Dog In The Manger by Mike Resnick
This is a fast-paced, cleverly plotted, and wryly amusing mystery that will have readers hooked until the very last page. A dog is missing. Not just any dog. The number one Weimaraner in the country and current Westminster Kennel Club winner. Down-on-his-luck private eye Eli Paxton is hired to find him. Not exactly an elite assignment, but better than nothing. Maybe it will help him pay his rent. It turns out to be anything but a routine case. People start dying in mysterious ways, a cargo plane goes missing, and someone is taking shots at him. It makes no sense. Even a top show dog isn't worth that much. Now the hunt is on. Paxton needs to find this dog to save his own skin. The trail leads to Arizona, then Mexico, and finally back to his hometown of Cincinnati, where he finds the startling solution. This volume also includes the bonus short story Even Butterflies Can Sting.