Though they loved their owners, Ascum Dog and Jake Cat loved when they had the house to themselves. They could lay on the couch when they wanted, eat when they were hungry, sleep when they were tired and run through the house.

 This weekend their owners had gone to the city for school supplies for the children. They had left lots of food and water for the two that had always been best friends since the day they were brought home together.

 Yesterday they had a rowdy game of hide-and-seek through the house and had almost broken a vase on an end table, when the vase righted itself and settled back into place. Today, their owners would come home and the two straightened mats with their teeth and pushed pillows back onto the couch.

 "I wonder if they will bring us a treat?" asked Ascum Dog. "I'd like a bone and dog biscuits."

 "I'd like a new flea collar and a toy with catnip," said Jake Cat, stretching.

 Soon the house was neat again and the two ate the last of the food. There would be lots of excitement when the owners' children burst into the house.

 When the two heard the rattle of the doorknob, Ascum Dog looked at Jake Cat with surprise. He hadn't heard the familiar sound of his owners' car. He knew that sound by heart. The doorknob jiggled again and suddenly the door burst open allowing in a blast of cold air.

 Jake Cat scampered under the stairs and peeked out. The robber came into the living room, headed for the TV and pulled out the plug. Ascum Dog growled low in his throat and advanced toward the tall man in black clothing.

 "Good boy!" the robber kept saying and pulled out a can of pepper spray as Ascum Dog advanced closer. "You come near me and I'll spray this."

 Ascum Dog started barking and howling as loud as he could. Jake Cat joined in meowing, while all up and down the street, dogs and cats heard the commotion and joined in. Owners spilled out into the streets to see what was causing all the ruckus. Dogs circled Ascum Dog's house and people sighed with relief when the owners arrived home, startled to see a police car. The police found the thief backed into a corner by the dog and cat. The thief had put his spray on the TV when he heard all the commotion outside and the dog had kept him from touching it again. The police quickly removed the thief and put him into a waiting police car.

 "You saved the day, Ascum Dog," said the owner. "You helped too, Jake Cat!"

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 The owners patted the animals on their heads and the children gave each animal the treats they had hoped to receive.

 Question about the story: What did the thief want to steal?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS B0J 2K0 or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answer.

posted on 07/27/10