Waggit Forever Read Online Free PDF Page A

this was not a dog you disagreed with, so he let it pass.
    â€œYou hunt your food, am I correct?” the dog asked without waiting for an answer. “It’s a repulsive habit, but you’ve got to survive somehow, I guess.”
    â€œWe have to,” Waggit replied. “There hasn’t been anything in the park to scavenge. That’s why they sent me here. We haven’t eaten in a long time.”
    â€œWhat is your name, boy?” Despite his civilized tone, the dog’s manner was anything but polite. He was threatening and arrogant.
    â€œIt’s Waggit. My name is Waggit.”
    â€œWell, get up, Waggit, and shake yourself off. You’re a mess.”
    Given the other dog’s grubby appearance, this criticism surprised Waggit, but he kept this thought to himself and did as he was told.
    â€œMy name is Beidel,” the other dog said after a moment. “You may have heard of me. I’m the leader of the Ductors. You’ve heard of them, of course.”
    Waggit had heard of neither, but he didn’t want to admit it to this intimidating dog, so he kept quiet.
    â€œNo,” continued Beidel, “you don’t know who we are, do you? You country dogs lead such isolated lives.”
    Waggit couldn’t allow himself to be called a hick twice.
    â€œActually,” he said quietly but firmly, “we’re city dogs who live in the park, which is a whole lot different from the country. I know. I’ve lived in the country, and believe me it’s not the same.”
    Now it was Beidel’s turn to be impressed.
    â€œYou’ve been outside city limits?” he cried. “I never have. How was it?”
    â€œHorrible,” Waggit exclaimed with conviction. “But that’s because I’m a city dog.”
    Beidel said nothing, then scratched furiously under his chin and got up and shook himself violently, his huge jowls making slapping sounds as his head rockedfrom side to side. Dogs do this as a way of clearing their minds.
    â€œWhat are we going to do with you?” he finally said. “We can’t let you scavenge here, but we can’t let you starve either.”
    Waggit was relieved that the solution didn’t involve tearing him limb from limb—at least for the moment. There was silence. Waggit watched the other dog carefully, looking for a sudden change of mood that might be a warning sign of an attack. It didn’t come. Instead, Beidel made a decision.
    â€œI’m going to give your team this feeder for the time being,” he said, “but on one condition. You’re going to have to find a solution to your problem that doesn’t involve trespassing on my domain.”
    â€œBut,” protested Waggit, “your domain is next to the park, and if we have to go farther out, then the danger gets greater and bringing the food back is more difficult. Besides, if we’re not in your domain, we’ll be in someone else’s, and they’d feel the way you do.”
    â€œThat’s true,” agreed Beidel. “If your present situation is unbearable, maybe your team should consider moving. As park dogs you’d be hopeless on the streets, so that’s not an option.”
    Waggit thought about living surrounded by concrete and cars, breathing foul air and dodging the constant threat of humans, and a shudder ran down his spine. To give up the park for that would be even worse than staying without enough food.
    â€œThere are other parks,” Beidel continued, “that might be better suited to your needs. I’ve never been in them, of course, but I’m told they’re tolerable if you like that sort of thing.”
    â€œThere probably are,” agreed Waggit, “but we don’t know where they are or how to get to them.”
    â€œWe may be able to help you with that,” said Beidel. “The Ductors assist dogs in need in various ways, mostly to get them out of the