Cast of Characters
The Dogs of Looser Island: What the Dogs Know
On Looser Island, the animals outnumber the humans by a fair margin: dogs and cats, cows and chickens and sheep and goats, deer and rabbits and raccoons, bald eagles and blue heron and tiny but fierce hummingbirds, orcas and salmon and porpoises . . . .
In the cities and counties of the mainland, humans run the show (often badly, it must be said). On Looser Island, where a cat was briefly named mayor and leash laws are but a fond aspiration, Who Rules the Roost? is almost a rhetorical question.
That’s the way it is and, as the indigenous stories demonstrate, the way it’s always been on this small lump of rock in the Salish Sea.
Until the dogs begin to disappear.
Now, everyone has a secret. Everyone is a suspect.
If only the humans knew what the dogs know . . . .
Cast of Characters
“The Hairy Horde,” canine companions of Missy, the self-described “island delivery gal”: Buster, a mutt of uncertain heritage but absolutely certain affections; Manly, a spectacularly unneutered but mild-mannered Great Dane; Fetch, a yellow Labrador who loves to—well, ‘nough said; and Brunhilde, a beautiful but unpredictable Afghan Hound
Charlie, mostly-Newfoundland emotional support dog for Retha, who runs Retha’s Bar and Grill
Sylvia, cat-who-thinks-she’s-a-dog, who presides over The Coffee Hut owned by Amelia
Gafr the Goat, not technically a dog but treated like a pet by “the new hippie couple” Liam and Geena, and their toddler Daisy
Mazie, a small, timid mop-dog who is, paradoxically, a source of courage and strength to TeeKay, owner of Island Books
Fran and Nan, Scottish Terriers who are twins in appearance but not in temperament (Fran bosses her humans, Jack and Jill—really!—while Nan is gently encouraging and forgiving)
Silas, three-legged dog belonging to Ben and Caroline Breckenridge, who run The Breckenridge Inn while raising: the human children John (9), Max (8), twins Hannah and Randy (11), Kevin (17), and Rainbow (18); and the rest of the menagerie consisting of one white Rat (Marvel), three more dogs (George, Roger, and Nadine), two cats (Miss Perfect and her counterpart, Miscreant), a lizard named Storm; also seven goats whose names no one can remember (because there are only so many things the brain can hold)
Pip and JP, ancient dogs of indeterminate breed belonging to Frank and Kasumi, “the old hippie couple”
Familiar Friends from The Dogs of Looser Island: Who Laughs Last
Unidentifiable blend of various herding and other breeds Hound, who creaks and groans alongside old Jens Jensen, sheep farmer and official island curmudgeon
Pitbull-mix Jerry Garcia, who crossed the rainbow bridge not long ago but remains in the hearts of Seth, the son of free-spirited postmistress Jenny
Dogless Sheriff Tom Haley, who has been sheriff so long his title really is part of his name
Irritable Pomeranian Pretty Boy, status symbol and kindred spirit of Cherry Duluth, Chairwoman of the Looser Island Water District Board of Directors, realtor, and island siren
Great Pyrenees Mo, hairy guardian angel of Gloria, owner and chef extraordinaire of The Dog House Café
Pug Hubert, silent Yoda to old Celia Prewitt, the former school teacher and erstwhile trombone-player, also grandmother to sailor Olga
Boxer Rambo, extrovert foil to introvert Jim Perkins, Looser Island Water District engineer, graphic novelist, and significant other to sharp-tongued but warm-hearted Lauren, owner of the Apple Cart Grocery
Susan, software engineer and mother of eleven-year-old Marta, newly adopted by Shelby, an Australian Shepherd(ish) dog who used to belong to Lauren, Marta’s grandmother
Labrador Molly, inspiration for the oh-so-wise philosophy WWMD (What Would Molly Do?), with Markus Bjorkin (island garbage collector and philosopher) and Ella Bjorkin, teacher in the blended third- and fourth-grade classroom
© Shari Lane 2025
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Gallery: Dogs I Have Loved
The consolation prize for not being included in The Dogs of Looser Island: a gallery of photos at the end of the Cast of Characters. To which Rhett says: pfffbt.
Postscript: Let it be known that there are many photos of beloved dogs missing from this gallery, including Eli, Reggie, and Audrey, as well as family members’ dogs (Jake, Rosie, Ollie, and so many others). These dogs are missing from the gallery due to space constraints and, in many cases, a lack of digital images—never due to a lack of love.