619-822-3296 
by Janet Elder
Huck… is the true tale of a young poodle puppy, acquired by a family inexperienced with regard to having and caring for a dog. Huck becomes part of the Elder family after years of “no” in reply to the Elder’s young son’s request for a dog, and on the heels of Janet Elder’s battle with breast cancer. Unfortunately, little Huck is soon lost after escaping from the relatives who are caring for him while the Elders are vacationing at the other end of the continent. What follows is a very intricate journey as the Elders struggle to catch a flight back home and try to track down their lost pet. Huck, meanwhile, chooses to hang out nearby in a small town and manages to remain just out of reach of everyone who tries to catch him.
A fast read and a nice, true-to-life story, though I found myself frustrated with the Elders lack of knowledge about their little dog and the grief they caused themselves as a result. I wished they had done their research, then they could have known that small dogs mature more quickly than large ones, and poodles were developed to withstand extreme temperatures and icy, frigid waters when retrieving game. Had they known Huck was basically designed to survive out on his own, they could have handled the situation with at least some confidence and reassurance, rather than being sick with grief and worry over his small size and the inclement weather.
For me, the best part of the story involves the town that gets involved helping the Elders find Huck. It really is amazing how complete strangers will pitch in and help others in time of need. The book even provides a map of the locations where Huck is sighted during his big adventure, and the paths along which folks search for him.
Despite being frustrated by human error and incompetence, this is a really sweet book with a happy ending, and readers will enjoy the journey.
–Jennifer Casula spent the fall of 2012 fostering a litter of four Australian Cattle Dog mix puppies for Texas Cattle Dog Rescue.They gave everyone kennel cough, but they also provided lots of laughs
