Ponder Post: Two Good Dogs

Two Good Dogs by Susan Wilson has a cast of well developed characters beyond the circle of the two dogs. This book will appeal to an audience beyond the limited one of animal lovers only.

The novel begins with four main characters. A troubled fourteen year old girl Cody harbors a terrible secret while also trying to meet and make friends in a new school. Cody's widowed mom Skye struggles to support herself and her daughter by owning and managing a run-down motel for vacationing tourists. A repeat guest of the Lake View Hotel, Adam is grieving the recent loss of his wife. Adam's emotional therapy dog Chance is a beacon of stability in the book. Yes, there is a widow and widower, but do not leap to conclusions. There is an age difference between them and the novel is more a story of friendship rather than romance, a tale of companionship and mutual support as an antidote to loneliness. The relationship between a daughter and her mother and a dog and his person are both painted in a very pleasing fashion. I liked the characters and became invested in them early on in the novel.

The book was written in first person but what makes it unique is that it was written in two voices – one for the mom Skye and one for the dog Chance. Seeing the dog's assessment of the human emotions of anger, grief, fear, sadness, etc. was insightful. Per Animal Planet: An emotional support animal is a pet that is part of the owner's psychological treatment plan and prescribed by a licensed mental health professional. This may include but isn't limited to treatment for: Depression, Anxiety, Phobias, Loneliness, etc.

There are other supporting characters but fortunately not so many that keeping track of who was who was difficult. In the later part of the book a pit bull Dawg and his street-kid person Mingo are introduced. Oddly enough there are only a few villains in the book but their scarcity does not result in a dull story. The author manages to create conflict and suspense that together have the reader rooting for certain outcomes. There are indeed climactic moments in the book that induce turn-the-page-quickly reactions; to tell what they are, would reveal too much of the storyline. I believe that the true strength of Two Good Dogs lies in revelation of the plot bit by bit and the undercurrent of people caring for each other, even when showing it is relegated to subtle actions. Two Good Dogs was an enjoyable read that moves along at a good clip. Read it and find out. It will be worth your while. I rate it four stars.