“a pockmarked boy with a scraggy ponytail and four tiny rings in his right ear leaned against the wall of the armory, holding his dog on a leash, a sign hanging from his neck: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PET MY DOG. IT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.”

“Casper, she said someone has to hold your leash.”The dog barked.Then he dipped his head, picked up the end of the leash in his mouth, and trotted after his master.”

“We might miss the sign or we may be unable to read the expression, but it is almost a contradiction in terms to say that a dog feels something but does not show it. What a dog feels, a dog shows, and, conversely, what a dog shows, a dog actually does feel.”

“I tucked him in with his stuffed-animal pet dog—cleverly named Dog-Dog, by the way.”

“Once I'm free, we're going to find out exactly how much pain you can endure while remaining conscious. I won't stop until you tell me where my ring is." He leaned in to say at his ear, "I'll be sure to make you feel your loss.”

“I found Caeden lying on my bed with both the dogs. He was talking to them and petting Archie behind his ears. It was like our own little family.”