The Gift of the Maltipoo

Prologue

DAISY STOOD wagging her tail as hope and excitement rose once more.

A man and a woman walked through the shelter, looking into the cages.

They petted some dogs and had Andrew, the man who fed them sometimes, take one out and then put them back.

Daisy wagged her tail harder as they got closer to her cage.

She wanted to be good and look cute so they would give her a forever home.

She’d thought she already had one of those.

Since she was a puppy, Karla had looked after her and loved her.

Mom Karla had given her the best treats, and she slept at the foot of Mom Karla’s bed.

On cold nights, she even slept under the covers.

Mom Karla was very special, and Daisy had loved her with her whole heart and soul and even her teeth.

There was no part of her that didn’t love Mom Karla.

They were in the car when the love came to an end.

Mom Karla was taking Daisy to the park when there was a bang, boom, scrunch and then a smell that made Daisy want to hide.

It was a bad smell, one Daisy never wanted to scent again.

It was the end. Daisy tried to get to Mom Karla, but the doggie seat belt stopped her.

She wanted to kiss her and make her better, but she couldn’t.

So Daisy waited with Mom Karla as the angels came and took the love part away.

Daisy watched her go, and then a man got her out of the car and held her.

He was so gentle, but Daisy was heartbroken.

So she lay down and wished with all her might that the angels would bring Mom Karla back.

After that, everything was confusing, but she’d ended up at the shelter when there was no one else to love her.

So now Daisy put on her best front. She wagged her tail and circled in the cage, excited to find a love like she had with Mom Karla.

Daisy knew she was special and that she had lots and lots of love just waiting to burst out.

“This one is so cute,” the woman said, and when the cage opened, Daisy hurried forward.

When the woman picked her up, Daisy kissed her hand and nestled up next to her just like Mom Karla liked.

“She is so sweet. Reggie, I want this one.” She turned to the man, and Daisy did the same, giving her happy face.

“No. Too much of a mop dog, and her leg is bunged.” Still, he lightly petted Daisy, and he wasn’t rough or mean.

“I need a dog I can take running with me. I don’t think this little one will be able to keep up with me for very long.

” He lifted Daisy out of the woman’s arms. “She’s really sweet, though. ”

Daisy gave her best smile and, when she was close enough, kissed his nose.

“You are a real cutie. But I run in the mornings.” He handed Daisy back, and Andrew returned her to the cage and closed the door.

Daisy watched as they moved on down the way.

The woman kept turning around, and Daisy kept hoping, until they opened Lenny’s cage.

Both of them seemed to like him, and then they put a leash on Lenny and led him away.

Daisy tried not to be disappointed, but it was hard.

She lay down on the blanket and put her head on her front paws and sighed.

Maybe she was never supposed to have the love she had before.

Maybe Daisy only got that once. She closed her eyes and tried to rest, because happiness was exhausting, especially since she still loved Mom Karla.

“There you are,” Mitchell said from outside her doggie dream. She opened her eyes as he opened the cage and lifted Daisy out. He was so gentle, and even though he had given Daisy a shot when she first arrived, he was so caring that Daisy forgave him. “Let’s take a look at your back leg.”

The accident that had taken Mom Karla had hurt her back leg, and it sometimes didn’t work right.

His hands were gentle as he felt along, and she was good, breathing quickly, but she didn’t bite even when she yipped from the pain.

“I know, sweetheart, but it’s healing well, and soon you’ll be all better.

I promise. The leg will always be stiff, but the pain will go away.

” He set her back in the cage and gave Daisy a treat from his pocket.

“I know. You wish you could keep her,” Andrew said.

“That’s the trouble with having a dog rescue. I want to keep them all. But this little girl, she’s a sweetheart. Her leg was broken when I brought her in, but it’s getting a lot better now, and soon she’ll be a hundred percent, just in time for Christmas.”

“A couple was just in looking at her, but they chose another dog. Should I not show her yet?”

Mitchell looked through the wire. “Yes, you can show her. She’s healing well.

The best thing for this little girl is to find someone who will love her.

” His eyes were big and pretty and filled with love.

Daisy licked his nose, and Mitchell laughed.

“You’re such a flirt. But I will get in trouble if I bring home another dog, so Andrew and I will just have to find you a special home where you’ll be loved. ”

Mitchell closed the door, and Daisy lay down on the blanket in the back.

It was warm in the shelter, and that made Daisy sleepy.

She closed her eyes and dreamed of chasing rabbits and lots of yummy treats.

Mostly she dreamed of Mom Karla, because that was home.

She wondered if anyplace would ever feel or smell that way again.

Mitchell said he would find her a forever home, and Daisy hoped with her whole doggie heart that he was right.