Russia, just after World War II ends. Dogs are very rare in Russia. They were either recruited for the army or killed because they were German. Although the war is over, there is still a lot of anti-German sentiment remaining. In this environment, young Mikhail finds a German Shepherd named Zasha. Can he keep her safe from prying eyes, particularly those of dog thieves? The ending is a little neat and tidy, but I found the audiobook engrossing.