History Literature / ADogsWayHome

* AdaptedOut: Axel's cop friend Tom and some young men who beat him up for kicks are all omitted from the film.

* DiabolicalDogCatcher: Chuck the dog catcher wants to capture and euthanize Bella in accordance to Denver city laws that say that pit bulls are to be destroyed, even if Bella does not even looks like a pit bull. Most of the drama of the plot begins when he gives Mack the option to take Bella out of town to never return and the story's climax revolves around Chuck seeing Bella enter the city and relentlessly pursues her to catch her, even threatening to lay siege to a VA center that took Bella in if they don't hand over the dog. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome The rest of the Denver police (and Chuck's supervisor) arriving to see what the ruckus is about decide Chuck is overstepping his bounds as an animal control officer and fire him]].

A film adaptation of the book was released in 2019.

* PerkyGoth: Lucas' girlfriend Olivia is described as being "sort of Goth". She's sarcastic but well-meaning and nice. She goes through a RaceLift as a black girl in the movie.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The trailer for the film adaptation goes through Bella's entire story from first being adopted by Lucas, their life together (though she's separated from him differently here as she busts out of the house to chase a squirrel and gets lost, then picked up by other people), her adventures through the wild, and then finally getting back to Lucas. Detractors have noted that the spoiling is so blatant and comprehensive that it makes for a free, compressed version of the actual film and ''decreases'' the likelihood of people paying for and watching the full product.

A film adaptation of the book has also been released in early 2019.

Born underneath an abandoned house in Denver and raised by cats, Bella's life changed dramatically when she met her first human. Bella is taken in by Lucas and his mother Terri as a puppy. However, run ins with a corrupt business man combined with the regulations concerning dogs lead to Bella being taken away from her human family. After being temporarily put in foster care until her owners can find a new place to live, Bella decides the best course of action is to find her way back home on her own. Stuck on her own, Bella must learn to live like a stray as she tries to get back to Lucas.

** Gavin's mother Sylvia is a LadyDrunk who spends her time drinking a lot. She used to date another heavy drinker, but dumped him when it turned out he was a violent sort of alcoholic.

* ComfortFood: Cheese to Bella. In her case, it's less about the actual food and more about the meaning behind it. Bella's owner Lucas plays a game with her where he holds out a piece of cheese, waits for Bella to concentrate on it, and gives it to her. As a result Bella really misses playing "Tiny Piece Of Cheese" with Lucas.

* DogStereotype: Discussed and used in-universe. Pit bull breeds are banned city-wide for being "dangerous", but several characters recognize that most Pit bulls aren't a threat. BigFriendlyDog Bella gets labeled a "pit bull" and is almost put down as a result.

** Mack is a troubled veteran dealing with unspecified mental illness, but Bella helps him cope. At the end of the book, he's in solitary due to suicidal ideation. Being reunited with Bella, along with some encouraging words from his friends, helps him in that moment.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted with Slyvia's ex boyfriend and one of her previous cats. Both are called "Mike". It causes no small amount of confusion for Gavin and Taylor, especially when Sylvia mentions Mike (the cat) was hit by a car.

* ScavengersAreScum: Subverted. Though coyotes are a reoccuring antagonist, they're not demonized. The coyotes simply see Bella as another prey animal.

* VagueAge: Mother Cat's age in her final appearance is hard to decipher. She's raggedy looking and hasn't nursed in a while, implying she's a senior. However, feral cats don't usually live over five years. Given she's being taken care of, that could be why she's still (relatively) healthy and alive.

** Bella initially mistakes Big Kitten for an adult because she's never seen such a huge cat. Big Kitten is almost her size when they first meet.

** Axel, one of Bella's temporary owners, is a a mentally ill veteran who lives on the streets. He abuses drugs and alcohol. [[spoiler:He ends up dying due to an overdose]].

A film adaptation of the book has also been released.

* PerkyGoth: Lucas' girlfriend Olivia is described as being "sort of Goth". She's sarcastic but well-meaning and nice.

* CatsAreMean: Averted, surprisingly for a book about a dog. Both Mother Cat and Big Kitten are portrayed very sympathetically.

* LiveActionAdaptation: A film adaptation is in production.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The trailer for the film adaptation goes through Bella's entire story from first being adopted by Lucas, their life together (though she's separated from him differently here as she busts out of the house to chase a squirrel and gets lost, then picked up by other people), her adventures through the wild, and then finally getting back to Lucas.

Born underneath an abandoned house in Denver and raised by cats, Bella's life changed dramatically when she met her first human. Bella is taken in by Lucas and his mother Terri as a puppy. However, run ins with a corrupt business man combined with the regulations concerning dogs lead to Bella being taken away from her human family. After being temporarily put in foster care until her owners can find a new place to live, Bella decides the best course of action is to find her way back home on her own. Stuck on her own, Bella must learn to live like a stray as she tries to get back to Lucas

''A Dog's Way Home'' by W. Bruce Cameron is a novel about a dog trying to find her way home.

* InnocentlyInaccurate: Being a dog, there's much Bella doesn't understand. The entire plot is kicked off by a misunderstanding: Bella doesn't realize that Lucas is returning the next day, so she tries to go home herself and ends up lost.

* BigFriendlyDog: Bella is a large mutt who is very friendly. She loves making people happy and giving comfort to sad humans, which makes her an excellent therapy dog. The problem comes when a mean shelter worker decides that she's a pit bull (despite looking nothing like one) and it's decided she must either leave the city or be killed.

* NeverTrustACover: One cover for the book depicts Bella as a pit bull. Throughout the book, it's mentioned that she ''isn't'' a pit bull-looking dog.

* AlcoholicParent: Terri is a recovering drug and alcohol addict. She's an American soldier who returned from Afghanistan and turned to drugs to cope.
* BigFriendlyDog: Bella is a large mutt who is very friendly. She loves making people happy and giving comfort to sad humans, which makes her an excellent therapy dog. The problem comes when a mean shelter worker decides that she's a Pit Bull (despite looking nothing like one) and it's decided she must either leave the city or be killed.
* DogStereotype: Discussed. Pit Bull breeds are banned city-wide for being "dangerous", but several characters recognize that most Pit Bulls aren't a threat. BigFriendlyDog Bella gets labeled a "Pit Bull" and is almost put down.
* DrivenToSuicide: It's mentioned that Terri attempted suicide in the past.

** After poachers kill a mother cougar, Bella finds herself attached to her cub. Bella refers to the cougar cub as "Big Kitten".

* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Bella ends up become Terri's seizure dog
* LoveAtFirstSight: A platonic version occurs between Bella, Audrey, and Lucas. From the first time they meet Bella finds herself inexplicably attached to Audrey and Lucas.
* ParentalNeglect: Terri neglected Lucas as a child. Lucas has mostly forgiven her, but Terri is still bitter over it.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To Cameron's previous success, ''Literature/ADogsPurpose''. Both are from the [=POV=] of dogs born as strays, but ''A Dog's Purpose'' stars a dog as it goes through several reincarnations, while ''A Dog's Way Home'' is more grounded in reality and focuses on one dog's life.

''A Dog's Way Home'' by Creator/WBruceCameron is a novel about a dog trying to find her way home.