All That Ails You

Book excerpt: Every dog deserves a forever home, and after being mistreated and given up several times, Wrigley has finally found his. The good-natured, smart mutt now spends his days as the house dog at SunRidge Assisted Living, comforting and doting on forty-five seniors. Happily, Wrigley has free run of the place, going where he senses he's needed, but his preferred spot is beside his favorite resident, Marjorie Thompson. A big shift comes to SunRidge, when a cranky curmudgeon named Walter Kepson moves in across the hall from Marjorie. Having arrived reluctantly, at the urging of his son, Walter can't stand Wrigley or anything else for that matter. But life has a way of making strange bedfellows, and after a series of dramatic, unforeseen events, Walter becomes indebted to Wrigley. His initial method of repayment-giving Wrigley lots of treats-perfectly suits the food-motivated house dog. But Wrigley is interested in more than just satisfying his unending appetite. He senses that Walter needs him and sees the old man as being similar to a neglected shelter dog, who if shown love, will reciprocate it. Before long, Wrigley softens Walter in a way only a dog can, and eventually helps bridge the gap between him and his son. Walter responds in kind by allowing Wrigley onto his furniture, and ultimately, into his heart. Told in Wrigley's voice, All That Ails You is an endearing story about the power of a dog's love, when we need it most, and healing the strained relationship between a parent and a child before it's too late.