A Dog's Purpose

Ellie is reborn as a German shepherd with seven siblings. She is unhappy to be born again because she thought she already fulfilled her purpose. She spends a great deal of time alone, causing the man who owns her to believe she is “defective” in some way. Ellie, now a boy, is the last puppy to be sold. She goes to live with a young woman in a small apartment. The woman, Wendi, calls Ellie “Bear-Bear.” For a few weeks, Bear-Bear lives happily with Wendi, but Wendi is not allowed to have dogs in her apartment. Wendi takes Bear-Bear to her mother, who is not happy at how big Bear-Bear is. The mother’s boyfriend, Victor, is even more unhappy to have Bear-Bear. However, Wendi leaves him there just the same.

Bear-Bear is chained to a stake in the backyard where Victor often ignores him and forgets to feed him. A woman on the other side of the fence often gives Bear-Bear food and water. One day, a policewoman shows up and gives the mother a piece of paper that makes Victor angry when he arrives home. The next day, Victor puts Bear-Bear into the trunk of his car and drives a long time before letting him out and driving away.