Dogs

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3 Check It Out! 4 A Dog’s Nose, Knows 6 Go Home, Bob 10 Draw a Dog 11 DOG Is a Magic Word 12 The Rescued Dog 14 The Yellow Bench 16 Puzzles 18 North to Alaska 19 Dog Funnies 20 10 Dog-Gone Facts 22 Little Paws, Big Helpers 23 Max & Gracie 24 Moses 27 Dalmatians Earn Their Spots 28 Kids and Dogs Photos 29 Kids Corner 30 Puzzle Solutions 2

Do you have a dog? If not, do you know someone who does? Maybe it’s a neighbor or your grandparent. Dogs are special creatures to everyone. That’s why they are called “man’s best friend.” A dog is faithful and loyal to its owner.

This issue is all about dogs. I think you will discover many interesting facts.

For example, did you know dogs can learn over 1000 words? Maybe you didn’t realize how smart your dog is.

Petting a dog is a great thing to do for your health. When you pet a dog and gaze into its eyes, both you and your dog feel good.

Don’t worry about finding a dog to play with, walk, or just pet. There are about 400 million dogs in the world! The US has the highest dog population.

Enjoy a dog even if you don’t own one. Ask your parents to check about your volunteering at an animal shelter. Or you might have someone who lives near you who would appreciate your walking their dog.

Older people with dogs especially would be delighted for you to come and play with their dog or walk it.

After you’ve read this issue, write and tell us about your dog or a dog you know. Send us a picture and we will publish it in a future issue.

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by Melanie Brown You wouldn’t be caught sniffing at someone’s backside, trying to figure out who they are, would you? Yet dogs seem to think it’s the best way to get to know another dog. The places dogs choose to sniff are just plain gross, don’t you think?

In any case, a dog is a dog, and dogs explore the world nose-first. Many dog experts believe a dog’s sense of smell is up to a million times better than ours.

Dogs are used in airports, schools, and public places across the country to find explosives and illegal drugs.

Specially trained dogs are used to search for missing persons. All it takes is a sniff of a piece of clothing recently worn by that person for the dogs to get the scent.

You might guess that it’s the size of the dog’s snout that allows it to smell so well. And you’d be partially right. But it’s what’s inside the snout that really makes the difference.

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A dog’s cold, wet nose is where it all begins.

This moist area catches the smells floating in the air. Then it sends the smells to the dog’s smell membrane deep inside its snout. This membrane is covered with up to 300 million receptors that receive smells. Humans have only about 6 million. A dog’s smell membrane sends messages to the smelling center of its brain. This area of the dog’s brain is 40 times bigger than ours!

Because of its sensitive nose, a dog smells more than just the stew cooking on the stove.

It smells each of the ingredients: the carrots, meat, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions. Going for a walk in the morning tells a dog whether this is the place where your neighbor dropped gum out of her mouth last week. Or how many dogs have passed this way in the last few days. And you can be sure your dog knows that grungy sock in the corner is your smelly sock. It’s probably one of his most favorite smells of all! Gross!

Which dog has the most incredible sense of smell?

These breeds are considered to be the top 10, with the champion sniffer listed as #1!

10. Dachshund 9. German Shorthaired Pointer 8. English Springer Spaniel 7. Coonhound 6. Labrador Retriever 5. Belgian Malinois 4. German Shepherd 3. Beagle 2. Basset Hound 1. Bloodhound

These large dogs have more scent receptors than any other breed. Big, open nostrils help bloodhounds follow scents on the ground AND in the air. Long hanging ears and droopy, loose skin around their heads trap smells so the wind doesn’t blow them away.

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by Nancy Dodd Thompson Dogs, just like everything else, are made of shapes. You can give each shape a name that tells you about the shape as you draw it. This makes drawing easier.

arch

short pipes

a cherry?

Color it in.

scribbles

lines slanting inward

almost a “c” and a backward “c”

almost a circle, with a peak at the bottom 2 smiles. Now color in the mouth.

wings?

a short smile 2 more sets of 3 hills, with a line under each set

a stem

an oval

longer pipes

3 blades of grass, an oval colored in, and 6 dots.

Draw a pair of eyes.

a dish?

2 sets of 3 hills

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a line under the hills

This is an experiment with a mirror, a piece of blank paper, and a pencil. To begin, print the word DOG in capital letters on the paper, like this:

Take the paper to a mirror. Hold it facing the mirror, away from you. You will be looking at the REFLECTION of the word in the mirror. You will see:

This is because a mirror creates reflections called MIRROR IMAGES. Hold your right hand up to a mirror, and its reflected image looks like a left hand! Touch the right side of your face, and your reflected image looks like you are touching the left side.

The mirror also reflects DOG the wrong way around.

Now for a surprise. While you are looking in the mirror, turn the paper upside down.

You will see:

The “D” and “O” will be correct, but the “G” will be upside down and backwards! Can you figure out why?

It’s because “D” and “O” look the same right-side up or upside down. “G” does not.

Here is the MIRROR ALPHABET, which are all of the capital letters that look the same upside down as right-side up: B C D E H I K N O X Here are some words you can make using these letters: HI, DID, I, HIDE, KID. Print these words on the paper, then look at them, upside down, in the mirror! Now make up some mirror words of your own!

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by Shirley Anne Ramaley

Dog waiting to be adopted

This dog needs a home.

Declan with Sue, his rescued dog

Alone in a cage in an animal shelter, a dog waits.

Who will come for me, the dog wonders. There are so many dogs waiting to be adopted. Will all the dogs find a home? What will happen if no one comes?

Many dogs live in sad conditions. Animal shelters and rescue groups take these dogs in, getting the dogs away from bad surroundings. Dogs are sometimes abandoned when people move away.

Some dogs are found living on the streets, and some are found being cared for by “hoarders.” These are people who want to rescue, but instead take in more animals than they can handle. Conditions are very bad, with many dogs living in a small area.

Rescue groups take these animals in, and bathe and vaccinate them, bringing them back to good health.

Then these dogs go up for adoption.

In a backyard, Declan plays with his dog, Sue. They run together, and Declan throws a ball. Sue grabs it and runs around the yard. Declan helps feed Sue and makes sure she has clean water.

Declan’s parents adopted Sue from an animal shelter. Like many people, they prefer to adopt dogs that are waiting for a home. Sue was checked for good health at the shelter, given her shots, and was ready for a life-long family.

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Many rescue dogs become wonderful pets and some even become service dogs. Prince is such a dog. He’s a golden retriever who was taken from a

Once Prince could be outside with other dogs, he was very happy! He loves people, and he loves to chase tennis balls.

He quickly learned commands such as “sit” and “heel.”

A local police department was looking for a “narcotics dog.” This is a dog trained to sniff out narcotics and work with the police. The police sergeant who came to see Prince was impressed. He thought Prince would make a very good narcotics dog. Prince went home with the sergeant to start training.

After only three and one-half weeks, Prince was certified by the National Police Canine Association. Most dogs take two months to pass. Prince was a quick learner!

A trained dog can search out narcotics much faster than a human. A dog’s nose is much, much more sensitive to odors than a human’s nose.

Prince becomes a police dog. hoarder’s home. Deb Orwig, who works with a local shelter, took Prince to the vet. It was found that Prince was in very bad shape. He had bite marks on his face and head, an eye infection, open sores all over his body, and half his fur was gone. He was also extremely underweight.

Prince had sarcoptic mange, a bad infection that is very contagious (that means it is easily passed on to other dogs and to humans). Deb took Prince home to care for him. Since the treatment takes four weeks, Prince had to live inside Deb’s house, in a crate in her laundry room. She took Prince outside on a leash for brief periods.

If Prince had always been taken care of properly, this would not have happened to him, or to the other dogs rescued at the hoarder’s home. Regular love and care and good food prevents such problems.

Not long after, Prince passed the National Narcotic Drug Dog Association test. Within a week after being certified, Prince found 45 pounds of illegal drugs wrapped inside coffee grounds. He was already a big help to the police department.

Now Prince wears an official police department badge when he’s working.

He also sometimes wears a bullet-proof vest. This can be dangerous work. When work is done for that shift, Prince goes home and lives with the sergeant. He’s an amazing dog who was rescued and saved by people who care.

Not every rescue dog has such an interesting story. But most make wonderful dogs for people and for children. These dogs have often been through the worst of times. When they are put into a good home, they will show their appreciation and become excellent dogs, just like Sue, who loves to play with Declan.

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by Melissa Abramovitz • illustrated by Chris Sabatino It wasn’t fair. Mrs. Westmere knew I would never want another dog after my spaniel, Ginger, died.

Yet she went right ahead and insisted that I adopt her dog, Boots.

“Please, Cassie,” Mrs. Westmere said on the last day of her cheerful, bustling 98 years. “Keep Boots for me after I go. He wouldn’t be happy with anyone else.”

“But I don’t want a dog,” I told Mrs. Westmere softly. “I still cry about Ginger.”

“I’m sure you and Boots will get along fine. We’ve been next-door neighbors for so long, you’re like family to me.” Mrs. Westmere’s voice quavered weakly.

She had been ill for several months.

I sighed and merely shook my head. My mother appeared in the doorway of Mrs. Westmere’s tidy house. “How do you feel today, Martha?” she asked Mrs. Westmere.

“I would feel a lot better if Cassie promised to adopt Boots after I’m gone,” Mrs. Westmere replied.

“Of course we’ll take Boots for you!” my mother exclaimed.

“Now you relax and eat some of this hot soup I brought over.”

I argued with Mom when we returned home. “Mom, why did you tell Mrs. Westmere we would take Boots?” I demanded.

“Cassie, let Mrs. Westmere rest knowing that Boots will be taken care of.”

“Not by me,” I replied shortly.

Mom shook her head. “All right. Dad and I will take care of Boots.”

The next day, Boots came to live with us. He seemed confused about the whole thing. He kept going to Mrs. Westmere’s house and sitting by the door. After about a week, the big clumsy dog had made our home his home.

I didn’t feed him, walk him, or pat him. When he greeted me at the front door with a frantically wagging tail, I ignored him and went quickly to my room. It hurt so much to remember the way Ginger used to meet me at the door.

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One day, Boots strayed from our yard while I was at school. By dinner time, he hadn’t come home. Mom was worried. “I’m going to drive around and look for him. Do you want to come along, Cassie?” I didn’t.

While Mom was out looking for Boots, I read a book and tried not to think about the missing dog. “I don’t like Boots,” I said firmly to myself. “He’s not Ginger.” Yet I couldn’t help wondering why Boots had run away. Had my coldness toward him caused Boots to feel rejected?

Mom returned from her search alone. “Where could that dog have gone?” she wondered aloud.

“Maybe he’s looking for Mrs. Westmere,” I said, a sudden hunch grasping my thoughts. “I’m going out for a walk.”

I knew that Boots would be in the little park close by. I also knew that he would be sitting next to the yellow park bench. I watched Boots sitting there patiently as I walked in his direction. His floppy ears sprang to attention. I saw a spark of excitement ignite in his sad brown eyes as his tail waved a hesitant greeting.

“Hi, Boots,” I said. “I thought you might be here.” Boots cocked his head to one side and looked at me quizzically. “I know this was Mrs. Westmere’s favorite place to sit,” I told him, “but she won’t be coming back here again.” I sat down on the bench. Boots hopped up and sat beside me. His large pink tongue gently wiped the tears from my face.

“I’ll never be able to take Mrs. Westmere’s place,” I told Boots. “I know you miss her, just as I miss Ginger. We have a lot in common.” Boots seemed to nod. Somehow, he understood what I had said. Boots put one of his plump front paws on my hand. I laughed.

“You’re probably right,” I said. “If we sit and hold each other’s hands, we’ll both feel better.” I patted his head. “You aren’t Ginger, and I’m not Mrs. Westmere, but we can still be friends, right?

We sat side by side on the yellow bench a few minutes longer, then walked home together for the first time.

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©Liz Ball www.hiddenpicturepuzzles.com

bird bean cone shoe leash steak pencil spoon insect cherry whistle tadpole 4 hearts 4 bones top hat 3 tepees envelope wishbone dog bowl doghouse fire hydrant mailbox flag

by Evelyn B. Christensen

The Wrinkle Dog (Shar-Pei) is unusual because it looks like its coat is several sizes too big for it!

Fill in the squares so that each row, column, and 7-square section has the letters W-R-I-N-K-L-E.

by MaryEllen Uthlaut

How did the different dog breeds get their names? Some breeds were named after the regions or countries they came from. Newfoundland dogs were developed in Newfoundland, a province in Canada. Other breeds were named for something special about them. Pointers, for example, can be trained to “point” at their prey.

Guess the riddles below by matching the dogs with their breed names.

1. My name comes from the French word bas, which means “low.” I walk close to the ground because my legs are short.

2. I’m named for the city of Peking (now Beijing), which is the capital of China.

3. Pudelhund was my original name. It is German for “splash-in-the-waterdog.”

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4. I have a magnificent beard. In fact, I’m named after the German word for “whiskers,” which is schnauz.

5. I’m a large, strong watchdog, but I’m really very gentle. My name comes from the Old French word mastin, which means “tame.”

■ ■ ■

POODLE SPANIEL MASTIFF

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6. I come from the island of Malta. After my ancestors arrived in England, fine ladies liked to carry them everywhere.

8. I come in many varieties, including American cocker, English springer, and Irish water. But my name reflects where I first came from, Spain.

7. My name may come from the French word begueule, which means “open mouth.” But it’s really my nose that makes me a good rabbit hunter.

9. My name comes from the Latin word terra, which means “earth.” I have been used to drive foxes out of their earthy hiding places.

PEKINGESE SCHNAUZER BEAGLE

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TERRIER MALTESE BASSETT HOUND

by David Lindo

Find the letters described by the fraction given in each of the following statements. Print the letters you select, in the order provided, into the boxes below. What did you find? Were you surprised?

The first 1/4 of CLARINET The middle 1/2 of SOCK The last 2/9 of ARTICHOKE The last 1/3 of RACERS The first 1/2 of PANTRY The middle 1/5 of PRIDE The first 1/4 of ELECTION

What kind of dog could you use to time racers?

by Régine Frank

Dogs can herd sheep, pull sleds, lead the way, or even rescue us. But there’s a greater reason for liking them.

What’s a dog’s best role?

The answer is in the clues below Write the letters in the boxes.

The first letter is in POODLE and WHIPPET, but not in SETTER. The second letter is in DACHSHUND and MASTIFF, but not in HUSKY. The third letter is in COLLIE and BEAGLE, but not in BOXER.

©Liz Ball

by Evelyn B. Christensen

You are helping to train some friends’ dogs to do four tricks: roll over, play dead, fetch, and shake hands. A different number of dogs have mastered each of the tricks. Use the clues to determine how many dogs can do each one?

1. Two more dogs can shake hands than can roll over.

2. More dogs can fetch than can shake hands.

3. Twice as many dogs can shake hands as can play dead.

3 4 6 8 Use the grid to Roll over eliminate possibilities.

Play dead Put an "x" in a box if you know a number doesn't go with a Fetch trick. Put an "o" if you know it does. Shake hands

Fetch the Answers on Page 30.

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by W. Richard Reegan

Only the dogs could save the people!

The city of Nome had been hit with diphtheria, a terrible disease. Without a lifesaving vaccine, many would die. It was 1925. Anchorage had a supply of vaccine, but it was 1200 miles away. What could Nome do? It was winter. The ports were blocked by sea ice. Primitive airplanes were no match for the vastness of Alaska. Train tracks hadn’t been laid yet.

That left only one possibility – sled dogs. Huskies would pull a sled, guided by a man called a musher. In relay fashion, one team of dogs after another, dogs would speed the medicine across the frozen tundra to Nome. Would it work? Mail and supplies were brought in that way, but never from such a distance. They had to give it a try. People watched as the musher and his team raced off into the bitter, cold night. Everyone held their breath.

The team sped across the dangerous expanse. Huge tracks lay ahead. The musher knew that if the moose that left them was around, then danger was very close. Moose mistook dogs for wolves and would charge at them, causing horrible injury. Glowing eyes watched from the deep woods. Knowing that lives depended on the mission, the driver yelled, “MUSH!” The dogs never hesitated, and the team sped on. Across the frozen lake, something big and dark was waiting. With relief, the musher saw it was one of the relay teams! The transfer of the precious vaccine was quickly made.

All across Alaska, this scene was repeated. At last, the lights of Nome came into view.

Cheers from the waiting townspeople grew louder as the dogs, icicles hanging from their mouths, brought in the medicine. Those brave dogs had saved their lives.

The memory of these courageous dogs is honored with an event called the Iditarod (eyedit-a-rod). Every March since 1973, teams race along the original route. This difficult race takes days to complete. It’s a good way to remember the courage of the 1925 heroes.

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by Kelly Musselman Q. How can you recognize a dogwood tree?

A. by its bark Q. Where do dogs hate to shop?

A. at the flea market Q. Why did the puppy sleep so much?

A. She was dog-tired.

Q. What does a puppy carry his lunch in?

A. a doggy bag Tom: Someday, my dog is going to be a doctor.

Tina: Really? What makes you say that?

Tom: I’m teaching him to heel (heal)!

Jill: My dog can talk.

Jake: Prove it.

Jill: Spot, what does sandpaper feel like?

Spot: Ruff!

Jill: Spot, what covers the outside of a tree?

Spot: Bark!

Jill: Spot, what is on top of a house?

Spot: Roof!

by Linda Bozzo Q. What dog can jump higher than a building?

A. Any dog – buildings can’t jump.

Q. How did the dog pay for college?

A. with a collar-ship Q. What do you call a dog sunbathing on the beach?

A. a hot dog Q. What do dogs sleep in when they go camping?

A. a pup tent Q. What did the librarian say to the noisy dogs?

A. Hush, puppies!

Q. What kind of dog tells time?

A. a watch dog

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by Julie Closson You know the feeling. It’s like moths in your stomach. Maybe you feel this way when you have to talk to new people. Doing something you have never done before may make you feel nervous.

Now imagine you have a friend to help you.

Someone who doesn’t care if you make a mistake. A fluffy, furry friend. Wouldn’t that make doing all those hard things easier?

At the Lionheart School in Alpharetta, Georgia, a group of “fluffy friends” is doing just that. Lionheart is a school for children with autism and special needs. For many students with autism, talking with strangers or trying new activities can be difficult and scary.

Paws for People, a foundation that places service dogs with people who need them, decided to try a program with the school. The students would help puppies learn about the outside world. The puppies would help teach the kids about trust and responsibility.

The eager golden retriever puppies arrive.

The students help get the dogs used to people by holding them, talking to them, and bathing them. Puppies go with the students to the mall or a nursing home so they can see crowds of people and smell different scents.

These dogs must learn to not be afraid of loud noises, traffic, or wheelchairs. The puppies also must be exposed to firefighters in full gear so they are not frightened in a real emergency.

If they are to become service dogs, they must remain calm in any situation.

The puppies work with the kids at the Lionheart School for four months. Then they graduate to a special program. They learn things like how to open and close doors, turn lights on and off, and push or pull light wheelchairs. When the dogs are fully trained, they’re ready to be placed as service dogs.

Max, an 11-year-old student at the Lionheart School, was interviewed on TV. He was asked how he could keep all the puppies’ names straight. Max’s reply? “Because I love them!”

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Memphis, Tennessee 3:01 PM

Rain, rain, go away, please.

Max and Gracie and their owners, Linda, Craig, and their seven-year-old son, Ed, are driving the back roads of America. Perhaps you have seen Max and Gracie with their heads out the window. If not, here is a letter describing their most recent adventure.

“I’m bored,” moaned Gracie. no signs of letting up. I was still to see rain continue to fall with dow win l Linda hote the out ed look I nap by the heater and listen to I wanted to do was take a nice was she now And ke. awa damp from our morning run. All Gracie p was going to be impossible with teach Ed his spelling words. Slee bored. No shut-eye for me!

“How about we play a game?” cie asked.

Tug of War? Hide-and-Seek?” Gra “Sure, Max. What will we play? e That Dog? I’ll give you a Nam ut abo inst the heater. “How I laid down, putting my back aga there. Ready?” breed of dog you’d typically find location, and you tell me what were touching a hot surface. She s bopping up and down as if they Gracie sat up, her two front paw y!” she barked. was that eager to play. “I’m read firehouse?”

“What dog would you find in a “Dalmatian.”

“On a ski slope?”

“St. Bernard.”

“Very good! Hair salon?”

-leggers?”

“For big two-leggers or little two “What difference does it make?” poodle. If you’re a big two-legger, two-legger, then it would be a toy e littl a ’re you “If ed. sigh cie Gra poodles.” it would be one of those larger k it works that way.” thin ’t don I shook my head. “I about on a hot grill?”

Gracie piped up. “I have one! How ?”

I didn’t understand. “On a grill on a hot grill?” find you ld wou dog t wha “Yeah, .” grill “No dog would be on a hot hot dog!” .” Gracie smiled. “You’d find a “That’s where you’re wrong, Max ” one, Gracie.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Good

Max

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Moses

by Kathleen T. Pelley • illustrated by Ginny Pruitt He was a scrawny dog with coarse fur the color of dried mud. His eyes were neither brown nor gray, but somewhere in-between. They had the dull stare of a creature who is both homeless and nameless.

Once, the stray had lived in a ramshackle hut beside the old railway line. There was a crusty old man with a quick temper. Other dogs lived there too. They were big brutes with wild eyes and fierce, snapping jaws. He was barely a year old when he found a hole in the fence and wriggled his way to freedom. He made his home on the city streets and foraged for food in trash bins.

One day, after being chased by an angry storekeeper for stealing a lump of ham, the stray leaped onto the back of a moving truck. When it stopped, he was in a different part of the city.

The air smelled fresh and clean. A river flowed underneath a bridge. Tree shadows flickered over soft, springy grass.

This was where the stray saw the girl for the first time.

“Hello, boy,” she said. “Why do you look so scared and sad?”

The stray growled low and deep and bared his teeth in warning. But there was no smell of fear from the girl, and it puzzled him.

Bending down, the girl stretched out her hand. “Don’t be afraid,” she murmured. “I won’t hurt you.” Her voice was soft, like raindrops. The stray growled again. Then he turned and ran back to his side of the city.

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The next day, he found his way back to the same spot. The girl was there, waiting for him.

Every day for a week, he met the girl. Sometimes she brought him hard, crunchy biscuits or tender pieces of chicken. Sometimes the stray let the girl come close. Once, he even let her stroke the back of his neck. That’s when something inside him melted, and a warm glow oozed out all over him.

The day after that, a woman was with the girl. Together they tied something stiff around his neck and fastened him to the end of a long leash. “He’ll be fine once he’s had a bath and some food. All he really needs is someone to love,” the girl said.

“I’m going to call you Moses because I found you near the river,” she told him. “And I think I rescued you from something.” So now the stray had a name, a home, and someone to love.

Everywhere the girl went, Moses followed. When she went to school, Moses lay outside the house, his head squashed between his paws. At night, he lay at the foot of her bed and fell asleep wrapped in the scent of his girl.

Then, one day, the girl came home clutching a squirming bundle of fur. She rushed past Moses without hugging or petting him, the way she usually did. “Look, Mom!” she cried. “Mrs. Saunder’s cat had kittens. She said I could keep this one. It’s so small and scraggly, no one wanted her.”

Her mother laughed. “You and your waifs. What’s Moses going to think about this?”

“Oh, Moses won’t mind,” the girl said, bending down to scratch Moses behind his ears.

But Moses did mind because now everywhere the girl went, the kitten went too. At night, it slept curled up in the crook of her arm. Moses had to fall asleep with the kitten’s smell in his nostrils. That warm glow inside of him froze and hardened into an icy prickle of fear.

The girl was at school one day when Moses slunk upstairs to her bedroom. He scooped the kitten off the bed and padded downstairs.

He was not noticed as he trotted out the front gate with the kitten dangling from his mouth. Moses knew exactly where to take the kitten. Then he would have his girl all to himself again.

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The hole in the fence was still there when Moses reached the ramshackle hut. He went through the opening and dropped the kitten underneath a bush. As he turned to leave, three black dogs charged toward them. Moses felt a streak of fur brush his belly. Looking down, he saw the kitten cowering there, meowing pitifully. Suddenly, Moses understood. The kitten thought that he was her friend and would protect her.

The dogs were almost on them now. With one swift movement, Moses tossed the kitten behind him. Then he turned to face the vicious brutes. Snarling and growling, the dogs pounced on Moses. One of them bit deep into the flesh behind his ear. Moses would have been finished for sure if the old man hadn’t come running out, clutching a long hose. “Get out of here, you mangy beast!” he yelled, as he sprayed a jet of icy water at the tangle of teeth and fur and tails. The dogs loosened their hold on Moses. He grabbed the kitten and scrambled through the fence.

The girl was waiting for him as he limped through the gate with the kitten dangling from his mouth. “Moses!” she cried. “You found Smokie! What a good boy.” Gently, Moses dropped the kitten at the girl’s feet and flopped down on the grass.

“Poor Moses. I think he’s been in a fight to save Smokie,” said the girl’s mother, staring at Moses’ torn ear.

The girl, the dog, and the kitten sat on the front lawn. Moses laid his head in the girl’s lap as she bathed his hurt ear. He felt her breath warm against his fur. He heard the kitten purring as she snuggled up against him. And that warm glow came flooding back. Moses closed his eyes and fell asleep with the smell of girl and kitten mingling into one.

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by Teresa Nordheim With its unique spots, no dog is easier to identify than a dalmatian. These spotted dogs were named after Dalmatia, a region in the country of Croatia.

Dalmatian puppies are born with a pure white coat. They get their spots in 10 to 14 days.

These adorable puppies grow into friendly, easy-to-train, curious, and active adult dogs. They’re capable of great endurance and considerable speed.

One common rumor about dalmatians is that they are kept at firehouses because they are deaf.

Fire sirens don’t bother them, people say, like they would other dogs. The truth is, some dalmatians do having hearing problems. The deafness may be related to their patchy coloring and lack of pigment in their inner ears.

So why do dalmatians and firehouses go together like smoke and fire? It started back in stagecoach days, when horse theft was common. Stagecoach drivers often slept outside to guard their horses. A driver who owned a dalmatian, though, could sleep in a house or hotel. That’s because his dalmatian formed a tight bond with the horses. When dog and horses became close, no stranger would dare lay a hand on them.

Back then, every firehouse had a set of fast horses to pull the pumper wagon. It became common for firemen to keep a dalmatian. The dog guarded the horses and made a great companion for the fireman during the long, boring wait between fires. When heading to a fire, the dog would run alongside the water pump wagon.

Early firefighters took tremendous pride in their firehouse companies. They would parade through the town at almost any occasion. When the dalmatians appeared with the engines, people cheered.

Jim Parkin/Shutterstock.com

Firefighters no longer use horse-drawn wagons. But even today, where there’s a firehouse, there’s likely a dalmatian, even if it’s just a statue or picture. These dogs faithfully carry on as the symbol for fire protection.

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Thanks to everyone who sent in photos. Keep them coming, and we’ll publish them in an upcoming issue!

Max & Gracie, the Fun For Kidz dogs

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Ivan, age 5

Dear Editor, Hi! I think your issues are very good. I started getting Fun For Kidz for my 8th birthday in August. I am in 3rd grade, and I like all my subjects, but reading in my favorite. I just got glasses. I am still getting used to them.

Your friend, Lenora Carter

Dear Editor, We are two brothers and one sister. William is 6, Joe is 11, and Kay is 9. We ride the bus to school because we live in the country. We have cows and a few goats. We will get chicks in the spring! We have to do chores, but they aren’t too bad. Mostly we can have fun outside.

Your fans, The Linck Kids

Phoebe, age 9

ATTENTION READERS!

Write to us and tell us what you think about Fun For Kidz. Then watch for your letter in Letters to the Editor! Also send us your drawings, poetry, jokes, and riddles for publication! Be sure to include your name, age, and address. We’ll send you a surprise just for sharing. We’ll also send you the issue your submission appears in.

Email to: kidscorner@funforkidz.com or mail to: Kids Corner, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227.

We can’t wait to see what you send in!

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Wrinkle Dog Sudoku on page 16

Mystery Picture Puzzle on page 16

Name That Dog on page 16 POODLE - 3

BEAGLE - 7

SPANIEL - 8

TERRIER - 9

MASTIFF - 5

MALTESE - 6

PEKINGESE - 2

BASSETT HOUND - 1

SCHNAUZER - 4

Fraction-nition on page 17 Dog Tricks Teaser on page 17 4 dogs can roll over.

What kind of dog could you use to time races?

CLOCKER SPANIEL

3 dogs can play dead.

8 dogs can fetch.

6 dogs can shake hands.

Puppy Love on page 17

PAL

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Photo Credits: Bloodhound2 by Bruce [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 5; 5_time_winner_Rick_Swenson_ off_to_Nome by Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 18; Courtesy Lionheart School 22.

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V i s i t U s O n l i n e ! F a c e b o o k . c o m / F u n F o r K i d z • w w w. F u n F o r K i d z . c o m Vol. 18 No. 2 • MAR/APR 2019 Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards Editor: Marilyn Edwards Associate Editor: Diane Winebar Graphic Design: Gaurakisora Tucker Marketing Director: Jonathan Edwards

FUN FOR KIDZ (ISSN 1536-898X) is published bi-monthly by the Bluffton News Publishing and Printing Company, P.O. Box 227, 101 N. Main St., Bluffton, OH 45817-0227.

Telephone: 419-358-4610. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fun For Kidz, P.O. Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227. Periodical postage is paid at Bluffton, OH and Preston, ID.

Subscriptions: All subscription inquiries and changes of address should be addressed to FUN FOR KIDZ at P.O. Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817. Telephone: 419-358-4610.

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FUN FOR KIDZ, INC. accepts no responsibility whatsoever for Article, Photo & Artwork Submissions: We accept and any injuries arising out of the use or misuse of ideas, materials, encourage article, photo and artwork submissions. Unsolicited and activities featured in its publications or products. materials will be considered for publication and will be returned Science Editor: Larry White Copyright © 2019 by the Bluffton News Publishing and Printing if accompanied by sufficient first-class postage. Guidelines are Co. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be available with a SASE. The publisher accepts no responsibility Science Illustrator: Alan Wassilak reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

Riding ... with Max & Gracie Editor: Lisa Rehfuss FUN FOR KIDZ™, and the FUN FOR KIDZ logo™, are trademarks for unsolicited material. of FUN FOR KIDZ, The Bluffton News Publishing and Printing Co. Submissions should be sent to FUN FOR KIDZ, INC. Cover Artist: Chris Sabatino P.O. Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227.

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