As a child, I too had "dog fever," described by the Wilson Rawls in the story. I read this book many times as a boy and still return to it today as an adult. No other book better describes the beautiful relationship shared by humans and dogs. It is an unconditional love that differs from anything people feel for each other. The story of Dan and Ann remains a timeless classic that should be shared among all children who have a special place in their hearts for dogs. As a teacher, I see many ways in which this story could be employed in the classroom. It would fit well into a thematic unit on animals or pets. Additionally, the story includes a lot of material that could be used to assist in teaching students responsibility, something children today no little about.