Chapter 2

I must have looked too excited, because he said, “This is a serious business, young man, and your dog has behaved in a criminal fashion. So, yes, she has to be treated like a regular prisoner.”

“Wow!” I was thinking what a great story this was going to make at school on Monday. “Are you going to take side views and a front view, with a number tag hanging round her neck?” I needed all the details.

“That’s enough, Ross,” Mom cut in before I got my answer. “What’s the procedure now?”

“There’ll be paperwork for you to fill out and you can come back this afternoon. She’ll be ready to go then. Oh, and—er, I’m afraid the farmer wants to press charges. He says seven of his ewes were severely injured and three of them were killed. The ewes were in lamb.”

“What will that entail?” Mom asked.

“It means a court appearance, madam.”

She sighed. I thought the whole thing was brilliant, but knew better than to say anything just then.