This is Waffles, my daughter’s pug in an ugly Christmas sweater I bought him. This story isn’t about Waffles, but Doggin, who my husband had growing up. But I thought this cute photo of Waffles was worth posting, since this about a dog.
I wrote a children’s fiction story called Doggin, based loosely on my husband’s dog. It was published in the Los Angeles Times section for kids, which unfortunately, they got rid of along with the wonderful editor who put me on contract.
Here’s the story:
‘Doggin’
BY ELIZABETH WICKHAM
One day after school, Billy found an empty kennel.
“Doggin!” Billy called. He had to find Doggin before Granny did.
Billy ran to Mrs. Fixie’s house.
“That hound of yours was here,” Mrs. Fixie said. “Look at my flower garden!”
Billy’s stomach hurt. “Please don’t tell Granny. I’ll plant some flowers.”
“My leather gloves are missing, too. I bet Doggin took them!”
“I’m sorry, but do you know where Doggin went?”
“He headed for the Sanchezes’.”
“Oh, Doggin!” Billy called. If Granny found out that Doggin got out, there would be trouble.
“Billy! Doggin was here!” yelled Mr. Sanchez. “Look what he did to my chair.”
“Please don’t tell Granny. I’ll fix your chair.”
“I think he took my wallet, too,” Mr. Sanchez said.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Sanchez. But do you know where Doggin went?”
“I saw him run to the Chens’.”
“Oh, Doggin!” Billy called.
Doggin had dug up flowers, broken a chair, chewed up gloves, and taken a wallet! Billy shivered thinking about it.
“Billy! Doggin was here!” Mrs. Chen said. “Look at my sheets.”
Billy’s stomach flipped.
“I’m sorry,” Billy said. “I’ll wash your sheets.”
“Billy, Doggin took off with my purse,” Mrs. Chen said.
Billy was worried about how mad Granny would be. He worried that Doggin was lost.
“Mrs. Chen, please don’t tell Granny. I have to find Doggin first.”
“Billy, we have to talk to your Granny.”
Billy ran back to his house in tears, with Mrs. Fixie, Mr. Sanchez, and Mrs. Chen following.
“What’s going on?” Granny asked.
“Doggin dug up my flowers,” Mrs. Fixie said. “And stole my gloves.”
“Doggin chewed up my chair,” Mr. Sanchez said. “And took my wallet.”
“Doggin broke my clothesline and dragged my sheets through mud,” said Mrs. Chen, “and took my purse.”
“Billy,” Granny said. “I told you that if there more trouble, we’d have to give Doggin away.”
“Granny, I don’t know where Doggin is. I think he’s lost for good.”
Clang! Crash! Boom! came from Mr. Funk’s house next door.
“G-r-o-w-l!”
Everyone raced to Mr. Funk’s house. Granny tripped over a garbage can.
“Doggin has to go,” Granny said.
“Where’s Doggin?” Billy asked as he raced into Mr. Funk’s backyard.
“Oh, my!” Mrs. Fixie said.
“Doggin, stay!” Billy yelled.
“I called the police,” Mr. Funk said.
Doggin obeyed. He stayed just as he was told. He stayed on top of a burglar’s chest!
“Who owns this dog?” the policeman asked.
“I do,” Billy said. “His name is Doggin.”
“That’s one brave dog. We’ve been after this cat burglar for weeks.”
The burglar wore Mrs. Fixie’s leather gloves. Next to the burglar was Mr. Sanchez’s wallet and Mrs. Chen’s purse.
As the policeman took the burglar away, a photographer took Billy and Doggin’s picture.
The next day, the headline of the newspaper read: “Hero Dog Catches Cat Burglar.”
After that, the neighbors said only marvelous things about Doggin.
Best of all was what Granny said — “Doggin can stay!”
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-jul-31-la-et-0731-story-20110731-story.html
Copyright © Los Angeles Times
In real life, Doggin did catch a burglar. I don’t believe my husband and Doggin made it into the newspaper though. My husband said Doggin was a hound dog mix. I wish I had a photo of him to share.
What is your favorite breed of dog? Or do you prefer mutts or mixed? Or cats?
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What a cute story Elizabeth. I can see why the LA Times ran it. Way to go Doggin! And Waffles looks pretty cool too.
Thanks! I enjoyed writing for the LA Times and was so sad when they ended the Kids section. They ran stories, puzzles and kids poems in the Sunday comics section.
I would have loved that as a kid. Another brilliant newspaper business decision, failing to view the kids section as a long-term investment. Yes, I’m sure it took away from advertising space, but they we’re creating a habit. Kid’s reading a story about a dog, become tomorrow’s subscribers interested in knowing why there is construction on the I-605 or how state govt is responding to some issue. A bad business decision Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing though. A cool lil story!
You’re right. It was a bad business decision. Think how few 20 and 30-year olds subscribe to daily or weekend papers. They all get their news online and are not paying for it.
I became a newspaper reader because I loved the cartoons and slowly started reading the sports and then other sections. The internet kills them on speed, but they could have been the leaders not the a dying industry if they played their cards right. Very sad.
I started reading the comics section too. We used to subscribe to the local Palm Springs paper and the LA Times. Now we subscribe online to the LA Times, WSJ and get one weekend paper delivered.
Wow, you’re more loyal than me. I read a ton of news sites but don’t have any subscriptions, which limits how much I can read. I do miss the WSJ. Yes, lots of biz stories, but some amazing feature writing.
I love the feature stories in the WSJ and my husband reads the business articles. I like to get read the local Palm Springs news to make me happy I moved! There’s so much more crime there.
You are such a talent. Thank you for sharing! Happy Friday to you! And your question? No cats…ah-choo! But I love ALL the dogs. xo! 🥰
I guess it’s the cat dander that makes cats more allergic? We’ve always had both, but couldn’t replace Angus. So now it’s only Olive.
Yes! And I hate it bc I love cats. 😉
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I love this! What a lovely turn of events in the ends. I’m totally a sucked for golden retrievers, but have always admire tri-color coats like the Bernese mountain dog… but, really, all dogs are great!
I had a golden retriever from age 6 until after I left for college. I love them. Also the Burmese mountain dog is so pretty!
The story is delightful. Never had a dog, had cats. But no more, I’m allergic to them wouldn’t you know?
That’s too bad to be allergic. My son has terrible allergies to dogs and cats and we always had both! Awful parents.
First off beautiful and thanks for sharing. I like smaller dogs, but any dog will do. I also love cats. I’ve had a poodle, a yorkie and now a shorkie
I have two friends with Yorkies named Lucy!
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What a brave dog. Your husband must be so proud of him.
My husband loved his Doggin.
Aww, so sweet
What a good Doggin! And sweet Waffles!
Great story! Also, cute dog names too.
Thank you! I have read that food names are popular now.
While I do like Dogs and my last Dorgi was adorable (Petey), I am more a Cat person, now.
We only have Olive the cat now. I love her.
So, so good, Elizabeth!! Action, adventure, and best of all, a little boy’s love. Yay, Doggin!!
That is a cute story! I love our pug best but growing up with a collie was a treat.
Thanks! I love m daughter’s pug too.
A darling story! Loved the happy ending. I love dogs, I’ve had a Portuguese Water dog and a mutt. I loved them both. Hugs, C
Thank you! I had a golden retriever from our litter of 10 born on my sixth birthday. Then in my married life we had a rottie, then Angus our yellow lab. It broke our hearts when he passed and couldn’t go through another dog. I get to babysit Waffles the pug from time to time, plus my daughter left me Olive the cat when she went to college.
I didn’t get the chance yet to read the story due to sketchy wifi on the train. But I see puggy, so I follow 😄