4 out of 4 stars
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As the smallest puppy in the litter, Runtie didn’t get the best start at life. Abused by her owner, his mother escaped and was nearly killed on a highway while pregnant with him. After being brought to a shelter, the mother gives birth and her littlest pup gets stuck in the birth canal. But Runtie soon proves he is a survivor and possesses a special gift. Runtie is more than just a shelter dog.
Written by a former special education teacher, Just a Shelter Dog is a charming story told from the dog’s perspective. Runtie starts his life in the shelter and shares his innocent puppy thoughts about his surroundings, his litter mates, and the humans who care for him. As he grows, he narrates the expanding story of his life as he finds a forever home and makes some very special friends.
Although Runtie grows to be a large and gangly hound mix, he possesses a gentle soul behind his gigantic paws. It isn’t long before his talents for calming and befriending anxious dogs and humans come out. Soon, his true calling emerges. When Runtie meets Ollie, a small boy who has retreated into a mysterious world of his own, his purpose becomes clear. Can Runtie help Ollie reconnect with the people who love him?
Sally H. Cronk weaves a touching and meaningful story in Just a Shelter Dog. The book is sprinkled with dog facts and portrays autism in a compassionate and realistic way. Although the first part is told from the perspective of the dog, the second half of the novel has many narrators. The multiple points of view give different perspectives on Ollie’s problems and how his life with autism affects the people around him. It is a story of empathy and selflessness, as Runtie devotes his life to helping Ollie.
It was wonderful to read a story told through the eyes of a dog. Any pet owner wonders from time to time what their animal companion is thinking and how they really feel. The story reminded me of a book I read a child called Socks, by Beverly Clearly. The story of an unwanted kitten who is adopted by a young couple, it was also narrated from the perspective of the pet. As a child, I delighted in the little “peek” at what was going on in a cat’s mind, and learned from the little facts about cats in the book. Similarly, I believe an older child would enjoy Just a Shelter Dog. Not only does the book portray a dog’s feelings of devotion and loyalty, but it provides a compassionate look at a differently-abled character, which is important for young readers.
I gave Just a Shelter Dog 4 out of 4 stars. It was a beautiful story which was very well written. It is a quick and easy read; in fact, I read it in one sitting. I think it would be appropriate for a middle school child, although parents should be cautioned about one brief scene. At one point, Runtie comforts his owner after she has a nightmare. His owner, who suffered bullying as a teenager at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, has a dream in which the boy finds her and tries to choke her. While not overly graphic, parents should still vet this portion of the book before deciding its appropriateness for their child. Even as an adult reader, I enjoyed Just a Shelter Dog a great deal. It is a shining example of love and empathy, expressed by humans but role-modeled by a dog.
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Just a Shelter Dog
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