The Rescue is narrated by Moll, a feisty, no-nonsense terrier whose aim in life is to look after her owner, 42 year old Suki, when her beloved husband Pip dies at just 58. But as the ensuing months become waterlogged with grief, Moll wonders how can she make sure Suki is happy when she is such a weeping wreck? Moll sniffs out new men, with little success. As she realises that no one could ever replace Pip, she comes across Ted, who smells and looks like a younger Pip. Moll is delighted to see how well he and Suki get on, but Ted has a wife with early onset dementia who is in a care home far away. Worse still, Ted and Suki fall in love. After several rollercoaster months, Suki breaks it off with Ted: she can't cope with being The Other Woman. She is once more heartbroken and Moll feels responsible, so she tries to find Suki a safer man. Luke is kind and gentle, he looks after Suki while she recovers from major surgery, but once she recovers, he departs for a job in Scotland, leaving her feeling confused and abandoned. Back to square one, Moll contemplates life and her own relationship with her boyfriend Titch, who is also absent for a while, because his owners have had to go away. When Suki bumps into Ted again, the pull is too strong: they resume their relationship and seem closer than ever. And so it continues for several years, but when Ted becomes ill, the added pressure is too much for Suki. One night she dreams that Pip tells her to fight her own corner and realises that in order to be happy, she must finish with Ted once and for all. Witnessing Suki's heartache, Moll decides Suki is happier on her own. Work has picked up, and having been offered a publishing contract, the launch of her first book is imminent. However, Moll realises that she is ageing, and while Suki may not need a partner right now, she will need another dog. After much searching, Moll finds Lainy, a rescue who is being fostered, in need of adoption. But Lainy has a troubled past, barks in Romanian and has a tendency to use her teeth in defence. Will she really be the right dog to take Moll's place? Moll makes her plans, and Lainy moves in, giving Moll plenty of time to teach her the all important home rules. And some English barking lessons. When Suki starts emailing a man called Joe, it sounds more promising: like Suki, he is just looking for someone to be a good friend. Suki and Joe meet for a walk, get on well and Moll heaves a sigh of relief. Lainy is safely installed, and Suki is happy. Moll can relax, knowing that her promise to Pip is fulfilled, so that when her time is finally up, she can happily join Pip in that great hunting ground in the sky. She has done her job. Brilliantly, in fact. Pip will be proud of her.