Born to Run

Born to Run (2007), a children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, uses a simple writing style to tell a story about a dog that lives three distinct lives.

The story begins as Patrick walks to school along a local canal. Patrick is not happy; not popular with either his teachers or the other children, he feels lonely. He hears an odd noise—squealing and yelping—and spies a sack floating in the canal. The sack is wriggling and moving. Sensing something is very wrong, Patrick climbs into the canal to retrieve the sack, swimming to it and then dragging it back to dry land. When he opens the sack, he is surprised, horrified, and delighted to find several greyhound puppies. Someone had put the dogs into a bag and thrown them into the canal to drown. Patrick cannot understand how someone could be so cruel.

Patrick brings the dogs home; his parents are not pleased and, initially, will not consider letting him keep even one of the puppies, insisting they be adopted out. Patrick bonds with the smallest and weakest of the litter, however, a puppy he names Best Mate. He begs his parents to let him keep Best Mate and, eventually, they consent.

Patrick and Best Mate become true best friends. Patrick is a loving and responsible owner. He takes Best Mate to the park every day because Best Mate, being a greyhound, loves to run and run. Every day Patrick lets him off his leash to run around. One day, however, when Patrick takes Best Mate to the park, the dog doesn’t seem to want to run. He stays by Patrick until Patrick urges him to run around the park as usual. Best Mate eventually does and is kidnapped by Craig who has been watching Best Mate. Craig is a rogue trainer who runs dog races, and he sees Best Mate as a champion.

Craig’s daughter, Becky, hears his van roll in and rushes down to see Best Mate being dragged inside by a chain. She takes charge of the new dog, bringing him to meet the other dogs Craig has kidnapped. Craig does not treat the dogs well. Becky introduces Best Mate to her favorite dog, Alfie, who always wins his races. Becky is glad Alfie always wins because when any of Craig’s dogs begin to lose, they disappear. Her parents have assured her nothing bad happens to them, but she is unconvinced. Becky renames Best Mate Brighteyes.

Alfie and Brighteyes become friends and begin racing as a team, always coming in first and second. One day, Alfie collapses during a race; Craig learns the dog will never race again. Becky, suspicious, takes Brighteyes, and they follow Craig as he drives away with Alfie that night. They witness Craig killing Alfie because the dog has no more value to him. Horrified, Becky runs away, taking Brighteyes with her.

Becky and Brighteyes are unprepared to be on the street. They have an altercation with a homeless man and his large dog; Becky is injured as Brighteyes defends her from abduction. She is taken away by an ambulance, leaving Brighteyes behind, all alone. A man named Joe finds Brighteyes outside the hospital and feeds him baked potatoes. Slowly, Brighteyes moves in with Joe, coming by more frequently for food and company until he moves in. Joe sells his house and purchases a boat, and Brighteyes, renamed Paddywack, sails around with Joe.

Joe becomes involved with an effort to save a nursing home from closure; this is where Joe’s wife spent her last days and passed away. One night, the nursing home catches fire, and Paddywack saves one of the residents by dragging him to safety. Paddywack becomes famous, and the story is so popular, the nursing home is saved.

Joe takes Paddywack to the park one day; Paddywack immediately recognizes it as the park that Patrick used to take him to all the time. He races to their usual spot and sees Patrick again! He is thrilled and happy to see his old best friend again, but then realizes that Patrick is not alone: He has a new greyhound. Paddywack watches them play happily just like he used to, and then go home together, and is sad for a moment. He misses Patrick and he misses Becky. But then Joe comes to collect him and Paddywack is happy, because he has a friend in Joe. Knowing they will spend many happy years together, his troubles are finally truly over.