The Lonely Pony by Catherine Hapka Page A

dog room to check on a patient. “I wonder if we could teach him some tricks.”
    â€œYeah, like riding my skateboard!” Zach said with a laugh. “Wait, can rabbits walk on a leash like dogs do? Maybe Adam should expand his business to include walking rabbits, too!”
    Adam had a successful pet-sitting and dog-walking business, even though he was only nine. He was a good dog trainer, too. He’d helped Truman learn how to behave better before Ms. Tanaka adopted him.
    Janey frowned. “Speaking of Adam, where is he?” She checked her pink watch. “He was supposed to be here ten minutesago for our meeting.”
    â€œI’m sure he’ll be here soon,” Lolli said. “Saturday is always a busy day for pet sitting. I think he said he had to walk a few dogs after lunch.”
    â€œWell, I hope he hurries up and gets here.” Janey sounded impatient. “We need to figure out how to find more animals to help, and the weekend’s almost half over already!”
    Zach pointed at the shelter’s front door. “Your wish is our command,” he said. “Here comes Adam now.”

    Adam hurried in. “Sorry I’m late,” he said breathlessly. “But I have to tell you guys about—”
    â€œWe thought you’d never get here!” Janey interrupted loudly. “I was about to start the meeting without you.”
    â€œOkay,” Adam said. “But—”
    â€œThis is a very important meeting, you know,” Janey went on. “Nobody has contacted us since we helped that cat, Hallie, last week. I’m sure there are lots of animals that need our help, but we can’t help them if we don’t know about them, right? So I was thinking, maybe we should write something on my blog asking people to look for needy animals and e-mail us, or—”
    â€œJaney!” Adam broke in. His voice waslouder than usual. “If you’d let me get two words in, that’s what I want to tell you!”
    Janey looked surprised at being interrupted. “Huh?”
    Adam took a deep breath. “I think I found an animal that needs our help,” he said, his voice its normal volume again. “I’ve noticed her a couple of times while I was out walking dogs. And today I made a special trip to see if she’s still there—that’s why I was a little late.”
    â€œReally?” Lolli said. “What kind of animal is it, Adam? Another dog?”
    Adam shook his head. “Definitely not a dog.”
    â€œA cat?” Janey said. “Or maybe a rabbit?”
    â€œI bet it’s an injured Bigfoot,” Zach joked.
    Adam just shook his head again. “Come with me and I’ll show you,” he said.

A New Mission
    â€œAre we going to my house?” Lolli joked, peering out the car window.
    Dr. Goldman smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “I don’t know,” she said. “Adam? Should we turn down Lolli’s road?”
    â€œNo, keep going straight,” Adam said. “It’s about a mile farther that way.”
    The Pet Rescue Club had asked Zach’s mother to drive them to see Adam’s mystery pet. Dr. Goldman had agreed, since she was finished working for the day. She was just as curious to see Adam’s mystery animal as everyone else!
    Adam had directed them to a rural area right outside of town. Lolli lived nearby on a small farm with her parents, where they grew organic vegetables and kept a sheep and a couple of goats. There were lots of other farms in the area, too. Some grew crops like corn or soybeans. But Janey preferred the ones with cows, horses, or other animals grazing in the fields. There was even a llama farm! Among the farms were some regular houses with extra-large yards.
    â€œAre we there yet?” Janey asked after another few minutes of driving.
    â€œAlmost.” Adam pointed. “There—turn right onto that road.”
    Dr. Goldman