"Dear Hound" 
by Jill Murphy

Alfie the deerhound puppy loves his boy, Charlie, and has a happy home- until the night he is left at the kennels. The family are away at a wedding for one night, but Alfie thinks they have abandoned him and escapes. Soon he is lost and afraid....

Charlie and the family do everything they can think of to find him, but months pass and they wonder if they will ever see Alfie again.

I love a "beast" story and this is a great one, with lovely pictures, too. Prepare to feel happy, sad, excited and worried!