Smokey, the miniature apricot poodle, is blessed. But can it last? With the arrival of a new baby, she struggles to adjust to her new place in the family. After several failed tactics, she ingeniously teaches the baby how to behave around her so they may co-exist peacefully. She realizes that there's enough love for everyone in the family, and also gains a new best friend.

We've all heard the sad stories. The once beloved pooch is given away after the birth of a child due to "aggressive" behavior. A NEW LEASH ON LIFE creatively educates small children about how to behave around dogs, so that, hopefully, more pets can stay with their families.

A NEW LEASH ON LIFE includes a helpful, illustrated guide at the back with instructions for how a child should approach a dog, what signs to look for that the dog isn’t ready to play, etc. An interview with the Moms of The Humane Society of the United States provides additional tips for introducing a new family member to a pet, how to teach a child to interact safely with their own or other people’s pets, and more.