Chapter 3

While I was rummaging through the appliance, a high-pitched squeal pierced the air and I rushed to the window. Outside I saw Ruggles’ jaws wrapped round Scamp’s neck.

No!Why had the Border Collie suddenly attacked his brother? They’d been such fast friends up till now!

Hurrying out, I quickly understood what had happened.

The two puppies had been rough-housing as usual when Ruggles’ teeth became caught in Scamp’s collar. While trying to extricate his jaw, the Border Collie had twisted his head the wrong way and was creating a tourniquet round the Jack Russell’s throat.

Poor Scamp wasn’t moving and his eyes bulged unblinkingly. I struggled to unbuckle his collar—the thin, rounded leather type—but this only tightened it more.

With brute force, I wrenched Ruggles’ teeth free and frantically undid Scamp’s collar. He fell limp to the ground. I scooped him up and ran into the house, his little body now becoming rigid and his legs sticking out like wooden pegs.