Ellen Miles > Quotes

“That’s how we all feel about our dogs, isn’t it? They don’t have to be champions in the ring to be champions in our hearts.”
― Ellen Miles, Ziggy

“They’d even begun calling themselves “fruzzins”: friends plus cousins.”
― Ellen Miles, Liberty

“knew that she was picturing the lonely dogs at the shelter. She felt her own eyes fill up. Lizzie could remember so many times when she had left the shelter at the end of the day feeling so, so sorry for all the dogs she could not take home with her. But then Aunt Amanda shook her head. “Still, I just can’t let Pugsley drive all the other dogs crazy. Did you see him stealing everybody’s toys last time you were here? He kept stashing them over behind the slide. There must have been ten toys over there by the end of the day!” Lizzie nodded. “I saw,” she said. She had also seen Max and another dog, Ruby, sniffing all over, looking for their toys. Mr. Pest was a troublemaker, no doubt about it. But still. Pugsley was just a puppy. And he didn’t know any better because nobody had ever taught him the right way to behave. Maybe she, Lizzie, could help Pugsley become a dog that somebody would be happy to own. “What if I tried to train him a little bit, during the days when I’m here?” she asked Aunt Amanda. Aunt Amanda shook her head. “I think Ken is serious about giving him up,” she said. “Pugsley won’t be coming here anymore.” She put her hand on Lizzie’s shoulder. “I know you care,” she said. “So do I. But there’s really nothing we can do. Let’s go see what everybody’s up to. I think it’s time for some outdoor play.” Lizzie tried to smile. She loved taking the dogs outside to the fenced play yard out in back. “Can Pugsley come?” she asked. “Of course!” Aunt Amanda smiled back. “What fun would it be without Mr. Pest?” Then her smile faded. Lizzie knew what Aunt Amanda was thinking. And she agreed. Bowser’s Backyard just would not be the same without Pugsley around. Yes, it would be calmer. But it would not be as much fun. Aunt Amanda was right. “She’s right, isn’t she, Mr. Pest?” Lizzie said, when she found the pug in the nap room. He was quiet for once, curled up with Hoss on the bottom bunk. They looked so cute together! Lizzie sat down for a moment to pat the tiny pug and the gigantic Great Dane. They made such a funny pair! Aunt Amanda had told Lizzie that when she first opened Bowser’s Backyard she thought it would be a good idea to separate the big dogs from the little ones. But the dogs wanted to be together! They whined at the gates that kept them apart until Aunt Amanda gave up and let them all mingle. From then on, big dogs and little dogs wrestled, played, and napped together”
― Ellen Miles, Pugsley

“Great, another fan! Hello there! Want to pat me?”
― Ellen Miles, Princess

“So can I tell her owner that we’ll help Lola?” Charles finally asked his mom. She had not been happy to hear that he and his friends had taken someone’s dog, and she had interrupted his story more than a few times to let him know it. She sighed, but Charles knew what that sigh meant. It meant “yes,” as long as Dad agreed. And Dad always agreed. Charles grinned and told her he’d call her back as soon as he knew more. Then he gave his friends a thumbs-up. “We can take her,” he said. “Not so fast,” said David’s father. He gathered Lola into his arms and stood up. “First we have to go talk to her owner.” Outside, the storm was over but the sky was still filled with low, dark clouds. They piled into David’s parents’ tiny red car. David held Lola in his lap as his dad drove back to the blue house on Maple Street. It didn’t look so empty now: some of the curtains were open, and a white truck was parked in the driveway outside the garage. “ ‘Reliable Rod’s Plumbing and Heating,’ ” Charles read from the side of the truck. “ ‘Twenty-four-hour service.’ ” He knew what “reliable” meant: that this plumber was somebody you could count on. He wasn’t sure that this Rod was so reliable when it came to dogs.”
― Ellen Miles, Lola

“Daphne shrugged. “Maybe it’s just time for a change.” Lizzie did not agree. Why did they need to change anything? Everything was working just fine. She looked around the table at Maria and Brianna. Maria, her best friend, did not look back at her. Brianna was looking at Daphne — her best friend. Lizzie threw up her hands.”
― Ellen Miles, Gus

“That looks so delicious. My people would never let me have something like that. But maybe you will!”
― Ellen Miles, Liberty

“Lizzie walked into Caring Paws, wondering if she would know any of the other campers.”
― Ellen Miles, Rusty

“more than once, and even her dad had mentioned it, laughingly. “That’s”
― Ellen Miles, Cody

“Princess licked Angela’s nose.
Whatever. Just keep the love coming!”
― Ellen Miles, Princess

“Happy birthday, dear Maria,” sang Lizzie, along with everyone else. “Happy birthday to you!” Lizzie gave Maria a special smile as she sang. There were a lot of kids at the party — almost everybody in their class was there — but everyone knew that Lizzie Peterson and Maria Santiago were best friends. They sat next to each other in class, played on the same kickball team at recess, and always ate lunch together. They had the same favorite color (purple) and the same lucky number (eight). They both loved fudge ripple ice cream, cool socks, snowstorms, and reading. Most of all, Lizzie and Maria loved animals. That was why Maria had decided to have her birthday party at Caring Paws,”
― Ellen Miles, Bella

“Bandit Baxter Bear Bella Buddy Chewy and Chica Cocoa Cody Cooper Flash Gizmo Goldie Honey Jack Liberty Lucky Lucy Maggie and Max Mocha Molly Moose Muttley Noodle Oscar Patches Princess Pugsley Rascal Rocky Scout Shadow Snowball Sweetie Teddy Ziggy Zipper”
― Ellen Miles, Cooper

“may be small, but I’m mighty!”
― Ellen Miles, Bandit

“Daphne said slowly, as if she were talking to a kindergartner.”
― Ellen Miles, Gus

“Flash!”
― Ellen Miles, Flash

“It’s fun to pick out a present for your pet — but don’t leave it under the tree, or your pet might open it before he’s supposed to!”
― Ellen Miles, Maggie and Max

“PAGE DEDICATION CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE”
― Ellen Miles, Edward

“you again! I knew you’d come back. I’ve been so bored. Is it time to play again?”
― Ellen Miles, Rusty

“It’s our secret. I won’t tell a soul.”
― Ellen Miles, Roxy

“He had a white patch in the shape of a heart on his chest, and ears that flopped over in the cutest way, and shiny brown eyes. Buddy was the best thing that had ever happened to Charles. He was huggable and so much fun to play with, and he never, ever told anybody a single one of the secrets that Charles whispered into his ears.”
― Ellen Miles, Sweetie

“Lizzie’s backpack was a lot lighter after she took out her lunch box and her other school stuff. With Spirit bounding at her side, Lizzie already felt much better. He was such a sweet, smart dog. One way or another, she knew she’d find him a great home. As they came to the edge of the park, Spirit began to tug on the leash. “Easy, boy,” said Lizzie. She would need to work on his leash manners. “Yes, we’re going to your old house,” Lizzie said, looking down at the puppy. His ears were pointed forward and his eyes were bright. “Please remember to stay calm. Don’t get all rowdy.” Lizzie realized that she should have called before she left. What if they weren’t home? She could always leave the books inside their screen door if they weren’t there. The books would be safe and stay dry. Still, Spirit would”
― Ellen Miles, Spirit

“have never had a poodle but I know that they are very special dogs. People who have poodles are crazy about them and often have more than one! My friend Annie loves her two black miniature poodles, Oggi and Pearl. They are so smart and funny and they love to curl up in your lap just like a cat would. And my friend Leda has two golden doodles, Pippa and Pogo. They love to play together. Even though they are only half poodle (the other half is golden retriever), they have to be groomed every ten weeks, just like poodles do. Yours from the Puppy Place, Ellen Miles P.S.”
― Ellen Miles, Sweetie

“foster puppy,”
― Ellen Miles, Donut

“accidents.”
― Ellen Miles, Bandit

“time to see what Molly was doing. At first he didn’t see her. Then he spotted the”
― Ellen Miles, Molly

“But there was nothing better than a new foster puppy.”
― Ellen Miles, Waffles

“Bear”
― Ellen Miles, Bear

“from some of the Yankees when they all went to a baseball game together.”
― Ellen Miles, Flash

“Happy birthday, dear Maria,” sang Lizzie, along with everyone else. “Happy birthday to you!” Lizzie gave Maria a special smile as she sang. There were a lot of kids at the party — almost everybody in their class was there — but everyone knew that Lizzie Peterson and Maria Santiago were best friends. They sat next to each other in class, played on the same kickball team at recess, and always ate lunch together. They had the same favorite color (purple) and the same lucky number (eight). They both loved fudge ripple ice cream, cool socks, snowstorms, and reading. Most of all, Lizzie and Maria loved animals. That was why Maria had decided to have her birthday party at Caring Paws, the animal shelter where she and Lizzie both volunteered. It was Lizzie’s idea: she had gotten all excited when she had read about a boy who had his party at a shelter. “Instead of presents,” she’d told Maria, “everybody brought donations for the animals.” Maria wasn’t so sure at first. “Why don’t you do it for your birthday?” she’d asked Lizzie. “I will, but mine’s not for months and yours is coming right up. I know your real birthday isn’t until Monday, but we can have the party on Saturday. Come on, it’ll be fun! We can play animal-themed games, and decorate the meeting room with colorful paw prints, and have a dog bone–shaped cake, and everything.” Lizzie was full of ideas, and she could be very convincing. “It’s a great Caring Club activity, too. Think of all the donations you’ll get for the shelter. Ms. Dobbins will be very happy.” Ms. Dobbins was the shelter’s director. When Lizzie had started the Caring Club, Maria had been one of the first to join. Caring Club was for kids who loved animals and wanted to help them. Maria’s favorite animals were horses. She loved to ride, and she spent a lot of time at the stable. Lizzie had gone with her a few times, and had even taken riding lessons for a while, but she had never learned to love horses as much as she loved dogs. Lizzie really, really loved dogs. In fact, Lizzie was dog-crazy.”
― Ellen Miles, Bella

“snowmobile”
― Ellen Miles, Bear