turned onto a narrow, winding road with no sidewalks or streetlamps. There were only a few houses in sight. After a short distance, Adam told her to pull over.
âIs this it?â Janey asked as everyone climbed out of the car.
She looked around. Beside the road was a rickety fence, built half of wood and half of wire. It enclosed a small pen that was choked with weeds. There was a small, tumbledown shed in the middle and a plastic trough half-filled with slimy, greenish water near the gate. On the hillside beyond the pen was a much larger, grassy pasture where a small herd of dairy cows were grazing peacefully.
âAre we here to rescue those cows?â Zach joked. âBecause I donât think theyâll fit in the dog runs at the shelter.â
âNot exactly,â Adam said. âThe animalwe need to help is right in here.â
He waved at the small pen. Janey looked at it again. The only animals she could see in there were some flies buzzing above the water tank.
âWhereâs the pet who needs rescuing?â Lolli asked. âI donât see anything.â
âThe animal I saw is probably in that shed.â Adam leaned on the fence andwhistled loudly.
âI knew it!â Janey said. âIt is a dog, isnât it? Adam, Iâve heard you whistle like that to your clients a million times!â
But Lolli gasped and pointed. âItâs not a dog,â she cried. âLook!â
An animal had just stepped into view from behind the shed. Janey could hardly believe her eyes. Could that really be . . .
âOh my gosh!â she cried. âItâs a horse!â
âNo way.â Zach climbed on the lowest rung of the fence for a better look. âIt looks like it shrunk in the wash!â
Lolli smiled. âItâs not a horse,â she said. âItâs a pony!â
Adam looked confused. âYou mean a baby horse?â
âNot quite,â Dr. Goldman said with a smile.âA lot of people think a pony is a baby horse. But a pony is actually a horse below a certain height, or sometimes itâs a certain breed.â
The animal stepped farther out from behind the shed. Whatever you called her, she was the smallest equine Janey had ever seen!The pony pricked her little ears, then let out a high-pitched whinny and trotted toward them.
âAw, sheâs coming to see us!â Janey said. âHere, pony pony!â
âCareful, kids,â Dr. Goldman said. âSome ponies bite.â
Janey hardly heard her. The pony reached the fence and stuck her muzzle through the wire. When Janey touched the ponyâs nose, it felt as soft as velvet.
âSheâs so cute!â Lolli exclaimed.
âYeah,â Adam said. âBut lookâher mane and tail are all messed up.â
Janey saw that he was right. There were brambles tangled in the ponyâs thick mane and tail. Her hair looked even more snarled than Janeyâs did after swimming.
âShe does look a bit neglected,â Dr. Goldman said, peering through the fence at the ponyâs feet. âHer hooves are long and chipped. And her coatâs not in great condition, either.â
Janey glanced at the vet. âWow, you know a lot about ponies! I thought you only treated cats and dogs and other regular pets.â
âYouâre right, I do specialize in small animals.â Dr. Goldman shrugged. âBut I studied the basics of taking care of large animals in vet school, so I know a little.â She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of hard candy. âFor instance, I learned that most equines love peppermints!â
She unwrapped the candy and held it out, her hand flat with the palm facing up. The pony lipped it up and crunched it.
âYouâre right, she loves it!â Janey exclaimed. âI think she wants more.â
The pony stretched her head over the fence as far as she could. Her ears swiveled back and
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