The Cookie Club are: Lianne, Lucie, Sophie, Jennifer, Georgia, Mollie, Rachel, and Olympia

Back in 2006, the Cookie Club decided they wanted to have a sponsored book read. We discussed what they would like to do with the money they raised and, all being serious animal lovers, we decided on sponsoring a dog at the local Dog's Trust in Harefield. We raised a fantastic £68.30, which will look after our dog Shane, for well over a year. We can actually go and visit Shane and see how he's getting on. You can see Shane and all the other dogs on the Dog's Trust website: www.dogstrust.org.uk

The Cookie Club also came up with this collection of animal stories, poems and information on animals, which we put into a newsletter and sold to our family and friends to raise further funds to be put towards our sponsored dog. (Karen)

Hallie the Hamster

By Lianne

Finding the right owner isn't easy. Every single day I sit in the stuffy pet shop and little kids poke their sticky fingers in my face, and I can't even have a normal sleep pattern! The little kids wake me up at about 10am, when I have just fallen asleep.

Today a girl about 10 has her face up against my cage and is smiling at me, “Come on little hamster,” she says to me. I know it is a good sign because other people think I'm some sort of rat or mouse. I yawn loudly and scurry up to her face, looking at her with my big black eyes.

“Please can I have her, Mum?” the girl suddenly shouted, making me jump. An older lady walked up to my cage, “ thought you wanted a rabbit?” “No, I don't anymore, I want a hamster, please , “ she begged. “Well, hamsters take a lot of looking after, you will have to feed it and take it out every day..” “Yes, yes, of course I will,” said the girl. “Okay then, ask the shopkeeper how much it costs.”

Well, that's sorted then! I have a new owner! We are travelling in a huge thing now that makes a very loud noise. I have been shoved in a small cardboard box and it's very stuffy. I tried getting out, by chewing it and eventually I got a small hole in the top of the box.

“Mum, Mum, Hallie's getting out!” said the girl, who I now know as Roxy. So I guess I'm called Hallie now! “Oh dear, never mind we're home now,” said Roxy's mother. Then I got practically strangles by Roxy as she got out of the big, noisy machine and out into the warm, sunny day.

There was a huge house in front of me and Roxy's Mum took a rusty key and opened the front door. A huge, cream monster came charging at me and I squealed with terror and hid in Roxy's sleeve. Roxy giggled and took me out again. “Mum! Get the dog out of the way, I'm bringing Hallie upstairs.” So I guess the huge monster is actually called a dog, and I'd better stay away from the dog.

Now Roxy is running up the stairs, and I keep banging my head on her wrist. Roxy then walked through a big pink door, and at the back there was a beautiful cage! It's nothing like the one I had at the pet shop. At the pet shop it was plain white bars, on one floor, but this! It has about 4 floors with brightly coloured bars, two multicoloured wheels to play in, a big bowl and tubes going all over the place. There is also a comfy looking bit with blue material at the top. Roxy opened the bars to the cage and I ran up to one of the tubes that led to the comfy bit and snuggled down to sleep.

It was about 10' o'clock when I woke up. Now Roxy is sleeping softly in her warm looking bed. I wish I could go and snuggle in there. Also the chest of draws looks really fun to play in! I'll see if I can get out now. I ran down the tube and leant against the hard, cold bars. BANG! They opened loudly. I peeked at Roxy, who turned over and snored softly. Right, now is the fun bit!

I ran in and out of the chest of drawers, but now I think that there may be more interesting things downstairs. So I trotted out through the door and looked around me and then looked down the stairs. Wow, those stairs are very big and scary. Is it really worth it? Oh whatever! I charged down the stairs at full speed, but I skidded to a halt when I saw four big, cream claws. I looked up and right in front of me was the dog.

I squeaked and ran between it's legs, running into a huge room. The dog was right behind me! I need to find a hiding place, fast! I scanned the room and then scurried into a hole under the cupboard. Wow. That was a close one. I turned around and in front of me were two small mice.

“Who are you, why are you in our burrow?”, one of the mice said. “Umm, I just moved in, with Roxy and her Mum.” “Well, you'd better stay clear of her mum, she leaves mouse traps in some cupboards, and you wouldn't want your head chopped off.” I gulped and look at the white mouse's fingers, and only one of them is still there. He saw me looking. “Yep, that was a mouse trap,” he said. “Come on, there is some potatoes in here, you can have a bit f you want,” said the other mouse, who's voice sounded like a girl's.

I followed the girl into a cosy little room, with tissues spread around and two potatoes were in the corner. “Nice house,” I said smiling, “I really need to get back to my own house, as Roxy might get worried.” “I wouldn't until the dog goes for a walk,” said the boy mouse. “Umm, okay then.” I said, “What are your names?” “I'm Melissa, and that's my brother, Mick,” said Melissa. “I'm Hallie,” I said, smiling. “Come and rest with us,” said Melissa, patting the bit of tissue next to her.

We giggled and talked for awhile, until Mick told “us girlies” to be quiet. As I am nocturnal, (that means I sleep during the day) I'm not that tired and I ate a bit of potato.

Outside I heard some noises, and now I think Roxy and her mum are up. I listened closely to the door and I heard Roxy crying . Then I whispered bye and thank you to Melissa and Mick and ran out of the hole under the cupboard. There was a gasp from up above, and Roxy bent down and picked me up, and her great big tears gave me a little shower. “I'm so glad you are okay!” said Roxy, cuddling me. “I am too!” I squeaked to her!

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News on Petz

By Sophie

Pretty amazing animals as they are
Easy and hard to look after
Treat them well and they will love you
Sit and play with them and love them so much

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Animal Poem

By Olympia and Rachel

An elephant, an elephant, big and strong, A giraffe, a giraffe, tall and long,
A monkey, a monkey, smelly and hairy, But let's not forget they can swing upon trees just like no other!

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Potty Poem

By Georgia

My bird it died,
And I was sad.

But then I got a cat
And then I was glad!

But little did I know
The cat that was fat
Had eaten my canary!

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Don't Litter! Lives are in Danger…

By Lianne

Theses lives are lives of animals. Small animals like to get in things, especially things with food in them. Here is an example:

Somebody had left an ice cream pot on the floor and a poor little hedgehog had got it's head stuck right in it. Luckily two girls found the creature and safely got it removed by the RSPCA. If these girls hadn't found the hedgehog, he would have definitely died.

Also, fishermen leave the stringy bit in the river, where innocent ducks and fishes get caught in it. Also, the plastic beer can holders.

So here is just a reminder :

DON'T LEAVE LITTER

Animals lives are in danger,

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Loopy Limericks

by Lianne

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The Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary

by Lianne

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