Below is the draft story we will be basing the final story on. It will change according to the animals that win, to incorporate their adorable personalities and traits. We can't wait to see all the winners come to life in the pages of the book.

The Curious Case of Buddy's Disappearance 

In a cozy neighbourhood in London Ontario, where the gardens bloomed and the sidewalks were perfect for afternoon strolls, there lived a group of doggy friends. There was Rusty the playful retriever, Pepper the excitable terrier, and Daisy the gentle old bulldog. But the wisest of them all was Buddy, a clever Labrador who wore a special vest.

You see, Buddy was no ordinary dog. He was a certified service dog, always by the side of his young human, Tommy. Buddy knew all sorts of important things, like how to fetch Tommy's medicine or when to alert Tommy's parents if something wasn't quite right.

One sunny morning, Rusty bounded out to play, but Buddy wasn't in his usual spot in Tommy's front yard. Pepper sniffed around, but there was no trace of their friend. Even Daisy, who usually napped through the excitement, opened one eye with concern.

"Where could Buddy be?" woofed Rusty. "This isn't like him at all," yapped Pepper. "We must find him," Daisy grumbled, slowly getting to her paws.

The dogs set off on an adventure through the neighbourhood, checking all of Buddy's favourite spots. They looked in the park where squirrels chattered, peeked into the ice cream shop where kind Mrs. Johnson sometimes offered doggy treats, and even circled the pond where ducks quacked indignantly at their presence.

But Buddy was nowhere to be found.

As the sun began to set, the dogs trudged home, tails drooping. That's when they overheard Tommy's father talking to a neighbour.

"We've been at the children's hospital," he said, sounding tired. "Tommy's condition took a turn, but Buddy's been right there with him. Such a good dog."

The next day, Rusty, Pepper, and Daisy gathered to plan.

"Buddy's doing his job," woofed Rusty. "So we should do ours!" "But what can we do?" Pepper tilted his head. Daisy's wrinkly face broke into a doggy grin. "We'll help Tommy's family while they're away."

And so began Operation Doggy Duty. Rusty fetched the morning paper, carefully carrying it to the front porch. Pepper kept a watchful eye on the house, barking importantly whenever the mail truck rumbled by. Daisy, moving as quickly as her old bones allowed, waddled after stray leaves in the yard, keeping things tidy.

Days passed, and the neighbours began to notice. They smiled at the sight of different dogs taking turns to pick up the paper or chase away the cheeky squirrels from the bird feeder.

Finally, one bright afternoon, a car pulled into Tommy's driveway. Out came Tommy, looking tired but smiling, with Buddy right by his side. The other dogs rushed to greet their friend, tails wagging furiously.

Buddy looked at the tidy yard, the pile of neatly delivered papers, and his doggy friends. His tail wagged slowly, and if dogs could smile, Buddy's face would have lit up like the sun.

That evening, as the neighbourhood settled into a peaceful quiet, five dogs lay on Tommy's porch. Buddy told tales of the big building with the funny smells, where brave children got better. The others shared stories of their adventures in doggy duty.

As stars twinkled overhead, they all knew that no matter what happened, they would always be there for each other. Because that's what true friends do, whether they walk on two legs or four.

The End.

1. The contest opens at 10:00:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
2. The contest closes at 12:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 24, 2024. All votes must be submitted before the contest closes to count towards your pet's total.

1. The contest is open to domestic pets (dogs, cats, and other pets), and all entries must adhere to contest guidelines. Exotic animals and wild animals are not permitted.

1. Participants can enter their pet into the contest by creating an entry on the Pets on Pages contest website.
2. There is a $1 cost per vote, and each vote contributes directly to Children's Health Foundation. The more votes your pet receives, the better their chances of winning.

• Top 4 Voted Animals:
  The top four pets with the most votes will be featured as unique characters in the children's health storybook. Each pet's unique traits will be incorporated into their character in the story. These pets will help bring comfort and hope to children at Children's and beyond.
  
  
• Bonus Draw (5th Spot):
  One additional spot will be awarded via a random draw. For every 100 votes ($1 per vote), your pet will receive one entry into the draw. The winner of this draw will secure the fifth and final place in the book.
  
  
• Additional Prizes (Optional):
  Additional prizes may or may not be awarded in special promotions during the contest depending on availability.

• Each vote costs $1 and can be cast through the contest website.
• Votes and donations must be made directly online through your contest entry to count towards your total. Offline donations may be able to count towards votes given enough notice - contact 1-888-834-2496 for assistance.
• If there is a tie for any of the top four spots, the tied contestants will be entered into a draw to determine the winner.
• The 5th spot will be awarded via a random draw, with one entry for every 100 votes earned.

• Photo Submission Deadline: Winners must submit an additional 3-4 photos of their pet within one week of being notified. The photos must meet the following requirements:
• The pet should occupy no less than 2/3 of the frame.
• The photos should be clear, sharp, and focused. If appropriate photos are not provided by the deadline, the prize may be offered to the next eligible contestant.

• If there is a tie for the top spots, the tied contestants will be entered into a draw to determine the winner.

• Donations of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt. Tax receipts will be emailed to donors within four weeks of the contest's conclusion unless otherwise requested.

• The winners will be announced on the contest website within three days of the contest closing. Winners will also be contacted directly by Children's Health Foundation to arrange for photo submissions and any additional information needed to create their pet's character.

• Children's Health Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any entry based on objectionable content, or depictions of animals or persons in photos that do not align with the hospital's values. Donations collected will be refunded if requested by the donors.

• By entering the contest, participants grant Children's Health Foundation the right to use the name, story, and photos of the winning pets in publications, promotions, and materials that support the hospital's mission.