A Dog’s Purpose writer says ‘every dog has a soul’ and reveals the heartwarming story of love and friendship behind new film

WRITER Bruce Cameron was happily reaching the conclusion that his new girlfriend was his soulmate when she suddenly announced she could never own another dog.

It was 2003 and Cathryn Michon had just been tearfully recalling the loss of her eight-year-old Doberman Ellie, who had died in her arms a few months earlier.

She then laid down her ban on future ownership, explaining: “I can’t go through that again.”

Bruce said: “That was bad news for me because I had always had dogs and I was beginning to feature this woman in my future plans.

“I didn’t want to choose between the two of them.

“So I told her a story, made up on the spot, about a dog who reincarnates and remembers each life to fulfil his purpose.

She liked the story so much she married me.”

They also got a new dog.

Meanwhile fellow-writer Cathryn was so taken by the idea of a pooch’s loyal, loving soul being reborn again and again in different furry bodies that she urged Bruce to turn it into a book.

It became the US author’s 2010 bestseller A Dog’s Purpose, and the movie version is now playing to packed — and weeping — audiences around the world.

Bruce, 56, told The Sun: “I think most people who read A Dog’s Purpose accept the premise of a dog’s soul and that our real friends never really die — that they are always there somewhere if we know how to look.

“I think dogs have souls. I do believe any animal with that amount of love has something going on called a soul.”

The movie follows a pet though various lives including being a rescue dog beloved by young lad Ethan, a police dog and cherished corgi.

Then he finally reunites with the young boy he loved decades ago in a previous life — Ethan is now a lonely, sixty-something played by Dennis Quaid.

Each reincarnation, of course, ends in a death . . . and heartbreaking farewell that reduces audiences to sobs.

Appropriately, it was directed by Lasse (yes, really) Hallström.

The Swede’s other films include What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules . . . and My Life As a Dog.

Like the young Ethan in the movie, Bruce got his first dog when he was a boy — in his case, it was a Labrador named Cammie.

Years later, long after the lab’s death, he was mountain biking when he saw a dog in a front yard who he felt obliged to stop and pat.

I think dogs have souls. I do believe any animal with that amount of love has something going on called a soul

He recalled: “The way he looked at me and wagged his tail reminded me of Cammie.
 “And as I rode away, I couldn’t shake the sensation that I’d just interacted with my very first dog.”

Since publishing the novel, Bruce has discovered that he is far from the only dog-lover to have had similar experiences.

One in ten Brits believes a pet has lived before, and there are even pet spiritualists offering to investigate whether dogs have had past lives.

Bruce said: “I have had many people say they have looked into the eyes of a dog and seen a very old soul.

"A lot of people will say, for example, ‘I absolutely believe my dog Sadie has come back as my dog Molly.’

“You can see the conviction in their eyes and it doesn’t seem far-fetched.

“I am open to the idea of reincarnation, although if I do come back I am not going to go through adolescence again. I am intrigued by the idea.”

What Bruce is absolutely certain about is that your dog is convinced that you need them — and will want you to get another one when they pass away.

Bruce, whose current dog — his first joint dog with wife Cathryn — is a rescue mutt called Tucker, said: “I really believe when your dog is dying and knows it, one of the last thoughts on their mind is that they hope you get another dog.

“I believe dogs are absolutely convinced that humans need dogs.

“It must be true. They believe they are integral to our lives, that they fulfil an important purpose, and how are we going to get along without a dog in our lives?”

A lot of people will say, ‘I absolutely believe my dog Sadie has come back as my dog Molly'. You can see the conviction in their eyes

And he thinks man’s best friend wants to show us that life is about having fun, enjoying the moment and not getting too stressed.

Bruce continued: “The number one way that a dog guides me through the world is by demonstrating to me that although they are only here for a very short time they don’t spend a moment worrying about that.

“Instead they spend every moment full of joy and optimism, they are always excited to face whatever challenges come their way.

“So when I see a dog I realise I am here for a very short space of time and I should live my life like a dog.”

A Dog’s Life is already the biggest-earning canine movie in history, raking in £185million since its release two months ago.

It is the second huge success for former newspaper columnist Bruce, whose earlier bestseller, Eight Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter was turned into a sitcom that ran from 2002 to 2005.

He says the trickiest bit of writing the new novel and the film was getting inside the head of the dog for his “thoughts”, which in the movie are read as a voiceover.

It would have been easier in many ways for a dog to imagine how a person would think.

Bruce explained: “I believe that dogs have evolved to be highly sensitive to our emotions. They can really tell what is going on with us by how we behave.

“When dogs communicate with us their primary focus is facial expressions, what we are feeling. Throughout the evolution of dogs our feelings and intentions have been important to their survival. They have learned to read us.”

And speaking of his own dog Tucker he continued: “All we have to do is get ready to give our dog a bath and he knows what’s going to happen.

“We don’t have to say the word or get anything out.

“We just have to nod to each other and he heads off running away. We have never figured out what is our clue. He reacts like he’s terrified.”

These days, discussing Tucker and other peoples’ pets has become something of full-time job.

He explained: “I hear from people on a daily basis about their dogs, people come up to at parties and talk about their dogs.

“I don’t know if I talk about anything other than dogs these days.”

A Dog’s Purpose is in cinemas now.

Is your dog reincarnated? Email your stories and pictures to features@the-sun.co.uk