The wonder of lost causes : a novel / Nick Trout.

First published in the United States by William Morrow, a divison of HarperCollins Publishers.

Dr Kate Blunt will do anything for her son, Jasper. Well, almost anything. Kate's always told him he's not allowed to get a dog. She's a single mum taking care of a kid who has to fight for every breath he takes and Jasper's daily medical routine is complicated enough without adding a mutt to the mix. The terrible irony for Kate is that, as the overworked veterinarian running an animal shelter, her life is full of dogs in constant need of rescuing. Kate has to live with the fact that every abandoned dog is on a two-week deadline to find a human, so when a scarred, mistreated wreck turns up, she knows he doesn't stand a chance. Named Whistler, he's too old, too ugly. A lost cause. But the dog forms an instantaneous, almost magical connection with Jasper. Whistler never makes a sound, let alone a bark, yet he speaks to Jasper in a myriad of mysterious ways, forging an indelible bond with the boy. But time is running out. As Kate and Jasper fight to give Whistler another chance, one thing becomes clear: the dog has chosen them for a reason.