Wild Paws

Bobcat Rescue

Ages 7+

Max and her family have just moved to Maple Hill. While on a hike with her family, she discovers a baby bobcat alone in the woods and brings it to Wild Paws, the local wildlife shelter. But will Max and her new friends be able to save the shelter from shutting down?

Scholastic Canada ISBN 0-439-98983-3

An Excerpt

She approached the rocks quietly. The baby bobcat caught her eye and began to mew again. Carefully, Max reached between the rocks, holding the sweater open wide. Then she wrapped it gently around the tiny body of the kitten. The little animal didn't even struggle. In fact, it stopped crying right away. It was as if it was comforted by the touch.

Max brought the bobcat into her arms. The kitten was very light - not even as heavy as a paperback book. As she gingerly made her way back to Grandma and David, Max held the bobcat close and murmured, "There we go. It's OK. We'll take care of you."

Only the bobcat's head was poking out from the sweater. Its ears were still flat against its head. A beautiful ruff of fur framed its tiny face. Gently, Max touched the soft fur on the top of the kitten's head with her fingertips. David reached over and stroked it too. Grandma smiled.

"OK," Max instructed. "Let's head out."

She and David took turns carrying the kitten until they had returned to the car.

"Look," Max said to David. The tiny bobcat had stopped wiggling. It had fallen asleep during the walk, comforted by their gentle arms and the warmth of their bodies.

Max and David sat in the back seat, side by side, with the small kitten in Max's lap.

Then Max spoke up. "Can we go right now? To the wildlife clinic?"

"Of course we can," Grandma said. "We want to get that bobcat kitty taken care of, don't we?"
Max nodded.

"The clinic is on Hare Bell Lane," Grandma told them as she put the car into gear. She passed the map back to Max. "Perhaps you could find it for me, and give me directions."

Max found the local road quickly. "It's really close to our house!" she exclaimed. "It's even close enough to walk to from there!"

As they drove along, Max sneaked another peek at the kitten. She admired its tiny claws. They did look very sharp! Max carefully wrapped them back up in the sweater. Every so often, Max reached down and brushed the bobcat's fur with her fingers.

The kitten was so small! It was so dainty! But it would have to be tough to survive without its mom, thought Max.

"Hey, look," David said. He lightly touched the tip of one of the bobcat's ears. "Aren't its ears pointy?"

Max could see that they were.

"And they have little tufts on them," Max pointed out. Then she had an idea. "Hey, maybe that would be a good name for the bobcat. Tuffy. Because of the tufts, and because this kitty will have to be tough to be make it on its own. Get it? Tuffy?"

David smiled and nodded.

"Perfect," Grandma said from the front seat.

Only a few twists and turns later, they saw a sign ahead: Wild Paws and Claws Clinic and Rehabilitation Centre. Beside the words was a drawing of a fox.

"This is it!" Max said. "I sure hope they can help Tuffy here!"

"Well, we'll find out soon enough," Grandma said, turning into the stony driveway.