Dogs are always dying in the media because it is one of the easiest ways to break an audience’s heart. Sometimes you want to pick up a novel and know that the dog will not die by the end of the story. To help you out, here are some series and standalone novels where the dog doesn’t die.
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World: A Novel by C.A. Fletcher
When you need some hope during the end of the world, dogs can be a symbol of the good still left in a post-apocalyptic world.
Griz only remembers the world after everyone went away. His parents tell him stories of how crowded the world used to be, but it is not the same as being able to go to school or play football with friends. Living on a remote island, their family gets by by taking care of one another and the dogs that live with them. This post-apocalyptic world will remind readers about the strength in survival and hope while keeping spirits high about this universe where dogs live longer than our society.
Tomorrow: A Novel by Damien Dibben
What’s better than a living dog? An immortal one on an adventure throughout time across Europe to find his master once again.
In 1815, Tomorrow the dog is on a journey to find his lost master as the world goes into war. He must travel through battlefields and befriend animals and humans alike to find the man who granted him immortality before it is too late. His adventures are grand, but his strength is grander as he gets through tough obstacles trying to navigate the human world. Tomorrow is a courageous and devoted dog that will allow readers to see the complexities of humanity through a dog’s eyes.
Unleashed: Sydney Rye Mysteries by Emily Kimelman
Joy Humbolt and her dog are exacting revenge in this 19-book series, where the only deaths are from the bad guys they go after.
When Joy Humbolt adopts Blue, a multi-breed dog, from the shelter, their lives are changed forever. Their vigilante lives bring new experiences, from getting beat up and shot at to a vigilante persona with the name Sydney Rye. This action-packed series follows this tight-knit partnership as they risk their lives in the name of justice, with the only dead bodies being those of the bad guys they encounter.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A praise to dogs, friendship, and the South; Winn-Dixie leads positive change in Opal’s life the summer they find each other.
After leaving for the supermarket to buy groceries, Opal returns home with a dog. Winn-Dixie is the miracle that walked into her life as it became the summer when everything happened. Opal gets the confidence she needs from Winn-Dixie to make some friends and ask the hard questions she’s been putting off. This preacher’s daughter and scruffy dog dynamic will warm readers’ hearts as their love and loyalty for each other know no bounds in this epic summer tale.
Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn
From our canine narrator comes this 15-book mystery series of a private investigator on the case with his dog.
Chet and Bernie are on the case with Bernie’s meticulous investigation and Chet’s highly trained nose. Their explorations will take them to all kinds of interesting places from, biker bars to the desert, with their first mystery being on the search for a missing teenage girl. Their journeys will lead them towards danger they must prevail through in order to solve the case in this exciting series that readers will not be able to put down.
It can feel depressing when dogs in the media are constantly dying, but luckily, there are authors who know there are other ways to their readers’ emotions without having to kill off our loyal friends. When you take a look at these recommendations, always remember: the dog lives!
Looking for more dogs in literature? Click here.
For more heartwarming book recommendations, check out our Friendship is a bond of life: besties whose friendships are iconic bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
