As the second book in the Shiloh series, Shiloh Season is the sequel to the Newbery award–winning Shiloh. In the first novel, Marty Preston meets a timid beagle in the woods and names him Shiloh. The dog follows Marty home, but his parents say that he cannot keep the dog. They think that Shiloh belongs to their cruel neighbor, Judd Travers. They return Shiloh, but Judd kicks the dog to punish him for running away. Marty feels terrible and blames himself for betraying Shiloh. Luckily, Shiloh runs away again, and this time, Marty keeps Shiloh in a pen in the woods behind his house.

Marty keeps Shiloh a secret. He eats less food at each meal so that he can save some for Shiloh. Determined to save the dog, he finds ways to earn money so that he can buy Shiloh from Judd. One night, another dog jumps into Shiloh’s pen and attacks him. The family rushes Shiloh to Doc Murphy. Dad is angry that Marty kept Shiloh a secret, but he understands that Marty just wants to protect the dog. While Shiloh heals, they all get attached to him, but his parents still make Marty return Shiloh to Judd.