Customer Reviews

The Last Family in England

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This is story told from the perspective of Prince, a Labrador living with a "typical" family of a husband, wife and two teenage children. While I love animals, I'm not usually a fan of animal stories. (I think the only story told from the perspective of an animal that I have ever really enjoyed was White Bone by Barbara Gowdy.) Most animal stories are cute at best, something best left to Disney's next cartoon feature film. I have visions of dancing horses and talking fish, which are all well and good in their on-screen genre, but rarely translate into good reading. Thankfully, this book not only successfully captures an adult perspective of animal life, it truly honours the intelligence that we often suspect and sometimes fear that our dogs have.

Haig's presentation of the canine intelligence and communciation puts those of us from the human race to shame. Haig's dogs can read, understand and even speak to humans, but they choose not to. Labradors choose keep this secret to protect the Family they live with; other breeds are secretive so they can pursue a life of hedonism.

The main character and Labrador, Prince, is no bystander in the world of humans. Rather, he is an active participant who believes he can shape and save his Family from the temptations and trials that the world holds for them. By virtue of the "Labrador Pact," Prince seeks to rescue a marriage on the rocks, a suicidal adolescent and a wayward teenager. But this isn't some "dog-saves-the-day" story. It is far deeper and more intelligent than that. Prince is seeking the truth in the canine world he lives in. When his mentor, Henry, can no longer give him all the answers, Prince risks stepping outside the confines of the Labrador Pact to find his own way in the world. In the most human-like manner, Prince resists desires, makes judgements of character, sees consequences for his actions and carefully weighs decisions.

Truly, if you read this book you will never look at your dog the same way again.