One day a little girl named Bianka that was 9 years old wanted a little friend. One day on her morning walk she sppoted a little golden retriever sleeping along the ground. She was worried. It didn't have a collar. She went to the police and asked if there was a report about a missing dog. While waiting at home for a response she tried to name the little fellow. "How about Trey?" she asked. The puppy licked her face as if he was saying yes. They became best of friends.

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by Bianka H., age 9, grade 4
Ludlam Elememtary School, Mrs. Luytjes's class
Miami, Florida, U.S.
April 25, 2002

     One day I figured out that my cousin's aunt's dog had puppies! Tia was her name. Tia was a Chocolate Lab Retriever. I had always wanted a puppy! My old dog Baron died when I was in Kindergarden, so I begged my parents to at least go see the puppies! My cousin invited me over to see the puppies. I asked my mom. She said we would just look.

     My dad came home and we drove to my cousins in Ellington. I asked my cousin Danie all kinds of questions, like........ "What do they look like?" or, "How small are they?"

     But I thought I knew what they looked like, until I saw them. They looked like kittens, but bigger! Their eyes weren't open yet.

     My mom picked up one, that was Alex! My mom let me hold him. Then she said, "Hold a different puppy." I tucked Alex in a corner so I could get him back.

     I didn't like that other puppy and said, "I don't want her, I want..." (then I picked up Alex) "...this one!" My mom and dad said OK.

     Now Alex is 10 months old and weighs 77 pounds.

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by Brittany
April 28, 2002

There's a mouse in my house.
I don't know what to do.
I am looking around for my broom broom broom.
Ahhhhh! There's a mouse in my house!

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by Shaney, age 9, grade 4
Landing School, L. Reed's class
Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
April 29, 2002

     Sabrina was my favorite dog. She would play with me and be my best friend!

     But one day when I got home fromm school, I asked my mom, "Where is Sabrina?"

     My mom said that she had gotten rid of her!
     I went in my room and cried myself to sleep! I still miss her!

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by Kristyn, age 11, grade 6
Roosevelt School, Mrs. Lyle's class
Springfield
May 6, 2002

     I once had a dog named Cha Cha who hated rain. When we took him outside in the rain all he did was complain.

     One night my father let him out to go the bathroom. Then he fell asleep.

     The next morning we were looking for Cha Cha and he was nowhere to be found. I was sad all week, and ever since that happened, we never had a dog again.

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by Tiara, age 12, grade 8
Centra Middle School, Mrs. C. Harris's class
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
May 9, 2002

     First she started out as a little puppy. She was adorable. I was scared of her when she first was brought into my home.

     As she got older she grew bigger. She was a full-blooded Rottweiler. She got in heat and had 4 baby pups. Their names were Little Bit (she was a girl, she was little and liked to play a lot), King (he was a boy, he thought he was the king, he always used to stand proud), Clifford (he was the odd one like Clifford the Big Red Dog), and Blacky (she was the shy one, the one who you thought wasn't there).

     As the years grew older she had more puppies. Then she got sicker. We found out that Roxanne had a tumor in her stomach. We took her to the vet. They said that it would cost us $2,000 to get her surgery, but we couldn't afford it. So the doctor said that she would pass in a couple of months.

     Then she got sicker. We got tired of seeing her suffer, so we got her put to sleep. She will be missed!

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by Briana T., age 13, grade 7
Riverview Central Middle School, Mrs. Smith-Atkins' class
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
May 9, 2002

     I went to SuperPetz one day and saw a cute little rat in the window! I had to get it because it was so cute! It was all white, so I decided to name it Marshmellow. Today I still have her.

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by Kristyn, age 11, grade 6
Roosevelt School, Ms. Lyle's class
Springfield
May 9, 2002

     Last weekend my cat found a mouse in our basement. He was playing with it so my stepdad killed it. That was why they were running around the house.

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by Stefonja, age 9, grade 4
Edgerton Elementary School, Mrs. Piper's class
Edgerton, Wisconsin, U.S.
May 10, 2002

     Before I was born my parents had found a tiny puppy walking alone on the street, skinny and dirty. My parents brought it to the police station, and the officer said, "If nobody claims it in 48 hours, you can keep it."

     Two days passed, and my parents got a call from the police station saying nobody had claimed the puppy.

     My parents took it to the vet to see if it had rabies or anything. It didn't. They got him all washed up and fed and finally named named him Samuel. He lived for 19 years!

     By the 19th year of having him, he became blind and deaf, so we had to put him to sleep. I wasn't around when my parents found him, but I got to spend about 6 years with him. That was enough to know that I loved him.

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by A******, age 10, grade 4
Jamison School, Mrs. K's class
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
May 24, 2002

     My bird ran away. I was so sad, but I got a new bird. Its name is the same name as my last bird.

     My sister is sad, real sad. She's the one that really loved my bird. My bird's name was Pretty Bird. So now my sister is trying real hard to get used to him. My dad is the one who found my bird.

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by Mia, age 10, grade 5
Kamala School, Miss Webb's class
Oxnard, California, U.S.
June 5, 2002

     I went to stay with my friend for a while. When I came back my mom told me that my dog, Missy, had been stolen. I was totally bummed.

     That year on Christmas, I woke up and heard something in the bathroom. I went to go tell my mom. She told me to open the bathroom door. (She said it with a big smile.) I opened the door and out came teeny tiny dog. I asked my mom where it came from. She said that her friend had brought it over to replace Missy.

     We couldn't agree on a name for her, so we put some names in a hat and I picked out the name Candy. Now Candy is almost 4 years old in people years. She is a Rat terrier. She is only like a foot and a half tall, if that.

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by Casey, age 12, grade 7
Carlyle Junior High School
Posey, Illinois, U.S.
July 9, 2002

     One day when I was at home, my mom took our dog for a walk. She threw a stick for him to catch, so when he jumped to get the stick it hit him in the middle of his belly. When we went to the vet with him, the vet felt the stick in his belly, so our dog had to stay at the vet for two days. They had to make Rex sleep and then take the stick out.

After those two days we got to take him back home. We were happy and our dog was happy too.

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by Monica, age 10, grade 5
Cherry Lane School, Mrs. Halina's class
Tallman, New York, U.S.
July 31, 2002

     Lovie is my horse. I live on a farm with 51 horses, 20 pigs, 15 sheep, 3 chickens, 10 kittens, and 10 dogs.

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by Ruby, age 10, grade 5
Wabesa School
Branson, Missouri, U.S.
August 4, 2002

     I have a rabbit. It's black and white. When he's scared he hides his face on me. He's very cute.

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by Rachael, age 6, grade 1
B. Bernice Elementary School, Mrs. Hayes' class
U.S.
August 4, 2002

     My friend has an old dog. He looks old but acts like a puppy! I told my friend that she had a odd dog!

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by Allysyn, age 10, grade 5
Morningside School, Mrs. Bewick's class
Delone, California, U.S.
August 18, 2002

     When I hold them both they start fighting, so I separate them. When I have they start licking me.

Name of Guiinea pigs: Poppy and Pebble
Age: 4 years old
Hobbies: playing with me

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by Katie C., age 9, grade 5
Holly Bush School, Mr. Brown's class
Hertford, United Kingdom
September 16, 2002

     My dog hates fireworks. Well we did not make it home on the fourth of July to let my dog in the house, so he chewed right through the wooden fence. He was nowhere to be found. My mom started praying for Bear to find his way home.

      Well, after one week we got a call from a stranger. She said "I think I have your dog. Is your dog really big with a blue collar?" I said yes. My mom had filled out a lost and found at the dog pound and they called inquiring about a lost dog. They really wanted to keep him. We were so glad to get him back.....

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by Bear, age 6, grade 1
Riverview Elementary School
Riverside, California, U.S.
September 16, 2002

     When I was 9 months old my mom got me a dog. I named him Rosco. When I wanted to take a nap I would sleep on him.

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by Cerrina, age 9, grade 4
Hale Elementary School, Mrs. Eggers' class
Hale, Missouri, U.S.
September 18, 2002

     When I go outside my dog Rosie wants to play with me so I get her ball and throw it in the air. She hits it with her nose or sometimes catches it in her mouth.

     I love her so much because she protects me. When I go to bed she comes and checks on me. When someone comes in our yard she barks and keeps us safe. That's why we love her so very much.

     If I didn't have her I would be sad. I got her when I was 2 years old.

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by Amy, age 9, grade 4
Frank D. Moates Elementary School, Ms. Galloway's class
DeSoto, Texas, U.S.
September 22, 2002

     I had a dog named Penny. She was my birthday present when I was 6 or 7. I got her from my Aunt Lisa. She looked like a penny.

      One day when I was at school she ran away. I was very very sad. Now I have a fish named Dirty.

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by Elizabeth G., age 10, grade 5
Howard School, Mr. MacCurtain's class
West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, U.S.
October 11, 2002

     My little dog's name is Whinnie. She'll pee while you pick her up. That's why you call her instead of picking her up. She's black with brownish spots, and some white. She's also the type of the world's smallest dog. She's so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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by Paige, age 10
Texas
October 15, 2002

     My grandma has 2 cats. But one is funny. Her name is Kiki. Once my grandma left the garage door open. She thought Kiki ran away, so she went up 10 streets. Kiki was really under the car.

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by Daisy, age 8, grade 3
Eli Whitney School, Mrs. Pekar's class
Stratford, Connecticut, U.S.
October 22, 2002