Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of animal cruelty and death.

The book opens with the point-of-view character telling the reader, “[M]y name is Chance. I’m pleased to meet you” (1). Chance is a three-legged dog who believes she is cute even if others don’t think so.

Unlike other dogs, Chance evaluates before she acts because “when you hop everywhere you go, each trip takes time” (2). Chance also thinks that three is a lucky number, though she doesn’t like to think about how she lost her leg.

Chance lives in Dogtown, a shelter for dogs without homes, as well as unwanted robot dogs. Chance doesn’t understand why anyone would want a robot dog because they aren’t cuddly or fun, wondering, “[W]hy were metal dogs at Dogtown in the first place?” (5).