A dog's way home by W. Bruce Cameron
PanMacmillan, 2018. ISBN PanMacmillan, 2018. ISBN 9781529002690
(Age: 12- adult) Recommended. Themes: Dogs, Dog Owners, Movie
tie-in, Animal Rescue. A Dog's Way Home is an emotionally
honest story of love, loss and the journey of hope told from Bella,
a pit-bull cross's point of view. W. Bruce Cameron's previous
award-winning novels and movies including A Dog's Purpose,
are written with a deep understanding of the bond between dogs and
their humans. He brings awareness to the predicament of feral cats
and dogs, the role of Animal Control officers and the Breed
Discriminatory Legislation and to the plight of military veterans.
Bella the puppy lives under the porch of an abandoned house, her
mother and brothers and sisters taken away by the Animal Control
Officers. Mother cat feeds her along with her own kittens. Lucas Ray
sneaks in to the building to feed the feral animals. Though the
apartment he shares with his mother, a disabled veteran, doesn't
allow dogs, Lucas can't resist taking Bella home. The young puppy
learns commands go to your crate, do your business and tiny piece of
cheese. Lucas even sneaks Bella into his work the VA, where she
brightens the lives of disabled vets.
Bella is part pit bull and these dogs are banned in Denver. When the
Animal Control officers threaten to take Bella away, Lucas is forced
to send her to a foster home until he can figure out what to do. The
young dog's world is turned upside down, different people, different
smells, sounds and ways of living. Bella decides to leave and find
her way home. However, there's four hundred miles of Colorado
wilderness, forests, rivers, snowy conditions between her and the
person she loves.
Bella's travels take several years and along the way Big Kitten a
cougar helps her find food and shelter. There are times of sadness
and joy, poignant scenes and tough encounters. Cameron brings
Bella's spirit to life; he captures her inner thoughts, her
struggles and her absolute love for Lucas. There are beautiful
moments, pearls of wisdom and life lessons written in a sensitive
canine point of view.
Both adults and readers from twelve plus will love this animal
story.
Rhyllis Bignell