The novel by Gavriil Troyepolsky tells the moving story of a hunting dog named White Bim Black Ear. After Bim's owner ends up in the hospital, the dog sets off to search for him and encounters various people —good and evil, responsive and indifferent. This is a poignant work about loyalty, kindness, and humanity, which compels one to reflect on our attitude toward our lesser brethren. The book became a classic of Soviet literature and was adapted into a film in 1977.