THE DOG WHO MADE IT BETTER

A gentle and humorous exploration of a dog’s purpose within a grieving family.

Doctor Blob, an 8-year-old Bernese mountain dog, is devoted to his family, especially the children—12-year-old Bartholomew (whom he calls Good Boy), 8-year-old Nina, and 2-year-old Pip—and delights in daily runs with Mom. When a Very Bad Thing happens and Mom dies unexpectedly, their lives are upended. Guided by occasional conversational exchanges with a picture of Mom after her death, Doctor Blob steps up his role within the family with well-intentioned but comedic attempts at comfort and communication. When another dog arrives on the family’s doorstep, Doctor Blob must balance his duty to his family and his promise to Mom never to run away with feelings of jealousy and resentment toward the newcomer. Doctor Blob’s first-person narration captures the dog’s deep loyalty, pride, and frenetic energy (despite his advanced age for a large breed). Readers may initially struggle to follow the narrative style, which, much like a dog distracted by a squirrel, feels scattered in the character setup but ultimately evens out. Exploring grief through the eyes of a pet softens the impact without minimizing the loss, making the subject approachable for cautious or sensitive readers. Passing references to heaven, church, and angels and a subtle rephrasing of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 lightly cue the family’s Christian faith. The human characters read white.

A tenderhearted exploration of loss well suited for animal lovers.