dog as literary tool

I went to the library yesterday and picked up a stack of fiction. - typical.

I select the book with the picture of the dog on the front cover to read first.

So... first the author gets the dog all wrong.  Rottweilers currently can have natural or docked tails, but the author definitely should have taken a stand and made a POINT of stating the tail was undocked IF she was going  to say that the dog's tail thumped against the upholstery.  (This is part of the ongoing debate over ear cropping/tail docking for cosmetic/show is it traditional? is it harmful - etc.)  As it is she just comes across as ignorant about her dog breeds. Also I'm pretty sure with the copyright on that book... cropped was still the general rule.

Then once the dog has served his purpose in introducing the two characters the author dumps him in the back yard, no introduction to the rest of the family, no walk, no water, no food and then the dog disappears, dumped on some unspecified caretaker for the remainder of the book until the makeup scene/final scene where the girl walks in on the guy & his dog are sharing hotdogs cooked in the fireplace because the guy is afraid to use the kitchen.

I feel like I have been the victim of false advertising.  I was led to believe this would be a nice uncomplicated story about a couple and THEIR DOG.  I expected the dog to have at least a minor character portion - there were more words written about the d@mn cars!

Unimpressed Ms. Evanovich.

finally!

finally received the disc from my May performance with sword. and it's AUGUST?

too afraid to watch it.

I am my own worst critic.

....