Due to a gas problem, the father in the story decides that Walter has to go back to the pound. It turns out Walter is saved by blind luck. Burglars enter the house and Walter protects the family's possessions. In the end, the father decides he can stick around. It's really not a good idea to teach kids that an animal (or a person) needs to prove himself useful in order to be worthy of love. I encountered stories like this as a child and found them upsetting. I can't believe stuff like this can even be published.