A Bad Hair Day!
by Sarah O’Halloran

Emma’s dog Penny was only a year old when she was entered into Cruffs Dog Show. She was a white Samoyed with a curly tail, and big brown eyes. Two weeks before the show something terrible happened. She got run over by a car! Everyone was afraid to move her so they called the vet to come and collect her.
When the vet got there she said that she would have to bring her back with her and said
that she would call them the next day.
“Ok,” Emma cried. The next morning I waited by the phone all day crying. Finally the vet called. “I’m sorry…but Penny will have to have an operation tomorrow morning, and she won’t recover for another week or two.”
“WHAT?” Emma exclaimed. “But, but, Cruffs Dog Show is in 2 weeks,” she added.
I’m sorry but she won’t be better by then,” the vet replied.
“Ok,” sobbed Emma.
The next morning I went to the vets to see Penny but she had already gone in for in for the operation. It seemed like ages since she had gone in but eventually the vet came out and said that the operation had went well and that I would be able to take
Her home soon.
When Penny had recovered fully, she was brought home and it was like nothing had ever happened. But it was too late for Cruffs Dog Show now because it was starting day the next day. But later that day the phone rang. “Hello” said a posh voice.
“Hello, who’s this?” I replied.
“This is Miss Elaine Moylan.
“From Cruff’s?” I replied.
“Yes” said the posh voice. “I would just like to apologise and tell you that the show won’t be on until next week” she added.
“WHAT? THAT’S BRILLIANT! THANK YOU SO MUCH! “And she hung up the phone
The show wouldn’t start until Saturday but Emma and her family left on Thursday because they still had so much to do. They set off at 5.30 in the morning because the plane left at 6.30 and after all the trouble they had been through they wouldn’t miss some stupid plane.
When they arrived I tried to make friends with a posh snobby girl named Katie but she clearly didn’t want to. But I didn’t mind as they were so busy. They still had inspections, training, buying all the shampoos, toys and treats.
Luckily they were finished by Friday evening but there was still one big inspection left before the big day.
It was CHAOS trying to get Penny ready for it! Everybody was running all over the place. The trainer wanted her. The groomer wanted her. And soon the judges would want her. Finally I gave her a bath. BUT the shampoo used WASN’T shampoo…it was hair dye!
The groomer had gotten the wrong thing!
“AHH!”I screamed at the top of her voice, “My beautiful white Samoyed had just turned BRIGHT BLUE!”
“What, when, how…what have you just done to my beautiful baby?” I added in frustration.
“I’m sorry but it really wasn’t my fault I made sure it was the right shampoo,” said the groomer in a sad tone.
“Well who else did it then?” I said.
“KATIE!!! I replied.
“What” the trainer said.
“Follow me,” I added.
Emma ran with the trainers behind her and finally slowed down when she got to the camera room. She hoped she would find evidence of that lying, cheating Katie. When she knocked on the door, someone answered.
“Looking for me?” said Katie in a nasty tone.
“It was you, wasn’t it,” Emma yelled.
“What?” said Katie, in an innocent voice?
“You changed my shampoo with hair dye because you were scared of a little competition.” I screamed.
“You know, I do remember doing that…oops, how silly of me. Sorry about that,” Katie said in a horrible nasty tone.
“You will be,” Emma whispered to herself.
Emma went to the manager’s office and told her the whole story.
“Well don’t worry about that anymore she will be disqualified as soon as possible,” said the manager kindly.
“Thank you” Emma replied.
But when she got she got back to the room they were staying in Penny was crystal white again!
It was a miracle. The judge walked over to her and said that Penny was a brilliant dog and that she should be proud of her.
Finally the BIG DAY came! Emma couldn’t wait for the Show. She had to get up at 5.30 in the morning because the show was at 12.00 noon and there was still so much to do. Penny had to have the last inspections and needed another bath (this time we read the labels) and when Emma brought her out on to the arena, Penny looked FANTASTIC!
When the placings were being called, I was so nervous.
“In first place, we have...PENNY! In second…ABBIE! And last but not Least, CHANCE!” the judge announced.
Emma nearly collapsed with the excitement. She was so proud of penny.
Emma was so proud of Penny. She received a HUGE trophy and a lot of dog treats. It was lovely but she didn’t care about the trophy. She just cared that penny was safe and happy again.