Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.
Plot Description: Harold and Chester's family are going on a roadtrip and are leaving them at the Chateau Bow-Wow. Dr. Greenbriar, the veterinarian for the Chateau, will be on his own vacation and is leaving Jill and Harrison in charge to watch over the animals. During the first night Harold and Chester overhear some ominous howling, and Chester quickly renames the place the Howliday Inn.
Harold, a dog, and Chester, a cat, meet some strange animals being boarded at the Howliday Inn. Max the bulldog, Louise a poodle (who seems to be having a lover's spat with Max), Georgette the flirty poodle, Taxi the strange mutt, Lyle the crazy cat, and Howard and Heather, a pair of wire-haired dachshunds who are the ones doing all the howling. This leads Chester to believe they are werewolves. After a rather stormy night Louise disappears without a trace and Chester and Harold are off to investigate. From the looks of her cage, Chester fears Louise was poisoned and Harold thinks it might have been Taxi because he overheard him mention a show he'd seen where a woman was poisoned. Taxi hears them talking and gets upset. Later Chester and Harold eavesdrop on Max and Georgette, hearing them talk about running off. Chester and Harold get caught and Taxi and Max want to know what they are up to. Chester lets them in on their investigation.
The next day Chester is missing, and Harold hears Harrison and Jill talking about how Chester was poisoned. This is awful, but Harold must find out what happened. Chester shows up and says that it is Harrison and they need to stop him before he can get to Howard and Heather. Heather had just had puppies and that is what Harrison is after. Taxi and Lyle jump Harrison and while he tries to get them off Dr. Greenbriar shows up with Jill, Max, Georgette and Louise! It turns out Harrison had planned to sell the puppies to make money, Jill got suspicious of his behavior and called Dr. Greenbriar. They went by Harrison's home and heard Max, Georgette and Louise (who he had snatched and kept captive at his house) barking. Harold and Chester's family come and get them but have a surprise of their own. They are getting to keep one of the puppies and are naming him Howie after Howard!
Genre: Mystery
Subjects/Themes: animals, theft, friendship, mystery
Suggested reading level: Grades 4-6
Other books by this author:
- Bunnicula (with Deborah Howe)
- The Celery Stalks at Midnight
- Return to Howliday Inn
- Bunnicula Strikes Again!
