Pierrot the Carabinier: Dog of Belgium (ISBN 1846850363)

Belgian farm dog, Pierrot, goes to war:
The book was written and takes place during World War I. It's the story about a beloved farm dog and his life in Belgium before and during the war. The writing style and level of realism are similar to Jack London's stories, but it's only about 100 pages long. With some illustrations, short chapters, and large print it is an ideal children's book. While the illustrations aren't as cute as Disney's, the story does tackle some significant real-life issues, especially the misfortunes brought on by the German invasion. After being bought as a puppy, Pierrot grows up and leads a contented life, cheerfully pulling the family's produce to market in Brussels with his peasant mistress. When war comes, he is taken away from the family as the Belgian army commandeers all draft animals. And so Pierrot loses his master and finds himself pulling a machine gun, retreating further and further away from his loving family. After nearly being killed in battle, Pierrot heads back to his old home, back to the ones he loves. Although there is a minor bit of violence, the story accurately portrays the plight of animals in this world - subject to extreme hardship, servitude, and often human indifference. But Pierrot's fortitude sees him through it all.