A Dog Called Kitty Summary

The story follows Ricky, a boy who was attacked by a dog as a baby and now fears all dogs. When a stray puppy appears on his family's farm, Ricky initially rejects it, but the persistent puppy slowly starves because the farm cats won't share their food. Ricky must overcome his deep-seated fear to save the puppy's life, potentially gaining his first true friend in the process.

This award-winning children's novel offers a heartfelt exploration of overcoming fear and trauma through compassion. Bill Wallace creates an emotionally resonant story about the bond between a boy and a dog that teaches valuable lessons about empathy, responsibility, and personal growth in an accessible way for young readers.

The story takes place on Ricky's family farm, where daily routines like feeding the cats provide the backdrop for the puppy's struggle. The rural setting emphasizes the puppy's isolation as a stray and Ricky's responsibility as the only one who can help, creating a contained environment where their relationship must develop.

While specific quotes vary by edition, key moments include Ricky's internal struggle ('I was afraid, but the puppy was starving') and his realization about overcoming fear ('Maybe some dogs were different'). The title itself becomes meaningful when Ricky names the puppy 'Kitty' as an ironic reflection of his initial fear associating dogs with danger.

Bill Wallace employs straightforward, accessible prose suitable for young readers while effectively conveying emotional depth. He uses Ricky's first-person perspective to intimately explore the boy's fear and gradual transformation, balancing tense moments with tender observations of the puppy's behavior.

The cats' refusal to share food highlights the puppy's complete vulnerability and Ricky's unique position as its only potential savior. The puppy's persistent attempts to play despite rejection show its innocent nature, contrasting with Ricky's fear-based assumptions about all dogs being dangerous.

Early descriptions of the puppy as 'small and fuzzy' with a 'friendly, wagging tail' establish its harmless nature before Ricky's fear is explained. The puppy's gradual weakening from starvation creates increasing urgency that foreshadows Ricky's inevitable choice between maintaining his fear or taking action.

The puppy becomes symbolically connected to the cats it tries to eat with - hence Ricky naming it 'Kitty.' This ironic connection represents Ricky's attempt to reconcile his fear by associating the dog with safer animals, while also highlighting how the puppy doesn't fit into existing farm hierarchies.

Ricky's mother continues feeding the cats normally, subtly encouraging Ricky to take responsibility rather than solving the problem for him. Ricky himself is motivated not just by pity but by a growing recognition that his fear might be misplaced, though he struggles to admit this even to himself.

Ricky experiences trauma-based fear that manifests as both avoidance and internal conflict when faced with the puppy's suffering. The puppy displays remarkable persistence and trust despite repeated rejection, suggesting an instinctual understanding that Ricky represents its best chance for survival.

Key moments include Ricky first noticing the puppy's starvation, his internal debate about intervening, his initial tentative approach with food, and the breakthrough when he finally touches or feeds the puppy directly. Each step represents Ricky overcoming a layer of his deeply ingrained fear.

The relationship progresses from complete avoidance to cautious observation, then to indirect feeding, and finally to direct contact and naming. Each stage requires Ricky to confront a new aspect of his fear while the puppy responds with increasing trust, transforming their dynamic from one of fear to mutual dependence.

The story doesn't specify what ultimately happens to the puppy after Ricky begins caring for it - whether it becomes a permanent farm dog or if Ricky's family officially adopts it. The exact nature of Ricky's childhood dog attack is also left somewhat vague, emphasizing the present trauma over past details.

Some readers might question why Ricky's parents don't intervene more directly with the starving puppy, though this can be interpreted as them allowing Ricky to work through his fear independently. The prolonged starvation of the puppy before Ricky acts could be seen as distressing for sensitive readers.

The story concludes with Ricky overcoming his fear enough to help the puppy, suggesting the beginning of a friendship rather than providing a definitive resolution. This open ending emphasizes that overcoming deep fear is a process, and the true reward is the potential for connection rather than immediate perfection.