The local animal shelter has launched a new program called “Adopt a Dog for Christmas.” Todd McCray decides that his family should take a dog from the show for the week before Christmas. However, there is a big problem with Todd’s plan. He is a 20-year-old mentally handicapped adult-child who still lives in his house on the farm in Kansas with his parents and his dad doesn’t want a dog. Todd can be very persuasive, so it doesn’t take long for him to convince his father that it’s a good plan. George, his father, tells Todd that he will go along with the plan, but that Todd has to realize that Christmas ends on December 26 and the dog returns to the shelter that day. Todd understands and promises that the dog will be returned to the shelter.
While they are at the shelter choosing their dog, Todd asks the shelter director what will happen to the other dogs. He is very worried when he finds out that these dogs will spend Christmas in their kennels at the shelter.
It has been a McCray Christmas custom to hold an open house on the Sunday before Christmas and almost every family in his small town stops by. At that open house, Todd begins to tell everyone about the shelter and the “Adopt a Dog for Christmas” program. Little by little he recruits enough families for all the dogs to be adopted by Christmas week.
Well, as you can imagine, in the week that “Christmas” stays with the McCrays, it finds its way into every heart, especially George’s. George, however, is determined to teach Todd that when you make a promise, who’s to keep it? George has also had some heartbreaking experiences with dogs in the past and he’s not sure he can survive giving his love to another dog.
There is no doubt that this is a Christmas story first, but it is also the story of a man who struggles to be a good father and a family that fully supports each member. There are so many stories about dysfunctional families that it’s wonderful to read about a real family working together to help each other. If you are a family reading aloud together, a dog named christmas it was written for you! If you just want a Christmas story to enjoy, you won’t find a better selection. If you’re as up to date on George McCray as I am, you can read his story in the prequel, Christmas with Tucker. Be sure to add them to your bookshelf. put them right next to Miracle on 34th street.
