Della has big brown eyes.
She has little short legs, a long body, floppy ears, and a cute perky tail.
She is responsible for chasing squirrels and chipmunks out of the yard.
It’s a big job and she is taking a nap break on the sun deck.
Splash! Squeak.
Della perks up her floppy ears.
She hears a tiny little cry.
“Help!”
She runs to the rain barrel and puts her little front legs on it.
Splash, squeak, splash.
“Oh, just a pesky chipmunk,” she thinks and puts her feet down. She walks away.
Splash splash squeak squeak.
“Help.”
Della stops and turns her head back. Her ears droop at the pitiful sound.
The squeak becomes weaker.
Della doesn’t know what to do. She’s supposed to chase chipmunks, not save them.
Della has a dilemma!
The splashing becomes weaker.
Della makes her decision. She runs to get her person.
She runs in circles and back and forth until someone pays attention to her.
“What is it, Della? You want to show me something?”
“Yip yip…yes yes!”
Della turns and runs back out the door, jumps off the deck and runs to the rain barrel.
She frantically paws at the barrel and whines.
Her person comes over and looks in the barrel.
“Oh, poor baby chipmunk. Good job, Della!”
The kind lady scoops the baby out of the water and cradles her close. She gets a soft warm towel and wraps the shivering baby in it.
The baby chipmunk peeks out of the towel at Della. She blinks her eyes.
“Thank you,” the baby whispers to Della.
Della is proud of herself and stays near the baby chipmunk as she is cleaned up and fed.
“Well, little girl, I guess we need to give you a name,” the kindly lady says.
Della’s other human scratches his head and thinks.
“How about “Chippy?”
Della snorts and growls.
“No? Okay, how about…how about…Rainy?”
Della bounces on her two short front legs. She yips and opens her mouth in a happy smile.
Her humans put the baby into a pet carrier with water and soft warm towels. They leave Della in charge of Rainy.
Della is snoozing when she hears a creak. Someone didn’t latch the carrier!
Rainy darts out and races around the room.
Della is in charge of Rainy. But she knows she shouldn’t chase this chipmunk. Rainy jumps from table to lamp to sofa!
“Oh, no!” Della has another dilemma. To chase or not to chase?
Rainy is panicked and racing everywhere.
Della decides.
She chases Rainy all over the house. Finally, Rainy tires and goes back to the carrier for a nap.
Dilemma solved.
Della is exhausted but proud of herself for handling the dilemma. She curls up to nap in front of the carrier.
What a busy day for a little dog with short legs and long ears!