST dog in the whole world!" Phoebe laughed and bent down. She offered him her hand.

"And how do you do, Mr. Chewy-McFluffster?" Lucky shook her hand, and barked. Phoebe laughed again as she stood up. She looked at Dot. "We better get finished with your interview."

"Right." And so they all went back to where they were to finish.

"Dot, any last words you like to add?"

"Oh, yeah." Dot looked at the camera. "Just adopt. And if you can't, donate money so other people can give them loving homes." She petted Lucky.

"Well, thank you, Dot. I enjoyed your input, and I think this will change what some people think of dogs and other animals." She and Dot shook hands.

"I hope so, too. That's exactly why I chose it." Lucky let out a bark. "Mr. Chewy-McFluffster hopes people will be nicer towards dogs too." Phoebe laughed, and looked at the camera.

"Well, there you have it folks. This is Phoebe Marks signing out. Goodnight." The cameraman turned off the camera. Phoebe turned to Dot.

"That was a very good interview, Dot. Thanks for doing it with me."

"No problem!" Dot looked concerned. "Do you really mean what you said about this changing how people look and treats their animals?" Phoebe frowned.

"We can't force people to change, Dot." Dot frowned as well.

"Oh."

"But, this may persuade them." Dot brightened. "Now don't get excited. This might persuade some people, not all of them. I can't guarantee it, but I agree this is an important issue and these things need to stop, but it's entirely not up to me. It's up to them, and whether they want to change or not. Do you understand?" Dot sighed.

"I guess."

"Well, thanks again for the interview. Tell your friends and family to keep an eye out for it tonight on channel five at six 'o'clock."

"I already did." Phoebe smiled.

"Well, then, it looks like you're on the ball."

"She sure is." Dot's mom responded. "And we'll record it for those who will miss it and those that want to see them in the future."

"Sounds good." She then shook hands with all of them, as well as the cameraman. "Well, goodbye. We hope your puppy at the clinic comes home soon" She and the cameraman headed for the door, but not before petting Lucky. "Goodbye, Mr. Chewy-McFluffster." Lucky barked.

"Bye!" Dot called. They then left.

"Well," Dot's mother spoke. "I'll say this calls for something special. How about I call for pizza, and we can have ice cream for dessert."

"Yay!" Dot cheered. "Can McKenna and Lily come watch it with us? I don't think Lily and McKenna has ever met, and I'm sure they'll become fast friends."

"Sure. We'll call them right now."

"Yay!" And with that, the little girl raced for the phone. The parents chuckled.

"I never seen Dot excited about the news before." Mrs. Henderson said.

"Well, she hasn't been featured in the news before, honey." Mr. Henderson told her. Mrs. Henderson nodded.

"That's true." They then left. Lucky did as well.

After the news, they all went to get ice cream. Then, it was time for Lily and McKenna to go home.

"Will the clinic puppy go home soon?" Dot asked McKenna. McKenna smiled.

"My mom says she'll come home tomorrow." Dot beamed.

"That's great, McKenna! Do you have a name for her yet?" McKenna shook her head.

"Not yet. But, I'll have a name as soon as she'll come home."

"Well, I'm sure the puppy will like it." Lily said. "As well as her new home." McKenna smiled.

"I'm sure, too." The girls all said their goodbyes, and Lily and McKenna left with their parents.

The next day, Olaf came over to two men who were looking at the dogs. They both sighed in disappointment.

"Can I help you two?" Olaf asked. The two looked at him.

"I was looking for a dog." One of the men answered. Olaf was confused.

"You know this is a dog pound, right? You came to the right place; there's plenty of dogs here."

"Not just any dog. I'm looking for a special specific dog, a Yorkshire terrier puppy in a wheelchair. I didn't want him at first, but ever since the news yesterday with that little girl, it completely changed my opinion of him. I was hoping to find him here." He sighed sadly. "Turned out I was wrong."

"I, too, came here because of the news." The other man spoke. "I came looking for a three- legged Border collie. He's also a puppy."

Just then Lucky, and the rest of the gang with Nell and Riley came up from the lair. Both men looked up at them.

"That's him!" The first man said. "That's my fighter, Nell."

"Riley!" The second man shouted with joy. "Is that you?"

"What are they doing here?" Nell wanted to know. "They don't want us."

"Sounds like they changed their minds." Lucky told him.

"Do you really think so?" Riley asked.

"Only one way to find out." And with that, they all went to the fence. The two men started petting the two. They then started crying.

"I can't believe I ever gave you up just because you had a disability." Said the man petting Nell. "Man, I was so dumb."

"Me, too." Added the man petting Riley. "I don't care if you have three, or no legs at all. I love you just the way you are, and I'm sorry for not seeing that earlier. Can you ever forgive me?" Riley barked, making him laugh. Olaf sniffed, and wiped away a tear.

"This is the most beautiful pet adoption I've seen!" He observed. Both men picked up the puppies. Leonard came up then.

"Olaf?" He started. "What's going on here?" Olaf looked at him, still teary eyed.

"The most beautiful reunions ever, sir." Leonard looked at the two men.

"I'm guessing you want to adopt these puppies?" Both men nodded.

"I'll never let this one out of my sight again." Nells's soon to be owner said.

"Me, too." The other one agreed. "I was blind for what was in front of me, but that little girl from the news yesterday, helped me to see. I'll never take dogs for granted again."

"Okay," Leonard said to them. "You need some forms to fill. Come to my office." And with that, the two went to Leonard's office, both carrying the puppies. Lucky and the gang cried tears of joy as well.

Lucky went to the dog park with McKenna, her puppies, plus her new puppy: Butterscotch's sister, who was now named Miracle because it was a 'miracle' she survived according to McKenna, and Lily. The other Pound Puppies and Olaf were there. Lucky was surprised. But, not as surprised when Riley and Nell, along with their new owners showed up.

"I'm shocked to see you all here." He told his friends. "It was four, when we left for the park, and it's usually about three when Olaf takes us here."

"The whole day the pound was bursting with people adopting dogs!" Strudel told him. "That news section really made an impact!" Cookie noticed that Nell and Riley were there as well, coming up to them, and sent Strudel to go get the tags.

"Well, well, well," She started. "Look who's also here. Looks like we're all here together."

"You're here too?" Nell asked. "Awesome!"

"Thanks for never giving up on us." Riley said. "And for giving me to my perfect person, Steven."

"Yeah; thanks for Troy, my perfect person. Troy and me, we are tight!"

"Don't thank us, thank Dot." Lucky said. "It was her essay on the news that changed your owners' minds about you and Riley.

"Well, thank your owner for us then, or we can try and talk to them ourselves." He winked at him.

"Will do, kids, and I don't think talking to humans is such a good idea."

"But, you talk to Dot."

"Only because I had no other choice, and I trust her really well. But, not everybody can be trusted. I think Dot's friends could handle it, but let's keep it on the down low just to be sure. I don't mean to sound mean, but I just want to prevent anything bad happening if they blab, and soon something bad happens if everybody finds out, okay?"

"Oh, okay."

"Okay, ready!" Strudel said as she and Mr. Nut-Nut came. Mr. Nut-Nut carried the dog tags.

"Let's get to it, then." Lucky put in. He looked at the puppies. "Puppies, line up!" The puppies all went to line up. Mr. Nut-Nut went up to each of them as they all let him clip the tags on their collars.

"Once a pound puppy," Lucky began.

"Always a pound puppy!" He and the other Pound Puppies concluded.

"Nell!" Steven shouted to him. "Time to go!"

"You too, Riley!" Troy shouted too.

"Is the ritual over?" Nell asked Lucky. "Our owners are calling." Lucky nodded.

"The ritual's over, kid." Lucky told him. "You're free to go. May you have a happy life with your new owner. " He looked at Riley. "You too, Riley." The dogs and the other puppies said their farewells as Nell and Riley went off and left the park with their owners. Mr. Nut- Nut waved.

"GIRLS!" Dr. Macks shouted, sitting up from the bench she was sitting on. "We should get going!"

"I thank you again for helping us find our perfect person, McKenna." Miracle told the Pound Puppies back at Dot's house as McKenna was about to go with her. The other dogs, and her mom.

"No problem, kid." Lucky told her.

"We're just grateful that you recovered." Cookie said to her. "McKenna was right. You are a little miracle all right." Miracle smiled, her tail wagging. She then frowned. Lucky and the others got concerned.

"You okay, kid?" Lucky asked her.

"Yeah." Miracle told him. "I'm just sad about my mama. But, I think she's here with us and smiling." Lucky smiled.

"I think she is too."

"Angel!" McKenna called. "Miracle! Butterscotch; it's time to get going!" The dogs all said their goodbyes and the puppies ran to McKenna and her mother.

Puppy mills all around started closing down in the coming weeks, and soon there wasn't a puppy mill in operation. Life for pets was getting better.