 Physically abused as a child , Judd wants to keep Shiloh because he does not comprehend why people are so interested in rescuing the abused dog . No one cared to rescue Judd when he was harmed throughout his youth . Despite Judd 's growing into a harsh man , reviewer Hary Sheehan noted , he preserves a glimmer of empathy . Journalist Kate Cavanaugh wrote that Judds ' inability to love and cherish Shiloh is borne because of the love his family nurtured in him . 
