Going Home: Every Dog has a Dream

by Cliff McNish

At the Happy Paws Rescue Centre, every pet dreams of one thing: going home.

But Ralph, Mitch, Bessie and Fred are the no-hopers: dogs so difficult or troublesome they aren't expected to ever go home.

Ralph's face is scarred. Bessie can't stand to be touched. Mitch can't stop chasing cats and Fred . . . has just given up. Who'd want to adopt any of them instead of a cute little puppy?

But when Happy Paws reviews its policy of never putting an unwanted pet down, time starts running out for the dogs. Can they prove that they're worth a second chance? Will there be hope for the no-hopers after all?

Reviews
'Makes you laugh and some of it makes you cry ... I think it's an amazing story.' The Guardian Online.

'McNish weaves a magical tale of hope, disappointment, love, loyalty and friendship - all in a wonderful read that'll keep you captivated from start to finish.' Dogs Monthly.

Genres: Animals, Middle Grade

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2014

About the author

I was born in Sunderland, a city in the north-east of England.
I don’t recall too much about my first 8 years of life other than I loved being outdoors especially in the woods near our house. I came home every night covered in scratches.
My first real book memory is being given C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew by my English teacher, Mrs Baldwin. I loved that, and all the other Narnia books.

So how did I become an author?
As a parent I was used to making up short and funny stories for my daughter, Rachel. When she was about ten, however, she wanted a story about a really, really nasty witch. This time I put pen to paper and what started off as a tiny scrap of an idea got bigger and bigger and BIGGER. It became The Doomspell.
After I finished it, I continued my love affair with fantasy by creating The Silver Sequence which I still think is probably my best and definitely my most original work. Following that, I tried to scare everyone half to death with a couple of ghost novels – Breathe and The Hunting Ground.

I could tell you more about myself, but the truth is that perhaps the biggest gift we can give anyone is our imagination and everything important I have to offer you about that is in the novels.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really churned up my emotions. The story of dogs held long term in a shelter and facing death row. Told from the animals POV it really hit hard. Funny, sad and ultimately hopeful - go make a donation to your favourite animal rescue!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story of dogs in a shelter waiting for the right home.

Great for younger readers.

[Petra Be · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story for kids about dogs (and a cat) in a shelter. It's kind of depressing to be honest. But the story has a happy ending.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could hardly see the text from crying.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi (7y/o) "It's so happy but it's so sad at the same time!"