SOLVED. Tween/YA fiction: Australian girl rescues random animals including a dingo puppy she named Ajax, a boxing kangaroo, and a monkey. Can't remember much plot other than her collecting random animals, read early 90's. [s]

[Jade]

A girl (teen or pre-teen) living with her family in Australia collects/rescues random animals. She rescues a dingo puppy at the beginning, naming him Ajax. She rescues/collects more random animals with the help of her family throughout the book.

She felt bad for an abused kangaroo forced into boxing, demanded the owner give (or sell) her the kangaroo. When the owner threatened her she called her dogs (at least 2 dogs and the dingo) to her aid. I think the dad ended up buying the kangaroo from the man.

I think there was also a monkey who wouldn't let go of her finger at some point in the book. I don't know if there was much of a plot; if it was just her collecting animals or if there was more to it than that.

The dingo at one point saves her from a wolf or a pack of wolves I think.

There was a chapter where one of the smaller dogs was pulled out of the 'spotlight' by new animals and got kind of sad, so they gave him a job where he would deliver messages from one person to another within the household to keep him happy and attention on him.

I'm not sure if that's enough to go on but I always remembered the dingo's name Ajax. Read it in middle school.

[Brittany]

Ajax: Golden Dog Of The Australian Bush?

[Jade]

That's probably it.. I am googling but I can't find a description that confirms. I'll read it and see. Thanks!

[Emily]

Here are reviews on its Amazon page, many of which describe plot points:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/125...

[Jade]

Emily wrote: "Here are reviews on its Amazon page, many of which describe plot points:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/125......"

Emily that helped a ton, thanks! Yes this is the book I was looking for!