A dog's way home by W. Bruce Cameron

cover image

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

booktopia