The text presents excerpts from W. Bruce Cameron’s novel, A Dog’s Purpose, beginning with acknowledgments that credit research into canine behavior and thank key professional collaborators. The bulk of the source is a narrative told from the perspective of a dog who is continuously reborn into new lives, all while retaining memories and instincts from previous experiences. The canine companion first appears as Toby, who is followed by Bailey, the cherished dog of a boy named Ethan, whom he protects from a house fire. Subsequently, the dog is reborn as Ellie, a highly trained Search and Rescue specialist who works with handlers like Jakob and Maya to Find and save human victims. The cycle culminates when the dog, reborn one last time as Buddy, instinctively tracks down and reunites with the now-elderly Ethan, finally fulfilling his lifelong purpose.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.