A Dog's Life

“She chose, as mother dogs do, names of things that are important to her. So I was known as Squirrel, and my brother was known as Bone.”

Depicting the animal mind, Mother decides on funny, unique names for her babies. The book frequently delves into the animal mindset, using language that dogs would know and relate to. These names reflect the presence of squirrels in the environment and Mothers’ foraging for bones.

“Early the next morning, Mother left the shed and trotted off in the direction of the garbage heap.

She never came back.”

This chapter ends in a cliffhanger, which generates conflict and suspense, leaving readers to wonder why Mother never returned, a mystery that continues for the entire novel. Squirrel’s voice also remains direct and honest, not embellished even when she describes a conflict.

“All that night Bone and I slept on the burlap sack, slept with our legs and tails entwined. I could feel Bone’s breath on my neck. It was our first night without Mother, and it seemed very long.”

The puppies’ closeness reveals the importance of sibling relationships. Their physical closeness symbolizes their shared emotional closeness and foreshadows their dependence on one another. Bone is an important, beloved companion for Squirrel and later becomes her mentor, picking up where Mother left off in helping Squirrel develop the confidence to survive, even on her own.

“He was carrying a book now, and talking to himself, and his face looked like Susan’s does after Mrs. Oliver has told her she’s too old to be living on her own.”

Mentioning Susan bridges the past and present to frame Squirrel’s narrative. Through this structure, Squirrel looks back on her life, effectively comparing her past and present because she’s telling the story from a later date.

“When Bone and I lived in the shed we woke slowly each morning as the rays of the sun crept through the windows and lightened our home. When I awoke in the laundry room I had no idea whether morning had come. The room was as black as midnight.”

The word choice creates contrast and comparison between two settings. The outdoor world of the dog’s wilderness home contrasts with the indoor, foreign world through specific details, such as light or the lack of it. Even though the shed setting posed some dangers, it provided natural light that changed as the sun rose, whereas the cold garage and laundry room have no windows and therefore don’t provide a sense of time.

“By the time darkness fell, just a few cars were left, the asphalt stretching away from me like a great black pond.”

This simile compares the mall parking lot to an abysmal pond. The image is an effectively mirrors Squirrel’s feelings of isolation and loneliness. However, despite her hunger, she wants to wait until the humans are gone before foraging for food. Unfortunately, other animals then stake their claim and chase her away.

“The branches of the pines that sheltered my den were dense and sweeping, but the branches of the other trees lay stark against the sky, like the skeleton of a fawn I had once found in the woods near the Merrions’ house.”

The simile comparing the barren branches to a skeleton adds a tone of ominousness to the description of the woods. The description brings Squirrel’s past into the present moment, a technique the book uses often in its memoir-like structure.

“After that, Moon checked the garbage cans frequently, but she never again found anything as wonderful as the ham. And we discovered that the lids on the cans were now apt to be fastened extra tightly, and that some people began placing bricks on the lids.”

This description implies that because the dogs made a mess of the garbage area, the people reacted by making it harder for the dogs to forage for food. This is a negative example of the theme of Human Influence on Animal Lives. Their action of changing their methods to deter the dogs denies Squirrel and Moon food. From the human’s perspective, they aren’t doing anything wrong (and may even be protecting the dogs from poisonous substances in the trash), but to the dogs, the humans’ actions are unjust.

“And then the dogs began to roll off of me and slink away. Moon was at my side, still snarling, still baring her teeth, still menacing the other dogs.”

The fighting with an aggressive pack of territorial dogs creates direct conflict through physical violence. The stakes rise because Squirrel may die, but Moon’s sudden bravery saves her. Moon’s fierceness and steadfast defense of Squirrel, as well as her subsequent care of Squirrel, doing all the hunting and finding a stream to clean Squirrels wounds and let her drink, prove that she’s a strong, loyal friend.

“They were carrying bags, and they were not dressed like any children I had ever seen. Some of them wore paint on their faces. Some wore clothing that glittered. Some wore large hats.”

Subtle hints build up to the revelation that it’s Halloween. From a dog’s perspective, the details of bags and strange clothing don’t mean much, but the imagery hints that the children are carrying out the trick-or-treat tradition of Halloween.

“Once, on a rainy day, I saw a small, curly-haired white dog enter the store with his owner and come out wearing a yellow slicker to keep him dry. Moon and I watched, shivering from our spot under the drippy bushes, as the dog walked down the street in his new coat, eating a biscuit.”

In Claremont, Squirrel and Moon watch as a spoiled dog receives a raincoat and a treat. This dog’s situation is a foil to that of Squirrel and Moon because he’s a pet who is healthy and loved, enjoying a pampered life with his human owner, while Squirrel and Moon are strays who endure the cold, wet rain and lack the luxuries of a dog with a home.

“But I never forgot about the encounter with the dogs at the rest stop and trusted no dog except Moon.”

Squirrel learns from her experiences, reflecting her thoughtful characterization. She remembers both positive and negative experiences, becoming aware and cautious of other dogs. For Squirrel, others must earn her trust—and Moon is her only trusted confidante.

“I had seen many dead things in my life, and now Moon was one of them.”

Moon’s tragic death is a painful loss that Squirrel must overcome. Her concise, declarative sentence makes Moon’s death more impactful. Squirrel doesn’t deny the truth but plainly states the sad facts. This illustrates the theme of The Search for Belonging and Companionship, emphasizing that Squirrel once more is on her own, but her pragmatic statement also reflects her growth, highlighting the theme of Animal Resilience and Ability to Adapt.

“‘Good girl! Good girl!’ Rachael and Dr. Roth said as I hobbled and slid across the linoleum floor. They patted me and gave me treats and told me I was brave and beautiful.”

Squirrel seldom hears the phrase “Good girl,” so when she does, it affects her profoundly. This is the first instance when she experiences praise and love, which shows her that humans can be kind. Highlighting the theme of Human Influence on Animal Lives, Squirrel’s perception of humans becomes more nuanced after Rachael and Dr. Roth treat her with empathy and encouragement.

“Sometimes on the days when Donald and Margery forgot to play with me I would creep up the steps at the front of their house and stand at the door, trying to see through the screen. ‘Hi, Daisy!’ the Beckers would call out if they noticed me. But they didn’t open the door.

Until now I had thought pet dogs were never lonely. I was wrong.”

Squirrel tries to signal to the Beckers that she needs more attention. She wants to be treated with affection, but after initially welcoming her and playing with her, the Beckers ignore and neglect her. Squirrel’s raw emotions of loneliness create complexity because she should be feeling loved and connected to the Beckers, highlighting the theme of The Search for Belonging and Companionship. Their inconsistent treatment is in a way even more painful than that of humans who never show any sign of affection: They build up Squirrel’s hope but then abandon her, first emotionally when they neglect her and then physically when they move.

“I was alone again. When I set out from the Beckers’ house that autumn, there was no Bone to follow and no Moon to walk with. There was no summer family, no Rachael, no Dr. Roth. But I knew I could take care of myself.”

Squirrel thematically exemplifies Animal Resilience and Ability to Adapt when she sets off alone. She’s resourceful and confident by this point in her character arc. She misses loved ones from her past and positive experiences with people at the clinic but has transformed into an independent, free dog.

“The Beckers had made preparations for leaving their house, but back then I hadn’t recognized the signs. Now I knew what they were: boxes and packing and plans. But I never made preparations for moving on. When it was time to go, I left. It was as simple as that.”

The novel compares the differences between humans and animals through the motif of wandering. While humans have a specific process for moving with many items, Squirrel can simply start walking. She’s unencumbered by belongings.

“I was smelling time, a time long ago when my brother and I were young. And I was smelling place, the last place in which I had seen my brother. I didn’t smell Bone—I hadn’t caught his scent—but that didn’t matter. This was the closest I had felt to him since we had been separated.”

Squirrel’s search for Bone reflects the theme of The Search for Belonging and Companionship. She never gives up the hope of reuniting with Bone, and the suspense of her finding and following his scent builds to her feeling connected by combining her past and present experiences.

“I thought of Marcy and George, of the shouting and swatting and the night in the box. I thought of the Beckers and my dusty bed in the garage. But then I thought of Matthias and Dr. Roth and Rachael.

I stepped through the doorway and into the old woman’s house.”

Squirrel’s critical thinking is evident in her thoughts, which weigh the positives and negatives of her past. She knows that humans can be both good and bad, and her choice to believe that Susan won’t harm her is a huge leap for her character. She begins to fully trust a human, finally feeling the love and companionship she has craved since losing her canine friends, and thematically resolving The Search for Belonging and Companionship.

“I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth from the fire curl over me like a nest of leaves.”

This simile connects the interior fireplace with the exterior wilderness, showing how Squirrel’s defined comfort in her life as a stray and how she perceives it her life as a pet. The description shows how relaxed, safe, and healthy she feels in Susan’s house while also reflecting a positive memory of nature’s embrace.

“‘Does that mean you want to keep her?’

‘Want to keep her? Why, she’s mine already,’ said Susan.”

Susan’s response to Mrs. Oliver indicates her love and devotion to Squirrel. The book often uses human dialogue to reveal information Squirrel wouldn’t otherwise know for certain, and Susan’s admittance that she has adopted Squirrel is one such example.

“‘Did you understand any of that, Addie?’ she asked, stroking my muzzle. ‘I hope not. But if you did, I just want to assure you that I have no intention of taking you to a shelter. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and this is our home.’”

Susan’s dialogue resolves the theme of The Search for Belonging and Companionship, revealing her love for Squirrel (whom she calls Addie). She feels connected to Squirrel as her friend and equal, noting that they belong to each other and share her home, rather than her dominating Squirrel’s life.

“Recently Susan whispered to me, ‘Remember when I said the last thing I needed was a dog? Well, that wasn’t true, of course. I do need you, and I’m glad you’re here.’”

After living with Squirrel for a while, Susan changes her views on having a dog. She grows to love the dog, realizing that they both need the company after long, lonely lives.