Summary
A summary of Mark Twain's 1904 short story, which serves as a powerful critique of animal vivisection told from the perspective of a loyal dog.
A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain
Highlights
Background and Publication
A Dog's Tale is a short story by Mark Twain first published in Harper's Magazine in 1903. It was later published as a pamphlet for the National Anti-Vivisection Society in 1904, highlighting its purpose as a social commentary against the scientific mistreatment of animals.
Plot Summary
The story is narrated by a dog who lives with a human family. She displays immense loyalty and heroism by saving the family's baby from a nursery fire, though she is cruelly beaten by her owner for her efforts before the truth is revealed. The tragedy concludes when the same owner kills the dog's puppy to conduct a scientific experiment on optics, leaving the grieving mother dog to pine away by her puppy's grave.