The last chapter of the book decides the relationship David forged with one of the dogs in the shelter. 'Bearing him in his arms like a lamb, he re-enters the surgery. 'I thought you would save him for another week,' says Bev Shaw. 'Are you giving him up?' The last line of the book is “yes, I’m giving him up” because the dogs represented the demise of David, the well-respected professor at the end of the book the dog dying was like the death of David’s social status. That ending means that thief’s won. Petrus got what he wanted David conceded just like the dog surrendered to the