The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog summary

When we’re born, we’re vulnerable, afraid, and completely dependent on the people who bring us into the world. The care and love that our parents or carers give – or don’t give – play a huge role in who we become and how we develop, both mentally and physically.

Take the case of Laura. At just four years old she weighed a mere 26 pounds, even with tube feeding. Doctors were baffled, labeling it as an unusual case of infantile anorexia. When the case reached Dr. Perry, he quickly uncovered the true root of Laura’s physical ailment: the profound emotional neglect from her mother, Virginia.

It’s a common philosophical and social question: Why do some children grow up to be model citizens, while others turn to cruelty and violence? The answer often lies in their early childhood experience, and the effect of traumatic events on the developing brain.

This can be seen clearly in the disturbing case of Leon. At the age of 16, he committed a horrible crime – the brutal sexual assault and murder of two 12- and 13-year-old girls. Leon came from a stable family; despite a troubled past, he had no history of violence. His brother, who came from the same home and shared the same genes, was much more empathetic and well behaved. So what happened? What made one of the brothers turn into a callous, remorseless murderer? Dr. Perry suspected that the answer lay in Leon’s early childhood.

When Bruce Perry met Justin, the boy was six years old. Justin had spent ages one to five severely emotionally and physically neglected – locked in a cage, with only dogs to keep him company most of the time. When he was discovered, he was nonverbal, behaviorally challenged, and quickly labeled as permanently brain-damaged.

Up until that point, Justin had never received consistent or focused care. Dr. Perry was the first to explore the boy’s upbringing – revealing a world devoid of stimulation and opportunities, where Justin was more familiar with canine companions than human interaction. Perry focused on giving the boy a predictable environment and a calculated gentleness to heal this seemingly irreversible damage. Eventually, Justin made astonishing progress and went on to meet expected developmental milestones.

James was a problem child. His mother, Merle, reported him to be uncontrollable and defiant. He’d run away from home, jump out of moving cars, try to kill himself by leaping from windows, and constantly lie to and defy his parents. An early therapist diagnosed him with Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD – characterized by an inability to form relationships and understand social cues.

Despite this diagnosis, there was something off about James’s situation. When Dr. Perry first met the boy, he was struck by how likable and friendly he was – James maintained eye contact, was well behaved, and even made jokes. Perry’s colleague, as well as emergency professionals who’d taken care of James during his numerous suicide attempts, all had the same impression. Something wasn’t adding up.