OK, first things first. The dog lives, and actually thrives. I know that’s always a consideration with books with a title like this.
So this was on my ancient list of book to order, and I really had no idea what it was going to be about. It’s a dual narrative, human and dog. Sort of a cheesy set-up, but it works. The trait both have in common is that they both have been traumatized when younger and have gone through a series of foster situations. The case of the dog, a pit bull mix, is that he was born to a fight dog situation, and was raised in a kennel by some young guys to fight other dogs. At some point, he manages to break out, and starts to live on the streets.
The human was left by his widowed father to foster care at the age of five. He has gone through a series of homes, some abusive and some merely uncaring. He grows up to be an edgelord businessman, master of all he surveys, until he snaps right before a fraught presentation and slaps a secretary. Immediately he loses his job, and his wife files for divorce, taking most of his money. He is ordered into community service in a soup kitchen. The process of how the dog comes to him, and how both learn that having another being alongside you is better than being alone, is a gradual one with many turns in the way, but is a satisfying one.
A side note – I didn’t notice when I ordered it from the library that it was a large print book. Took awhile to not feel that it was yelling at me. At least it wasn’t all capitals.