The Attack on Shiloh

Comment:

Why did Shiloh have to get attacked by the german shepard? the story Shiloh really touched my heart.

Phyllis replied:

Would the story have touched your heart so strongly if Shiloh had not been attacked?  Difficult as it was to write, it was important to show that even as Marty was doing what he thought was best for Shiloh–keeping him penned up so that Judd wouldn’t find him–he was unknowingly making it impossible for Shiloh to get away from an attacking dog.  There are many times in the book that Marty has to think for himself and make decisions.  Some are good, some not so good.  And no matter how you decide something, there are consequences, one way or another.  The book is about decision making…thinking things through when there is no clear answer what is “right” or what is “wrong.”  The theme is continued in the three Shiloh books that follow.