When Ted Kerasote was ready for a new dog after losing his beloved Merle � who died, as all our dogs do, too soon - he knew he would want to give puppy Pukka the longest life possible. But how to do that: Would a purebred dog be doomed to suffer genetic diseases? Is the grain in most dog foods harmful or not? How many vaccines should dogs get? Should they automatically be spayed or neutered? The answers will surprise you. Often, conventional wisdom is wrong. Traveling the dog world from Europe through North America and interviewing breeders, veterinarians, and leaders of the animal-welfare movement, Kerasote uses cutting-edge research to help you rethink the everyday choices you make for your dogs. As he did in Merle's Door, Kerasote interweaves fascinating science with the joyful, heartwarming story of raising Pukka and his adventures with his many dog friends in the small Wyoming village of Kelly. Funny, revelatory, full of the delights of falling in love with a new dog, Pukka's Promise will help us redefine the potential of our dogs: in life span, in intellect, and in their ability to become better friends and partners.