Fielding Marshall
Fielding is the protagonist of the story and is the son of Virginia and a brother to Peyton. When his dog, Gonker, gets lost, he becomes the most affected in the family. Fielding knows that Gonker will die if he does not find him in time. His family joins Fielding during this crisis, and they play a vital role in finding Gonker and bringing him home safely.
Fielding’s love for the pet reminded his mother of her affection for pets when she was growing up. However, the determination of Fielding to locate his pet is the motivating factor that encourages every member of the family to undertake a special assignment to ensure that Gonker is brought alive and on time to receive his injection. Consequently, Fielding is a strong character in the novel because of his fighting spirit and the ability to mobilize his family members to rally behind him.
Gonker
Gonker is the golden retriever pet dog that goes missing in the woods. Gonker is the family’s best pet, and when he gets lost, the family becomes frustrated. Fielding is the most affected person in the family after the disappearance of Gonker. Gonker is suffering from a mysterious disease, requiring monthly hormonal injections to keep him alive. When he gets lost, the family is scared that he will die if they do not find him. Fortunately, the family manages to find him and saves his life.
Virginia Newman Corbett
Virginia is the daughter of Corbett and the mother to Fielding and Peyton. While she was a young girl, she loved dogs, and her favorite dog was Oji, who used to wait for her at the front door of the military elementary school.
Colonel William Henry Corbett
Corbett is Virginia's father and works as a lieutenant in USA's Army Special Services Unity. His primary role in the Army is to consent to recreational activities for military men. He visits his family regularly to create a strong bond with Virginia while she is growing up.
Oji
Oji is the name given to the loyal dog that once belonged to Virginia. When Virginia was a student at the military elementary school, Oji could wait for her enthusiastically outside the front door. Once Virginia stepped out, Oji leaped and napped her shoulders to welcome her and escort her home. After Oji's death, Virginia's memory of him stays alive.
Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno
Dr. Ueno is an agricultural engineering professor at the University of Tokyo. He is the owner of the famous Akita dog, whose statue later became a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. After the death of Dr. Ueno, his dog continued waiting for him, but he never showed up.
Uli
Uli is the remaining dog at home after Gonker gets lost in the woods. The role of Uli is critical in the text because he accompanies Fielding and his father to look for Gonker in the woods. The bond between Uli, Fielding, and his father is so strong that it inspires hope of locating Gonker to bring him home alive.
Chuken Hachiko
Hachiko was the most legendary Akita dog that belonged to Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno. Hachiko was an honest and loyal dog to his owner at all times. Dr. Ueno acquired Hachiko when he was a young puppy and lived with him for the rest of his life. Most of the time, Hachiko walked with Dr. Ueno to the railway station. Unfortunately, Dr. Ueno died, and the dog kept going to the station alone and back home, expecting his owner, but that never happened.
Peyton
Peyton is the daughter of Virginia and a sister to Fielding. When Gonker gets lost, Peyton plays a critical role in helping the family locate the missing dog. While Fielding and his father went from place to place to search for the dog, Peyton joined her mother, who set up a home command center to aid in locating the dog.
