This was one of my favorite books from childhood. Scruffy’s mother is left tied up outside the house when her owners move. Ready to give birth, she escapes and seeks shelter in the abandoned house. She has three pups, but the puppies are starving and freezing. When there is fire, Scruffy’s mom saves Scruffy by climbing out the chimney, but she is later shot by a farmer in an act of self-sacrifice to save her remaining puppy. Scruffy is then on her own, were she is pet to a homeless man, and she spends time with other unwanted dogs. She and her friends end up in the pound. This story is a total tear-tearjerker. ( )