FIONA HARRISON has been a freelance journalist, writing for a wealth of publications including the Sunday Mirror, Daily Express, Prima, Woman and Grazia for several years. Originally from Cornwall by way of Bath, this is her first novel. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and when she is not writing can usually be found devouring other people’s novels.

For Chris, the only human version of Percy I know

Contents

Cover

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Epilogue

Extract

Acknowledgements

Copyright

Chapter One

My eyelids felt heavy, and the pull of sleep prevented me from opening them, despite the early morning autumn sunshine streaming through the windows. Instead, I snuggled deeper into the blue cashmere blanket my owner Javier had bought for me. I screwed my eyes tight, happy to enjoy a few more minutes in bed with the blanket I loved, and wriggled around until I was comfortable. Yet no matter how hard I tried to return to the land of nod, something felt wrong.

Blinking my eyes open with renewed determination, I scrambled onto all four of my paws and looked around. With a start I realised the room I found myself in was completely unfamiliar. Where was the sofa I liked to nap on? The television I liked to watch Tom and Jerry on? The glass coffee table I always ran into, and the thick multicoloured rug I liked to roll around on? Why was I not at home?

My heart pounded with fear as I glanced over each of my shoulders to find I was alone in a small room, containing my bed and an old basket of toys, while on the other side stood an old easy chair. My food and water bowls were near the door and an old sheepskin rug lay on the floor. Hearing the sound of feet scuffling outside the room, I turned my head and peered through a large Perspex window that looked out onto a busy corridor and saw it was teeming with excited dogs and humans in green uniforms.

All too quickly, the memories flooded back as fast as a speeding greyhound and my entire body trembled as I realised I was as far away from home as it was possible to be. I remembered only too vividly that I had been dumped in a dog shelter by Javier but had no idea why. Was it because I had been bad? Did Javier no longer love me? Was I mean to another dog? Or worse, had I committed the ultimate dog sin and bitten a human for no apparent reason?

Filled with despair, I slumped back onto my bed, flung my paws over my eyes and tried to understand why Javier had left me here to rot like so many other good dogs before me. I knew the tails of the forgotten, which was what we in the dog community called dog shelters like this one, was for hounds that were unwanted. It was the home for waifs, strays and the unlovable. Was that me now? Was I unlovable? I had adored my owner Javier, and I thought he loved me too. We had been together for three years, since I was a small pup, and I had been incredibly happy. I thought he was too. What had happened to make him fall out of love with me? I let out a howl of despair. I would do anything to turn the clock back and undo whatever it was I had done to make Javier leave me in this place. I loved him, he was my owner, my entire world and, quite simply, I would die for him.

I felt a fresh wave of horror as I realised that now Javier had left me here I would never see him again. The thought of a life without my precious owner and best friend, as I came to think of him, was terrible. As the image of his handsome, Brazilian face appeared in my mind, I howled. I loved him, I missed him, and a life without him was unthinkable.

I thought back to my behaviour over the past few days and weeks and was unable to pinpoint anything I had done that was particularly naughty. In fact, I thought I had been good, ensuring I refrained from sitting on Javier’s girlfriend, Gabriella’s clothes, not making a loud noise when I chewed my kibble or bothering either one of them for too many walks to the park.

I howled again and suddenly heard the door to the room open, and footsteps pad gently towards me. I could tell from the scent of whoever it was that a human had entered. But who they were or what they wanted held no interest for me. I wanted to remain here, with my paws flung over my eyes for ever and nothing anybody could say or do would change my mind. As the human reached my side, I became aware of them bending down, their jean-clad knees brushing against the side of my face. There was a pause, and then I felt soft fingers, which had to be a woman’s, run over my head and along my back.

‘How are you feeling today, Percy?’ she asked gently.

‘Horrible,’ I yelped, paws still clamped over my eyes.

‘I’m not surprised,’ she said gently, ‘you’ve had a terrible thing happen to you. It’s bound to be a shock, but I’m here to help you cope with it all, I promise.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ I woofed again. ‘There’s nothing you can say or do that will make any of this better. My owner doesn’t love me any more and I miss him. I will never be loved ever again.’

‘Oh Percy,’ the woman sighed, ‘I promise, you will be loved again. And we will make sure of it. My name is Kelly, you may not remember, but I checked you over when you were dropped off last night by your old owner.’

‘I remember,’ I whined quietly.

‘Now, I’m going to make it my own personal mission to ensure I find you the very best family to take care of you. People, who will love you for ever and ever,’ Kelly said gently.

It was unusual to find a human who understood what we dogs were trying to communicate with our barks, but Kelly, unlike Javier or Gabriella, had understood straight away. There was something about this woman’s voice I found soothing, and I prised my paws from my eyes to get a better look at her. She had a warm, open face, and was small, with a button nose and strands of grey hair intertwined with her blonde mane. Kelly was smiling down at me and I sensed she had an air of someone who had seen and done it all. Just being around her made me feel relaxed.

She continued to stroke my soft fur, and bent her face close to mine. ‘You won’t have to wait long for a home, Percy. Everyone loves pugs, you’ll see.’

I licked her cheek in response. I knew she was just trying to be kind. After all, if that were true then Javier would never have abandoned me.

‘I’ve got a secret I want to tell you, Percy,’ she continued. ‘I’ve always had a real soft spot for pugs, and I’ve been crazy about you ever since you arrived yesterday. I’m going to make sure someone very special adopts you, because I want you to have the happiest of lives.’

She scooped me up with her soft, warm hands, then gently covered my little face with kisses. Her lips felt like tender butterflies fluttering gently across my fur and I wrinkled my face with pleasure before Kelly put me down.

‘I know you’ve had a shock. Being abandoned by your owner isn’t nice, but I want you to understand that while I’m out there searching for a very special family to look after you, I will be the one taking good care of you, do you hear me?’ she said in her silky, smooth voice.

I barked a little more enthusiastically than I had since I arrived – I wanted to let her know I had heard her loud and clear. I liked the sound of Kelly looking out for me.

‘Now, I like to make sure my special friends have a good time while they’re here, so I encourage playtime as much as I can,’ she said with a chuckle, as she walked towards the large window and beckoned me to follow. The window overlooked a large yard at the back of the shelter, which I had seen briefly when I arrived, but I had felt so bewildered then that I had been unable to take anything in properly. I peered out and saw several other dogs playing with humans in green uniforms like Kelly, while others were sitting around chatting to each other. They did not look even a little bit sad. In fact, as I watched one particularly overexcited cockapoo run wildly from one end of the square to the other, sending the fallen crisp leaves flying in his wake, I noticed he seemed positively joyful.

‘You see how some of them are running riot?’ Kelly asked, once more reading my mind. ‘Well, that’ll be you too a bit later on. You’ll have cuddles, walks, runs in the yard and friends to make. It won’t be so bad, and I’ll look after you.’

I rubbed my head against her legs in gratitude. Just being around Kelly was making me feel stronger and although I still desperately wanted to go home, I had a feeling that with Kelly on my side, she really would look after me as if I were her own.

‘Now I’m going to leave you to it as it looks as though your neighbours, Barney and Boris, are back.’ Kelly grinned as she ruffled my ears once more. ‘I’ll see you a bit later.’

As Kelly waved me goodbye, I saw a young West Highland terrier walk into the room on my left and a fairly fed-up looking elderly beagle enter the room on my right. I padded over to the big sheets of clear plastic that divided my room from each dog’s and introduced myself with a welcoming bark.

‘I’m Boris,’ the Westie replied.

‘And I’m Barney,’ the beagle explained mournfully.

I noticed Barney was still wet from the bath he’d obviously been given, with a sore-looking scratch on his belly. He flopped on the floor in front of me, looking decidedly sorry for himself.

‘How did you get that scratch?’ I barked curiously.

‘Trying to get through a cat flap,’ he replied mournfully, his long ears making his sad brown eyes look even more doleful. ‘I wanted to see if I could move into the house next door when my owner died. But when I got stuck in the flap, the neighbours brought me here.’

I shook my head in amazement. Beagles were supposed to be intelligent, and this was not one of the smartest moves I had heard a beagle make. Still, I realised this was not the best time to tick Barney off. Instead, I barked sympathetically and gave him the once-over. When his tummy had healed, no doubt he would be a handsome fellow and snapped up. I wasted no time telling him so.

‘Do you think so?’ Barney asked, brightening a little, his sad brown eyes looking slightly less miserable.

‘Oh, yes,’ I said knowledgeably, realising immediately that Barney could be a lovely-looking dog with a bit of TLC. ‘They’ll be beating the door down to take you in.’

‘Percy’s right,’ Boris barked loudly through the plastic. ‘You won’t have to wait long for a home.’

Barney’s tail thumped against the floor excitedly. ‘Awww, really?’ he asked. He paused for a moment, then looked at me. ‘Well, I don’t think it will be long before someone takes you in either. Everyone loves pugs, don’t they?’ Barney said, echoing Kelly’s earlier sentiments.

Boris slumped to the floor. ‘That’s true as well. You two will be snapped up and I will be all alone for ever.’

‘Of course you won’t,’ Barney reasoned.

‘I will,’ Boris barked. ‘I’m a bad dog, my old owner Sam and his wife Emma could never be bothered with me. I was always getting under their feet or in their way.’

‘I’m sure you weren’t,’ I replied. ‘So many dog owners think that all we need is a bowl of food, and a couple of walks. They don’t realise we need company, affection and—’

‘Love,’ Boris interrupted. ‘My owners never loved me. They thought they did, but when it came down to it, I was just too much trouble for them.’

I felt a pang of sympathy for the young dog. Barely out of his teens, he was just a little younger than me, and despite my own fears about the future, I wanted to make Boris feel better.

‘You’ve seen how lovely Kelly and the rest of the carers are here. She will love you, play with you and listen to you, all while helping find you a good home.’

‘She’ll be lucky,’ Boris barked darkly. ‘My owner Sam used to tell me I was such a pain, nobody else would want me.’

I growled under my breath. This Sam appeared to be unfit to lick Boris’s paws, I thought darkly.

‘You’re not a pain,’ I barked in anger. ‘You’re a lovely dog, Boris.’

‘Don’t pay any attention to your old owners,’ Barney added. ‘Any family would be lucky to have you.’

Boris rolled his eyes. ‘Easy for you to say, you’re both a lot cuter than I am. Nobody will want me.’

‘But it wasn’t always like that,’ I protested. ‘I felt as bad as you do now when my old owner Javier dropped me off here yesterday.’

‘What was he like?’ asked Barney.

I sighed and flopped to the floor, unsure where to start. When I thought of Javier, I felt wretched. Even though he had dumped me here, I still worshipped him and would do anything he asked if he walked through the doors right now.

‘Javier was a doctor from Argentina, who liked the finer things in life and he treated me like a king with the best food, treats and toys money could buy,’ I told Boris gruffly. ‘We lived in a flat in Battersea overlooking the River Thames, after he adopted me from my mum three years ago when I was a few months old.’

‘Sounds like a nice life,’ Boris barked appreciatively.

‘It was,’ I woofed. ‘I would nap when he was working, then when Javier returned, he would drink a cold beer straight from the fridge, before taking me out for a walk in the park, where we would chat and I would chew tennis balls. If Javier was working long hours, then his girlfriend, Gabriella, would take me instead, but it was never the same as she couldn’t wait to get our walk over with.’

‘So what happened?’ Boris asked, interrupting my trip down memory lane.

‘I was watching television one night,’ I barked gloomily, ‘when I saw they were both filling their suitcases with their belongings. Once the cases were filled, Javier picked me up, gave me a cuddle, told me he loved me, but that he and Gabriella had to go home to Buenos Aires, as their visas had run out.’

‘Why didn’t they take you with them?’ Barney quizzed reasonably.

I shrugged my little shoulders and felt my bottom lip tremble. I had wondered the same thing as I had barked my throat out at the time, begging him to take me, but Javier ignored my pleas. Instead, he gathered my things together and then called a taxi and dropped me off here.

‘That’s horrible,’ Boris said quietly. ‘You must have been terrified.’

Sadness coursed through my fur as I remembered watching Javier walk away and how my little body had pulsed with fear as I realised he really was going to desert me in a shelter, somewhere in the far reaches of South London. My wrinkled cheeks burned with shame as I recalled how I had barked at him not to leave me, that I was sorry for whatever I had done and that I would be a good boy, if only he would come back for me and take me with him to Argentina. But my undignified and desperate barks had fallen on deaf ears as my former master climbed into the back of the taxi, without so much as a backward glance.

‘I was terrified,’ I barked quietly. ‘I still am.’

In fact, I was so terrified I had not yet confessed my greatest fear to anyone here, not even to Kelly. That even if she did find someone who would love and adore me, there was nothing to stop them leaving me too. Who was to say that they would keep me for ever and ever? Javier had taught me one thing, that sometimes love was not enough.

Chapter Two

As the days turned into weeks and most of the friends I had made left the shelter for pastures new, I wondered if Barney, Boris and Kelly had in fact been wrong and that not everyone loved pugs. Over the last few days, I had watched Frank the spaniel walk away with a lovely young couple from Cheam; Maggie, a Weimaraner, disappear with an elderly gentleman from Hove; and even Daisy the Highland terrier, with flatulence evil enough to clear a room, adopted by a seemingly lovely family from Chelmsford.

Now it seemed Barney was all set to leave me too, as he had hit it off with a young single lady from Clapham, who was now here to take him home. As the woman bent down to fondle his ears, Barney whined and wagged his tail with such excitement he made the floor vibrate beneath me. Of course I was happy Barney had found someone to give him the love he deserved, but deep down I was sorry it was not me.

As Barney walked away with his new owner, he shot me a hopeful stare. ‘A special family are coming for you, I promise.’

I watched him walk through the large glass doors that opened up to the exercise yard and the outside world beyond. Deflated, I trotted back to my squishy bed, and dived under my soft blanket. All I wanted was to shut everyone out. Even though it was Saturday and I knew the shelter would be full of prospective families, I was not in the mood to perform. Over the past few weeks, I had done all the cute pug-like things you could imagine to try and get a family to take me. I had uncurled my tail to give it a little waggle, exposed my belly to show I loved a stroke and even stared longingly with my big brown eyes at passing children. Of course I had received my fair share of cuddles and, as my time here grew longer and longer, I had even stopped moaning when the bigger children pulled my tail or stepped on my delicate paws. But while everyone had been kind enough to shower me with love, I had heard them talk in hushed tones about the health problems my short face would cause, along with worries about gassiness.

I was broken-hearted. I had lost my home, my owner, and hope was deserting me. Kelly had done her best to cheer me up, by telling me how loveable I was, but I knew that was untrue. I no longer felt like putting a brave face on my little snout. Instead, I shut my eyes and dreamed of a different life. Little walks in big green parks, tummy tickles with a loving child, snuggles in bed with a cuddly mum and man-to-man chats with the dad of the house in a shed at the bottom of the garden.

But those thoughts seemed little more than fantasy to me now, and I closed my eyes tightly, wanting nothing more than to forget the world. My time here at the tails of the forgotten had been fine, nice even, but it was no substitute for a real home. Seeing all my friends apart from Boris adopted left me with a lot of questions, namely, what was wrong with me?

Since revealing the story of how I had arrived at the shelter with Boris and Barney all those weeks ago, I had been unable to forget how Javier had ignored the way I begged him to take me with him and had gone over and over all the things I could have done to upset him. I knew Gabriella had never been particularly fond of me and perhaps that was the reason he had not fought to take me to Argentina, to start a new life.

Doubt nagged away at me as I realised that even if I found a family who would take me in, there could still be one person who disliked me enough to send me away again. There were so many reasons a dog could end up at the tails of the forgotten, I wanted to howl in despair. It seemed to me we pooches were doomed no matter how adorable or well behaved we were. Feeling sad, I did what I always did in a crisis and gave in to the land of nod, hoping against hope that when I woke there would be a change in fortunes.

*

‘Oh, isn’t he gorgeous,’ a woman’s voice murmured, gently waking me with a start from my slumber.

Turning around, with sleepy eyes, I looked at the woman peering through the glass. Short and thin, her brown hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and her blue eyes radiated a kind of warmth and love I had not seen in a long time. I felt a sudden sense of hope and, glancing up at Kelly, who was standing with a smile a mile wide next to this woman, I shook the sleep from my eyes, got out of bed and trotted over to the glass to let out a little bark of welcome. The woman grinned as she crouched down, her red-wool coat pooling on the floor behind her. She tapped excitedly on the glass.

‘Hello, young man.’ She grinned before turning to look back up to Kelly. ‘I think I’m in love. Can I go and see him, please?’

Kelly laughed, fishing into her pocket for one of the treats she knew I loved. ‘Of course. This is Percy,’ Kelly explained to the woman as I snaffled the treat from her warm palm. ‘He’s very special to me – handsome, gorgeous and bursting with love, he’s my idea of a perfect man.’

After picking me up, Kelly gave me a comforting squeeze and invited the woman to sit on the old easy chair in the corner. When she was settled, Kelly placed me gently on the woman’s lap and tickled me under my chin.

‘This is Gail,’ Kelly explained to me. ‘We’ve just been talking nineteen to the dozen about you, because like me, Perce, she’s a woman with excellent taste who loves pugs.’

I barked appreciatively. This was the most promising news I had received since I had arrived. Shuffling around in Gail’s lap, so I could get a proper look at her, I drank in her appearance. She appeared to be in her late thirties, her skin was creamy white, and the few freckles on her nose gave her a cute, vulnerable appearance. But the soft lines around her twinkling blue eyes and the grey circles that were forming underneath told me life had not always been kind and that perhaps, like me, she was tired of battling to find her place in the world. I liked her immediately and, as Gail looked back at me, her blue eyes teeming with warmth, I felt a whoosh in my tummy and a pang in my heart. I sensed Gail was a woman who was simply bursting with love and, as I let out another little bark of excitement, she tickled me gently behind the ears and laughed.

‘How would you like to go for a little walk with me, Percy?’ she asked, gently. ‘I’d really like to get to know you better.’

I rubbed my head against her arm with gratitude, to show my enthusiasm.

‘I think that means yes,’ Kelly said, holding out my lead.

As Gail slipped it onto my collar, I walked obediently alongside her and out into the exercise yard. As I felt the chilly air on my face, I looked up at Gail and uncurled my tail so it could wag freely with unbridled joy. Nobody else had asked me to walk with them, and I was determined Gail would like me as much as I liked her.

‘So, Percy, Kelly has been telling me all about you,’ Gail said in a soft, soothing voice. She wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck as the wind gathered speed. ‘It sounds as though you’ve had a bit of bad luck.’

‘You’re not wrong,’ I barked in reply, all the while trotting eagerly alongside Gail.

‘I know what it’s like,’ she replied. ‘My family has had its fair share of bad luck too. It’s not fair, is it?’ Stopping at a bench, Gail sat down, then placed her warm hands around my little body to sit me on her lap. I breathed in the scent of her floral perfume and relaxed against her legs, the day’s cool temperatures making me shiver. In the three weeks since I had arrived, the weather had taken a decidedly wintery turn and I was enjoying the chance of some human warmth and comfort. ‘I’d love to take you home, Percy,’ she said as she gently stroked my head. ‘I don’t think I’m imagining things when I say I think we’ve developed a bond in the short while we’ve been together.’

I snuggled deeper into her lap, to show her just how right she was.

‘The thing is, boy—’ Gail laughed gently ‘—once you’ve heard a bit about my family, you might feel you wouldn’t want to live with us so it’s only fair I tell you what we’re like.’

The calm, relaxed and happy feeling I’d been enjoying since Gail had arrived left me.

‘My husband, Simon, and I have been together twenty years,’ she said nervously. ‘We met at a party, shortly after he moved to Devon, and we’ve never spent a day apart. When we married fifteen years ago, we were blessed with a beautiful little girl, Jenny, who’s twelve now.’

At the mention of her daughter, I saw Gail’s eyes brim with tears. My little heart went out to her, and I gingerly rested my warm paw on top of her hand, urging her to carry on. The gesture wasn’t lost on Gail, who looked at me fondly, then buried her face in my fur.

‘Jenny’s beautiful, kind, loving, and we adore her,’ Gail continued, her voice thick with emotion, ‘but she has a heart condition, and on top of that, we’ve recently moved from Devon back to London. Well, I say back, Simon’s a plumber and originally from here so has lots of old pals, but I’m lonely with no job or friends and things are a little bit strained between us, if I’m honest.’

As she finished, Gail gently raked her fingers through my fur and looked at me expectantly. Meeting her eyes, I saw they were filled with genuine warmth and I tried to make sense of everything she had just said. All I had ever wanted was to be a part of a loving family, and it was clear that Gail needed love and care as much as I did. Even though we had only spent an hour or so together, I already felt bonded to this woman who had showered me with affection since we met.

But Javier’s actions had cast doubt in my mind. I wanted to go home with Gail, I wanted to start again and find love, but I was scared. What if it was all too good to be true? What if this new family forgot about me, what if they decided to move back to Devon and refused to take me with them because Gail hated her new life in London? I was unsure what to do and so I burrowed my way deeper into Gail’s lap, hoping to find the answers there. Nuzzling my face against her hands, I felt the love flood through her fingertips. I realised that nobody knew what the future may hold, but that I was already very attached to Gail. In that moment I tried to convey how much she already meant to me and how much I would be there for her family.

Gail was as tuned into me as I’d hoped. ‘Well, Percy, you’re on.’ She grinned, setting me down on the ground and crouching down to look into my eyes. ‘I think you and I will make a very good team. And although we don’t know how things will work out, I can promise you one thing: I’ll love you more than any other pug has been loved, if you let me.’

‘I’d like that,’ I barked in reply.

Walking back inside, I felt so happy it was all I could do not to dance a little jig. Finally, I was going to be part of a family again, someone wanted me and I wasn’t going to let them down. As Kelly led Gail into the office to fill out some paperwork, I bumped into Boris, who was being led back inside after playtime.

‘You look like the cat who got the cream,’ he barked happily.

‘More like the dog who got the big juicy bone,’ I replied. ‘I’ve been adopted.’

Boris sat on his haunches, raised his right paw to signify a human high five. Tongue lolling joyfully, I raised my left paw, remembering how Javier had taught me the trick, and propelled it forwards to meet the Westie’s.

‘Well done, buddy, I couldn’t be happier for you,’ he barked.

‘Thanks. She’s the nicest lady in the world,’ I replied. ‘When we met we just clicked and I knew she was the one for me.’

‘Didn’t Barney and I tell you there was someone special on their way?’

I nodded. ‘You did, Boris, and I should have believed you. Now we just have to find you a nice new family.’

Boris shrugged his shoulders. ‘You’re a very special dog, Percy. You deserve be taken in by someone lovely. If I’m half as lucky I’ll be one lucky Westie.’

‘Well, you’re lucky, and loveable, Boris,’ I barked sympathetically. ‘And until you find a nice new owner who will shower you with love, I want to prove to you just how special you are. Come with me.’

Excited, I trotted down the corridor back to my room, Boris following eagerly behind me, continually asking what was going on. However, I refused to tell him until we reached my quarters. With the door wide open, I went straight inside and saw just what I was looking for. I hadn’t arrived with that much apart from a few toys. All that was left was my prized blue cashmere blanket and my bed. Boris had been unfortunate to receive a hard start in life with owners like Sam and Emma, and I wanted him to realise love was out there waiting for him, if he would only give it a chance. In the short time we had been together, I had become quite fond of the Westie and, looking at the blue blanket that had once meant so much, I padded towards it. I bit into the soft material and then dropped it in front of Boris.

‘Winter’s just around the corner and this will keep you warm at night,’ I barked.

Boris looked at the blanket in amazement. ‘But that’s yours. Javier gave you that, don’t you want it to remember him by?’

‘I want you to have it as something to remember me and our friendship by,’ I woofed truthfully. ‘It’s time for a new start, for all of us.’

Chapter Three

I pressed my body against the sheet of cold, clear glass that separated me from the outside world and watched the comings and goings of the shelter. For the past two hours, I had carefully observed every car that had pulled up outside in the pouring rain, my fur standing on end in excitement as I waited expectantly for Gail.

Kelly told me yesterday that she had visited Gail’s family and thought their home would be perfect for me. Since then I had been unable to stop thinking about my new family and had spent most of the night curled up in bed feeling excited one minute and anxious the next about my new life.

Now, as I watched a woman that definitely was not Gail get out of a red sports car, my heart banged against my chest in fear. Where was she? What if Gail had changed her mind? What if she no longer wanted me after all? I let out a growl of anxiety, waking Boris from his slumber.

‘They’ll be here, stop getting so excited,’ he barked sleepily.

‘But what if they don’t come?’ I asked in panic.

‘What would happen between yesterday and today to make them decide they don’t want you any more?’ Boris asked sensibly. ‘Now settle down so you’re all nice and relaxed when they come to get you.’

I knew Boris was right, so reluctantly I returned to my bed, shut my eyes and tried to focus on anything else apart from going to a new home. But every time I tried to distract myself by thinking about my favourite things like chewing tennis balls or eating cheese, I imagined what it would be like if it was Gail throwing me a ball, or Gail feeding me treats. It was no good, my mind was in overdrive, and lying still was unhelpful. I got up from my basket, scampered back to the window and pressed my face against the glass – at least this way I felt I was doing something.

Suddenly, a silver car pulled up outside the front of the shelter and a middle-aged man wearing a green parka and jeans got out of the passenger side. Aside from his salt and pepper hair, I could just make out what looked like a pair of kind chocolatey eyes as he quickly walked to the rear car door and opened it. As the door swung open, a small girl, with pale skin and long dark brown hair that hung to her waist, clambered out, holding on to the man for support. Peering down, I saw she was the spitting image of Gail and held my breath. Was it them? Had my family come for me? I shuffled my paws in eagerness, my claws tapping on the cool ground as I waited for the driver to reveal themselves.

I did not have to wait long, as the door opened and a woman with soft, wavy brown air emerged – Gail.

‘They’re here, they’re here,’ I yapped, shuffling my paws even faster against the ground as I drank in my new family. One thing was certain, they looked happy to be here. The little girl, Jenny, was smiling and chattering away excitedly as she looked around at the shelter, while Simon looked animated and engrossed in everything his daughter was saying. As for Gail, she looked lovelier than ever, dressed simply in jeans and boots, and her now-familiar red-wool coat, buttoned to the neck. She put her arm around her daughter, smiling broadly, and kissed her hair. Gail then raised her head from Jenny’s and lifted her face to meet mine. Catching sight of me at the window, she waved and smiled, then nudged Jenny and Simon. They followed her gaze and, when they realised it was me, Jenny did the same as her mother, and I jumped up and down, wanting to give them my own version of a wave.

Watching them hurry through the rain towards the door to come and get me, my heart swelled with affection for this lovely new family that were going to be all mine.

‘Told you they’d come,’ Boris said sleepily. ‘You worry too much, Percy.’

‘I wasn’t worried,’ I barked, scampering my way back to the window that separated us.

‘Course you weren’t,’ Boris teased as I scampered around my room checking I had all my belongings together.

Hearing the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor, I hurried towards the door waiting for it to open. Within seconds, I heard the familiar squeak of the hinges against the door jamb, and then Kelly’s smiling face appeared.

‘Look who I’ve brought to see you.’ She walked towards me, grinning, and picked me up in her familiar way for a cuddle.

Holding me tightly in her arms, I caught the scent of her floral perfume as she turned me around to greet the family standing in the doorway. My eyes jumped from one face to the next and I didn’t know which one to lick or bark at first. Thankfully Jenny made the decision for me as she rushed across the floor towards me.

‘Mum, he’s so handsome,’ Jenny cooed, raising her hand to pat my head, before hesitating. ‘Is it okay?’ she asked Kelly, clearly not wanting to take anything for granted.

‘Of course it is,’ Kelly replied. ‘Our Percy loves a good stroke, don’t you, boy?’

‘Absolutely,’ I barked encouragingly, craning my head upwards to meet Jenny’s palm.

As she affectionately placed her fingers on my head and ruffled my ears, I raised my big brown eyes to meet her smaller blue ones. Just like her mother, love and warmth radiated from every inch of her, and as she beamed at me, I hoped we would be the best of friends.

‘Come on then, Jen, don’t hog Percy all to yourself, I want to say “hello” to my new mate,’ Simon said, appearing at Jenny’s side.

Just like his daughter, he had a welcoming, warm way about him, but his eyes had a spark of hesitation in them. I wondered if Simon was shy and, wanting to say hello, I pushed my face into his warm, calloused hand and let him tickle my neck.

‘Welcome to the family, Percy,’ Simon whispered. ‘It’s about time I had another man in the house – these women are always ganging up on me, so us fellas have to stick together.’

‘You can rely on me,’ I barked earnestly, as I pulled my snout away. Looking happily up at him, my heart lurched with joy, as a familiar face appeared at his side. With her beautiful chestnut mane and happy grin, I knew I was where I belonged.

‘Hello, you,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve been so excited about bringing you home today I haven’t stopped talking about you.’

I nuzzled against her, and remembered the simple pleasure of her warm fingers against my fur. I barked appreciatively. Gail was everything I remembered her to be.

‘He’s all yours now,’ Kelly said gently, as she stroked the top of my head and kissed my fur. ‘Let’s get him downstairs for a last check-up, and then you can take him home.’

Kelly placed me in Gail’s warm arms and I felt my brown eyes moisten as I glanced up at Kelly. She had been my lifeline here and I would never forget the care and kindness she had shown me.

‘Thank you,’ I yapped at her quietly.

‘You’re welcome, Percy.’ Kelly smiled, her eyes meeting mine as she kissed my black fur one final time.

Safely stowed in Gail’s arms, I gave my room one final glance. Catching sight of Boris, who was looking at me with joy in his eyes, I barked my goodbyes.

‘Take care of yourself,’ I told him. ‘Stay strong, and remember your family are coming for you.’

‘I will, Percy, and you,’ Boris barked in reply. ‘Keep in touch.’

Outside, it felt strange to be in this part of the shelter again. As my paws scurried across the cold concrete I realised I hadn’t been in a car since Javier abandoned me several weeks ago. My fur stood on end at the memory of that dark day. But now, I realised this new journey in four wheels would be a very different and happier experience.

As Gail unlocked the back door, I saw she had arranged a special dog carrier that was secured with seat belts for me. Usually I hated travelling in anything so restrictive, preferring to roam free in the back, but looking up at Gail’s face, so full of concern, I knew she was only doing what she thought was best. Reluctantly, I scrambled inside, and as Gail checked I was safe and secure, she bent down and kissed my head.

‘You okay in there, boy?’ Gail whispered, her lipstick smudged from where she’d given me a smooch.

I woofed at her encouragingly. Despite my reservations, the carrier was actually quite comfortable thanks to the sheepskin blanket Gail had thoughtfully placed inside. Best of all, the sides were open, so when Jenny slid into the car next to me, she was able to run her fingers over my fur reassuringly as Gail and Simon got into their seats at the front.

As Simon clunk-clicked his seat belt into place, Gail started the engine. Checking her mirrors as she manoeuvred out of the car park, she caught my eye and smiled. ‘We’re about forty minutes away, just out in west London, but it’s definitely not the posh bit, I’m afraid.’

‘She’s right, Percy,’ Simon called over his shoulder to me. ‘It’s definitely not the posh bit, and I hate to break it to you, but it’ll be a lot longer than forty minutes, given the way Gail drives.’

‘Dad!’ Jenny fired, eyes furrowed in frustration. ‘Stop being so mean all the time about Mum’s driving.’

‘Good point, Jen,’ Gail replied. ‘In fact, Simon, you’re welcome to drive us home yourself, if you don’t like the way I do it.’

‘Come on, love. I spend all week driving around London; the last thing I want to do at the weekend is to get behind the wheel,’ Simon protested.

Gail’s gaze never left the road, but her tone was clear. ‘Well then, stop having a go at me about it. You were bad enough on the way in.’

‘It was only a joke,’ Simon hissed. ‘You need to get a sense of humour.’

‘And you need to get a sensitivity chip,’ Gail retorted. ‘You’re ruining this special moment with Percy.’

I looked over at Jenny. The little girl’s eyes were downcast and fixed firmly on her lap as her parents exchanged words. She did not appear to be crying, but she was obviously upset at the fact the happy atmosphere we had all enjoyed just moments earlier had become frosty. I glanced at Gail and caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror. Her mouth was set in a determined line while Simon had turned his head and was looking firmly out of the passenger window.

I wondered if this was evidence of the strain Gail had mentioned. More than anything, I wanted to help, this was supposed to be a happy day not a sad one. Observing Jenny, an idea formed and I remembered one of the tricks Barney had taught me to try to get new families to like me. Rolling onto my back in the carrier, I exposed my tummy and yelped, a bit like a human baby.

Jenny looked across and her face creased into a delighted smile as she saw my trick. ‘Mum! Percy thinks he’s a baby.’ Not waiting for an answer, she reached her hand into my carrier and tickled my belly, just as I hoped she would. ‘Oh, his tummy’s so soft,’ she squealed.

Simon looked around to see what all the commotion was about, and laughed. ‘Oh, Percy, I can see you’ve already got a way with the women. You’re going to have to teach me a thing or two.’

‘What’s he doing?’ Gail begged as she navigated a particularly busy junction. ‘I can’t see.’

‘He’s rolling over, pretending to be a baby,’ Jenny explained, her hand still tickling my belly, much to my delight.

Quickly glancing around, Gail burst out laughing as she saw me. ‘Percy!’ she exclaimed. ‘Oh, my goodness, you’re adorable.’

‘He’s more than adorable,’ Simon said, chuckling. ‘He’s bloody brilliant. Look at you women going all mushy; Percy’s going to be the ace up my sleeve against you two.’

‘No, he isn’t.’ Jenny giggled. ‘He’s going to be my friend.’

‘And mine,’ Gail said, meeting my eyes as I rolled over and got back on my feet.

Looking around at the smiling faces, I was delighted to feel the atmosphere in the car had thawed.

Glancing into the rear-view mirror, I caught Gail’s delighted eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she mouthed.

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