Madeline Finn has a brand new puppy and lots of responsibilities. She has to walk Star, and feed him, and make sure he has a safe place to sleep. But, she learns, the most important thing is love.

So when Madeline Finn visits and animal shelter, she has lots of questions about the dogs who live there. Do they get to play outside? Do they get to sleep under blankets? Does anyone read to them? Does anyone tell them they love them? Madeline Finn is determined to help the shelter dogs. But can she find a way to make each one of them feel special? With the help of some friends and a few good books, she just may discover that even small people can make a big difference.