Lucas Ray is shocked when an adorable puppy jumps out of an abandoned building and into his arms. Though the apartment he shares with his mother, a disabled veteran, doesn’t allow dogs, Lucas can’t resist taking Bella home.
Bella is inexplicably drawn to Lucas, even if she doesn’t understand the necessity of games like No Barks. As it becomes more difficult to hide her from the neighbors, Lucas begins to sneak Bella into the VA where he works. There, Bella brings joy and comfort where it is needed most.
After Bella is picked up by Animal Control because pit bulls are banned in Denver, Lucas has no choice but to send her to a foster home until he can figure out what to do. But Bella, distraught at the separation, doesn’t plan to wait. With four hundred miles of dangerous Colorado wilderness between her and her person, Bella sets off on a seemingly impossible and completely unforgettable adventure home.
A classic story of unwavering loyalty and incredible devotion, A Dog’s Way Home is a beautifully told, charming tale that explores the unbreakable bond between us and our pets. This fantastic and exhilarating journey of the heart is in the same tradition as the beloved bestseller, A Dog’s Purpose.
After finishing this book I love everything it had to offer. It reminded me just how hard it is to get justice for animals and how the stereotyping of pit bulls is still around. Even though Bella didn’t know it, her owners weren’t just fighting to keep her. They were fighting a broken system that believed all ‘pit bulls’ were bad. And it’s unfortunate since technically pit bulls are even a recognized breed, but many people use it as an excuse to put a dog down.
I get that some of us have been extremely irresponsible and have let the pet population get out of hand. However, we can’t just make animals take the blame for it. I think only certain people should have the right to breed their pets, which should have certain standards that wouldn’t encourage puppy mills to continue treating their animals poorly. A sort of certification that would only allow those with enough resources to do so. I get that this could limit the gene pool, however, we are people and at times we are smart and I’m sure we can find a way around that.
I think that some of the things that Bella did for her family is unteachable for the most part. And I think as soon as they let the dog catcher know that Bella was a therapy dog he should’ve just left them alone. Animals can help someone’s emotional state better than humans can in some ways. No one with the resources to take of care them should have them taken away for something that’s more like a matter of tolerance than an actual issue.
I’m glad that this book has the dog’s perspective without it being another version of A Dog’s Purpose. It’s helped me think about issues that I don’t usually have to because I live in a place that doesn’t stereotype dogs for the most part. And to all of you who have had your dog(s) taken away for this reason I am so sorry that humanity has done this to you. If there a petition out there that you want me to sign then just let me know.
Have you read this book? What parts of this book do you agree or disagree with?
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