The Incredible Journey

Bodger is the animal character who is most at home with and indiscriminately trusting of humans. Out of the three animals, he is the one who is most openly affectionate with Longridge. He also indiscriminately presents himself to the humans that the trio meets during their travels—because he has nothing but unending trust for them. Even when his trust is proven wrong and a human throws a bucket of water in his face rather than letting him in and feeding him, by the time Bodger encounters another human, that vicious reception has been forgotten and replaced by his default attitude of trust and love toward humans. Through this innocent and steadfast devotion, Burnford demonstrates the adage that dogs are man’s best friend. No matter what, Bodger’s loyalty, devotion, and comfort found in the company and care of humans is unshakeable. 

Tao is the most independent and capable member of the animal trio. This is due to his predominance of wild DNA. This characteristic is also in keeping with widely-held beliefs about the aloofness and self-sufficiency of cats—especially as a counterpoint to dogs. Ultimately, Tao is also a domestic pet, and the deep and nuanced bond of love that he shares not only with his human master Elizabeth, but also his lifelong friend and companion Bodger demonstrate that he is distinct from a wild animal.