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The Hotel New Hampshire is a great addition to this list. My mother read it the year it came out, when I was five. She told me the whole saga of the dog (before and after death);she thought it was hilarious, but it haunted me for years. Years later, I read the book, and that whole incident was exactly how I had remembered it. It was still disturbing, but as it turns out, my mother was right, and it was sort of hilarious as well.

These books are ones that I've sworn to never read. People tell me that they're worth it, but I refuse!!!!! The dog dies!! why would I read it?

Love That Dog and Marley and Me are two of my most favorite books even though the yellow labs in them remind me so much of my old lab, Sadie. I love the books so much because they have that ability to make you laugh and to make you cry. And laugh until you cry! ; ) They're both really great books that will touch your heart and will be worth the tears.

Uh, the dog was still alive at the end of THE UNDERNEATH.

What a great idea for a list! Very useful!

Neither of the two dogs died in "The Red Pony."

I have read and enjoyed many books in which the dogs/animals die very sadly, but it is nice to have some forewarning. Thanks for this list!

I used this list to provide some reading suggestions for a homebound patron at my library who wanted novels about dogs.
Thanks for the help. Very useful.

I appreciate this warning very much, I hate thinking about animals suffering.

I added Hawkmistress -- I can't remember for sure if the hawk dies, but I know a lot of awful things happen that I was not at all old enough to read about when I got this from the library.

Katherine wrote: "These books are ones that I've sworn to never read. People tell me that they're worth it, but I refuse!!!!! The dog dies!! why would I read it?"

So you can cry your eyes out. Still crying.

Dogs are better than people! Except for pit bulls but that is the fault of people.

The more I know of men the better I like dogs

Years ago I read a novel where at the end the boy's dog gets put down because it bit a man who attacked the boy. Does that sound familiar to anyone? I don't remember the author or title but it should go on this list.

Miriam wrote: "I added Hawkmistress -- I can't remember for sure if the hawk dies, but I know a lot of awful things happen that I was not at all old enough to read about when I got this from the library. "

The hawk doesn't die, but the horse does, and it's terribly traumatic.

It's traumatic for a purpose, but that didn't stop me from crying hysterically everytime I reread the book. :)

Same here.

And if we're including ones where the horse dies, I guess I should add Magic's Pawn.

I thought about putting Life of Pi on here. Do you think it makes sense? It is very animal violent and I found it traumatic. I realize the animals aren't pets, though.

Also, I had always wondered about I Am Legend. I had wanted to see the movie, but as soon as I saw he had a dog as a companion I didn't think I should risk it!

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters.

I added Judas Child. It was an amazing book, but incredibly sad! I avoid sad animal stories like the plague - fact or fiction, I just cannot bear for animals to suffer. I've often wished for a list like this, so that I know beforehand when NOT to read something! Thanks so much!

BTW, if The Red Pony is like the movie... omg, way too sad.

Thank you, I went ahead and removed any book that was still to-read!!!

I have always wanted to read stories about dogs. But I don't like sad endings. This list would help me choose a book that won't make me depressed about it. I just want a happy dog read. So, thanks for the list!

I added The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks.

In Lassie Come-Home, Lassie doesn't die. It's another dog who dies when her master is attacked and Lassie fight the attackers.