After rescue from a bleak puppy mill, Dog No. 241, renamed Dakota, journeys toward her forever home.

Jan Zita Grover has worked in canine rescue since 1973, especially with discarded puppymill breed dogs. One of these dogs, Pixie, is the model for artist Nancy Lane's illustrations of Dakota. Jan is also the author of North Enough: AIDS and Other Clear-cuts (1997) and Northern Waters (1999), both published by Graywolf Press Nancy Lane has been a freelance illustrator for the last 20 years. Picture books include:Buster, Where Are You? (1998), Rico's Hawk (1999) Beyond Turkey (2005),The Everyday Witch (Series), 2002-2006, and others. Clients have included: Highlights Magazine, Scholastic, Inc., Barron's, Harcourt School Publishers, and Scott Foresman, among many others.