A Dog's Purpose

When Stephen McGarva and his wife moved to Puerto Rico, they hoped to find inspiration and adventure, and a break from the ordinary routine that their lives in the States had become. McGarva, an artist and adventure sportsman, was excited to pursue the boundary-pushing, adrenaline-rush activities he loved—hang gliding, scuba diving, kite surfing. One day he visited Playa Lucia, a postcard-perfect beach with shimmering white sand, palm trees, and dazzling blue water. There, instead of relaxation and fun, he found a sick and abandoned dog. This dog, and the quest to save him, transformed McGarva and gave him a new purpose in Puerto Rico. He soon learned that this slice of paradise was known to locals as Dead Dog Beach—a notorious dumping ground for the island's unwanted canines, and Stephen McGarva knew he had to act.

Dogs are dangerous. And they are more dangerous to children than to adults. Not as dangerous of course, as kitchen utensils, drapery cords, five-gallon water buckets, horses, or cows. Not nearly as dangerous as playground equipment, swimming pools, skateboards, or bikes. And not remotely as dangerous as family, friends, guns, or cars.