The Dog Diaries follow the lives of different breeds throughout their lives. With the first book (though I am assuming you do not have to read in any order), Ginger, we see a Golden Retriever narrating her life from her puppy mill birth to her various homes.
The modern language shows how some people act/feel/treat pets. The use of “Rainbow Bridge” for the death of dogs was a bit heavy-handed for this reader, but most people should be fine. The other part was the reference to the “furever home.” Once is funny. Twice? Already over it.
First, we see how the conditions of a puppy mill will affect animals (fear, disease, even the death of the dogs). Nothing is “graphic,” but Kate Klimo mentions how the cage digs into the feet of the puppies and tells you about the death of one litter-mate. We then see Gingers first home after the pet shop where Ginger becomes the worst thing you can have (according to Klimo’s text): a Christmas puppy. The realities of this family are true to life if not a bit shallow (we only see humans through the eyes of Ginger, therefore, never get the whole picture). The second home looks like it would have worked out, but life gets in the way. The part I felt was odd was when Ginger is a street dog. Due to the age range (older 6 to young 10), the reality of “street life” is glossed over, but again you see sicknes, eating out of garbage cans, raccoon-caused injuries. She is sent to a rescue farm and finally finds her forever home with one heck of convenient coincidence.
If you are not modern in your feelings about pets (i.e. they are pets, not “members of the family” or hate the idea of “The Rainbow Bridge”) this might not be for you. But if you are “pets are family” kind of person and think “adopt not shop” or are for no-kill shelters, this is a book for you. Due to the “sweetness” of it, children should be okay with the gritter realities. But a young or sensitive child will be okay if you let them know, “Things seem bad now, but I think Ginger will be okay.”
I am pro-cat and racoon (both of whom get a well-deserved, but bad rap here) and think sometimes we need to do the kind thing and have animals go to the “forever nap,” but at the same time, greatly appreciate books like this. Perhaps it will help children and even adults realize that critters like Ginger are beings that need care and sometimes your family is not always the right one for that animal.
If you are a horse person, there are the Horse Diaries by various authors.