Marshall the Miracle Dog

Image of Marshall the Miracle Dog
Illustrator(s): 
Release Date: 
September 1, 2012
Publisher/Imprint: 
The Marshall Movement
Pages: 
40
Reviewed by: 

“. . . a story to be savored—and read over and over again.”

Okay. Not a dog lover. After having three children in quick succession, I was not interested in having one more thing in my life that I loved that could even remotely possibly get sick and die on me, thus killing me instantly. And yet, I have three dogs, one for each of them.

It's the children’s fault.

So even if you are not an obsessive animal lover, here comes your warning: Take out the box of tissues. This one’s a weeper.

But also have handy some big balloons, a hooter, and cake in the shape of a bone—because Marshall the Miracle Dog is a story celebrating a boundless hope, the kind of hope reflected only in the exuberance of small children and . . . well . . . dogs.

Marshall the Miracle Dog is a true story about a dog who endures the unthinkable. One of 60 dogs kept in captivity by an animal hoarder, Marshall has the Grim Reaper swinging a stopwatch above his head. All he wants is a scrap of food, a sip of water, something of sustenance to keep himself alive:

“. . . we rarely get food. We are hungry all the time, sometimes eating dirt or hay just to fill our bellies.”

When, in a desperate attempt to share a scrap of an infrequent and meager meal, Marshall is attacked, it is pretty apparent he is headed to doggy heaven sooner than later.

But then love enters the room. The Humane Society raids the home, removing all the animals from the massive pen in which they have been trapped for who knows how long. The sight of Marshall draws gasps from the rescuers. His face is mangled and bloody, stinking of dying flesh. His body is covered in festering bite wounds. And his foreleg is broken, dangling untreated from the attack. He is beyond malnourished. Worse, the dog is so close to death he apparently has little will to live. He has only known this way of life—so why continue in misery?

Rushed into the operating room, the dog is saved. He is even given a name for the first time in his life. But he wakes up to find his face in stitches and his foreleg amputated to the chest. Catching sight of his reflection in the mirror, he despairs of anyone loving his damaged, scarred face. And when he tries to walk, he tumbles helplessly to the ground.

Who could ever love such a mess of a dog, he wonders to himself. Who could even look at me?

Who in the world has not felt like this once—or more than once for the more neurotic of us?

And then love enters the room again. From the rescuers who drove the van to the vet who saved his life to the volunteers at the veterinary clinic—everyone who sees Marshall falls in love with him. Slowly he learns to accept the love and gentleness every living creature deserves, thinking tentatively “A dog could get used to this!”

But as Marshall watches other dogs get adopted and leave the clinic every day, he grows more anxious: “I see the others around here leave with their tails wagging as their new owners take them to their Forever Homes. But they have all their legs and no scars. They look like normal dogs should.”

Then love walks in the door yet again. A woman has seen a video made by the Humane Society and falls head over heels when hearing the story of Marshall’s survival. But all Marshall can think is “I am so afraid she will not want me after she meets me and sees the true extent of my former abuse and neglect. . . . My legs are shaking. My entire body is trembling. I am scared.”

Just when you think you can’t take it anymore and what’s the purpose of this godforsaken story for bleep’s sake, Cynthia Willenbrock hits you with this one:

“When I finally reach her, my head hangs low to hide the scar. My new mom sits down on the floor and lifts my face. She kisses me right on the nose! It’s like she can’t even see my scars.

Then she sits me on her lap and smells me and strokes my fur. She rubs where my missing limb used to be.

And just like that, I know she loves me just the way I am.

And I know I love her. Just the way she is.”

Speaking to the frailties and fears experienced by every child who has ever felt different or damaged, alone or neglected—or worse—Marshall the Miracle Dog is a story to be savored—and read over and over again.

The illustrations by Lauren Heimbaugh are soft detailed pencils so beautifully drawn they look photorealistic but for the apparent texture in the surfaces of color. The artist so captures the emotions of this dog as he evolves [SPOILER ALERT!] from a broken mess to a joyous family member that you could swear you’ve met Marshall somewhere before.

And you have. When love walked in the room.