Bounty: a memoir of friendship, MS and the dog that changed everything

“A testament to friendship, illness and the love of a good dog. Everyone who has faced illness will recognise themselves here.” Astrid Edwards, Chair of Judges for 2025 Stella Prize

At fifty, Libby has spent years concealing the impact of multiple sclerosis, increasingly viewing life from the sidelines. When her childhood friend Emma persuades her to adopt a headstrong rescue dog, Libby has no idea how profoundly the decision will reshape them both.

As Libby struggles to manage Bounty’s exuberance, she is drawn into a local dog-park community and meets extraordinary people, including Maina, who is living with advanced multiple sclerosis. Confronted with a future she would rather not imagine, Libby retreats. But Bounty, relentless and unyielding, leads her back.

When Emma reveals her own devastating diagnosis, their roles are abruptly reversed. Libby must find the strength to become the friend Emma now needs—with Bounty as her unlikely guide.

Told with warmth and candour, Bounty explores friendship, illness and the healing power of a very determined dog.