The Lost Puppy (Nivel Intermedio B1)

It was a sunny afternoon when the Ramirez family decided to take a walk in the park. While strolling through the playground, little Sofia spotted something moving behind a bush.

“Mom! Dad! There’s something over there!” she shouted, pointing towards the bushes. Her parents walked over to check, and to their surprise, a tiny puppy with golden fur peeked out, wagging its tail nervously.

“Oh, poor thing! He looks lost,” said Mrs. Ramirez, kneeling down to pet the little dog. Sofia’s older brother, Luis, noticed the puppy was wearing a collar but no tag.

“How will we find his owner?” Luis asked.

“Let’s take him home first and figure it out,” Mr. Ramirez suggested.

Back at their house, the family gave the puppy a warm bath and some food. Sofia named him “Sunny” because of his golden fur. The family decided to make posters to put around the neighborhood, hoping to reunite Sunny with his owner.

The next day, Luis and Sofia walked around the streets, sticking posters to lampposts and handing them out to neighbors. Everyone agreed that Sunny was adorable, but no one recognized him.

Just as they were losing hope, the phone rang. It was an elderly woman named Mrs. Torres who lived three blocks away. “I think you found my dog, Max,” she said excitedly. “He’s been missing for two days.”

The Ramirez family brought Sunny to Mrs. Torres’s home. The moment Sunny saw her, he barked happily and wagged his tail like crazy. Mrs. Torres was overjoyed and thanked the family profusely. She explained that Sunny, whose real name was indeed Max, had slipped out of the yard when the gate wasn’t properly closed.

Though Sofia felt sad to say goodbye, she knew Max belonged with his owner. “Can we visit him sometimes?” she asked. Mrs. Torres smiled warmly and replied, “Of course, dear. You’re always welcome.”

As the Ramirez family walked back home, Sofia held her dad’s hand and said, “I’m happy we helped Max find his home.” Her dad smiled and replied, “That’s what good neighbors do.”

Glossary

• Strolling: Walking in a slow and relaxed way. (Paseando) - Caminar de manera lenta y relajada.

• Peeked out: To look quickly or slightly from a hidden place. (Asomó) - Mirar rápidamente o ligeramente desde un lugar oculto.

• Wagging: Moving from side to side, typically used for a dog's tail. (Moviendo) - Moverse de un lado a otro, normalmente refiriéndose a la cola de un perro.

• Tag: A small piece of metal or plastic attached to an object, often with information. (Etiqueta) - Una pequeña pieza de metal o plástico unida a un objeto, a menudo con información.

• Poster: A large printed notice or advertisement. (Cartel) - Un aviso o anuncio impreso de gran tamaño.

• Lamppost: A tall pole with a light at the top, found on streets. (Poste de luz) - Un poste alto con una luz en la parte superior, ubicado en las calles.

• Profusely: In large amounts; generously. (Profusamente) - En grandes cantidades; generosamente.

• Yard: An outdoor area surrounded by a house or building. (Patio) - Un área al aire libre rodeada por una casa o edificio.