What book is this?

[CrayonEyes]

Anybody know what book this is? (I read it, loved it, can't remember title or author - unbelievable, I know...) It's about an alien taking the form of a young boy on earth. He can communicate with dogs. His gift to earth is to teach humans how to experience life and the sheer joy of "the presence" and life as a dog experiences it. The alien helps a young deformed girl escape her crazy mother "Sensimilla" and her stepfather who has already killed her brother. Stepfather tells mother boy was taken by aliens to be healed of his deformity.

[phil_geo]

Look at the clues:

Parallel story lines that come together at the end. A prominent dog in the plot. A sympathetic main character who is much smarter than she appears and has a heart of gold. It can only be a Dean Koontz novel!;)

This is One Door Away From Heaven by Koontz.

[CrayonEyes]

Thank you so much Phil_Geo! I'm a relative neophyte and appreciate your info greatly.