I stared at the bright green flyer advertising the Pet Assisted Therapy test being offered this weekend which Dixie had just attached to the bulletin board at the East Tennessee Dog Club.

I looked at my friend. “I’d love to get Aggie tested to be a pet assisted therapy dog.” I waited for the normally encouraging response I’d grown accustomed to from my best friend and dog trainer.

Instead of her enthusiastic affirmation, there was silence. No words of encouragement. No motivating catch phrases. Not even a smile—crickets. That should have been my warning sign. Danger, Danger Will Robinson.

I ignored the warning. “I think she’d make a wonderful therapy dog. She loves to cuddle and would do great with the seniors at the nursing home.”

Dixie was a tall Southern Belle who was also a master at dog training. Her two well-trained standard poodles, Chyna and Leia had competed in various dog shows, and they were also both registered therapy dogs.

Dixie looked down at Aggie, the small black toy poodle I’d adopted over a year ago.

For once, Aggie was sitting politely by my left leg in perfectly executed heeling position. Her shoulders were level with my leg. Her butt was straight and her head was tilted up as she gazed in my eyes waiting for my next command. Well, her eyes were most likely directed at the bait bag I had strapped around my waist like a fanny pack which was filled with dried liver. It smelled awful, but the foul-smelling treat was like crack cocaine for dogs. One whiff and my normally rambuctious poodle followed commands, heeled perfectly and behaved like a perfect angel.

“Lilly Ann, I don’t want to discourage you, but the therapy dog test isn’t easy and while I think Aggie has made tremendous progress, I don’t think she’s ready, yet.” Dixie’s eyes looked soft and consoling which helped to take away a bit of the sting of her words.

I stared down at Aggie. “She’s made so much progress,” I whined. “I can’t believe you don’t think she’s ready.” I tried to hide my hurt, but I knew I’d failed.

Dixie glanced at me and then at Aggie. Without a word, she walked around the corner to the office, leaving Aggie and I standing in the gymnasium-like space where we met twice per week for obedience classes.

She returned with a small piece of chicken from the box we’d picked up prior to class.

The golden fried poultry was finger-lickin’ good and I felt my arteries clog as I inhaled the aroma.

Dixie broke off a small amount of chicken and placed it on the ground.

Aggie, who had moments before been captivated by the liver in my bait bag, was now so spellbound by the new fried treat, that I don’t think she remembered my existence.

Dixie took a couple of steps away from the chicken on the ground. “Okay, walk her past the chicken and when she tries to eat it, tell her ‘NO.’ This is one of the exercises she’ll need to master to pass the test.”

In my heart, I knew how this exercise would end, but my pride was wounded. If my will-power was capable of controlling a six-pound dog, then I prayed mine would help Aggie bypass that chicken.

I made sure I had a secure hold on her leash, turned around and took several steps toward the chicken.

A few steps was as far as I got. So, intent on watching Aggie, I didn’t notice a bubble in the rubber mats spread over the floor. My foot snagged on the lump and for a brief instance, I loosened my grip on Aggie’s leash. That brief second was all it took.

Like a flash of lightning, Aggie took off full-steam toward the chicken.

“Aggie, NOoooo.” I screamed as I struggled to right myself and keep from falling flat on my face. However, I should have saved my breath.

Aggie grabbed the chicken in her mouth and took off running at top speed to the far corner of the room. In less than two gulps she swallowed the chicken and then spent the next few seconds licking the grease from the mat and her paws.

Dixie helped me to my feet.

I looked at her. “I’m guessing that would be a fail.”

Giveaway: What’s your favorite breed of dog? Leave a comment below with your answer for your chance to win a kindle copy of one of the first two books in the Dog Club Mystery Series (In The Dog House or The Puppy Who Knew Too Much). Giveaway ends August 30, 2019. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!

You can read more about Lilly Echosby and her toy poodle, Aggie, in Bark If It’s Murder, the third book in the “Dog Club” cozy mystery series, released August 27, 2019.

Lilly Echosby just witnessed a murder on a pet cam. Or did she?

When a last-minute opportunity arises to accompany her boss to an art auction in Atlanta, Lilly throws some money at the problem of where to board her toy poodle Aggie (short for Agatha Christie). Posh Pet Haven offers the most luxurious canine accommodations in all of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The place even provides pet cams so anxious owners can check in on their pampered pooches.

But when Lilly tries to take a peek at her poodle, she gets a terrible shock—she witnesses what she’s sure is a murder. She thinks the victim may be the wealthy co-owner of Pet Haven. The police follow her lead but find no body, no evidence of a crime, and no video record. Starting to feel like the dog owner who cried wolf, Lilly decides to go undercover to catch a killer who may be hiding in plain sight . . .

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About the author
V.M. Burns was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Seton Hill University. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers Association of America, Thriller Writers International and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. V.M. Burns is also the Agatha Award nominated author of The Plot is Murder, the first book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series; and the RJ Franklin Mystery series.

She currently resides in East Tennessee with her two poodles. Readers can keep up with new releases by following her on Facebook, on BookBub, or visit her website at vmburns.com.

All comments are welcomed.