Recently I watched a beautiful film called A Dog's Purpose, based on the novel A Dog's Journey. Set in the United States, the story spans from around 1962 to 2017 and follows a very special golden retriever named Bailey who possesses the gift of reincarnation.
In one of his countless lives, he meets a boy named Ethan, who wants to keep him. But Ethan's father—a decidedly negative figure—refuses.
Ethan begs his parents to let Bailey stay. The dog is so affectionate, gentle, and attentive that they eventually agree, on one condition: Ethan must take care of him himself.
When Bailey dies, his soul is reborn. He meets many other owners throughout his lives, but none of them can replace Ethan. Years pass. As an adult, Ethan walks down the street and encounters a stray dog. He notices the dog moves the same way Bailey did, plays the same games from their childhood, responds in the same manner. His heart begins to race.
THEY HAD FINALLY FOUND EACH OTHER AGAIN! The main character is Ethan, played by American actor Dennis Quaid. Bailey's story is narrated by the dog himself, voiced by Gerry Scotti. The most moving moment was their reunion after so many reincarnations. It transported me back—because I too had a beautiful labrador named Leo (I've told you about him here). A dog can give so much without asking for anything in return, except cuddles and treats, and in Leo's case, a tennis ball.