The Dog Who Lost His Bark (Eoin Colfer, P. J. Lynch)

Patrick has been desperate for a dog of his own for a long as he can remember – and this summer, with his father away, he longs for a buddy more than ever. In his short doggy life, Oz has suffered at the hands of BAD PEOPLE. Somewhere out there, he believes, is an AWESOME BOY – his BOY. Maybe when they find each other he will learn to BARK again...