Just a Dog

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer (Omnibus for Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781862918870

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Mr Mosely isn’t a pedigreed dog. he’s a bitzer, taken in by Corey’s family who soon becomes a very important part of their lives, even for Dad, who struggles to communicate sometimes. Mr Mosely is part Dalmatian and part family therapist.

As Corey writes about Mr Mosely’s exploits in his diary we get the to know the joys and challenges of family life, the ebb and flow of family relationships, discord, unity, sadness and loss, joy and fun. In a series of ‘stories’ about Mr Mosely, Corey relates how the dog has affected the family dynamics for the better, how he somehow manages to keep them all together. But, as with all pets, we outlive them, and when Mr Mosely’s time comes you somehow hope that things will be different.

Bauer writes with warmth, humour and an authentic child’s voice that made this story a pleasure to read. I did shed a few tears too! Its obvious Bauer is an animal lover and keen observer of how our furry family members operate – they just want to be loved and for everyone in their pack to be happy. And when they are lying in the backyard, buried under a tree, their stories live on.

Dawn Meredith writes from the Blue Mountains and is a May Gibbs Fellow 2011. You can follow her exploits at www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com