North Paws Academy: Finding Zahra

My puppy raiser and best friend, twelve-year-old Zahra, has been training me to be a guide dog since I was a puppy. Her and Mama T and a few others. They say I’m learning fast and doing great. They say Ranger is a good boy. I love good boy. They say that soon we’ll go to school for advanced training. I can’t wait!  It is my dream.

When Zahra said we were going to do something special today, my tail wagged with a life of its own. She said words like “hike and “adventure” and “last outing before we bring you to guide dog school.” I wasn’t sure of all of the words she said. Except one. She had me at hike. My tail thumped so hard it opened the trash can. She scratched the top of my head and said, “It’s your favorite. I know.” 

But on our way to hike, a terrible thing happened. It only took a second, but a lot can happen in a second. I can eat a treat in a second. Or catch a fly with my mouth. Or see a deer run in front of our vehicle. It was just a second, but that’s all it took to change my dream. When I watched them take Zahra away in a truck with flashing lights, all I wanted now was to find her. But how? I suddenly felt alone and scared and not very brave.

Ranger’s Journey is a story of courage, determination, and overcoming our fears, perfect for readers who love “Raising Lumie,” “Just Gus,” and “Zues, Dog of Chaos.”