The Starlight Barking

infobox Book |
name = The Starlight Barking
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Dodie Smith
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Children's novel
publisher = William Heinemann Ltd. (1967 edition)
Egmont Books (2006 edition)
release_date = 1967
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = ISBN 1-4052-2481-9 (2006 edition)
preceded_by = The Hundred and One Dalmatians
followed_by =

"The Starlight Barking" is a 1967 children's novel by Dodie Smith. It is a sequel to "The Hundred and One Dalmatians".

Although "The Hundred and One Dalmatians" has been adapted into two films (animated: "One Hundred and One Dalmatians"; live-action: "101 Dalmatians"), and each version has a sequel film ("" and "102 Dalmatians"), neither sequel film has any connection to "The Starlight Barking".

Plot

A day of enchantments for the Dalmatians of the first book begins when the Dalmatians wake up and find all the humans and other animals in an unnaturally deep sleep. They hear the barking of Cadpig, carrying all the way from London, where she has become the Prime Minister's pet. She informs them reports from all over the country reveal the same phenomenon, and summons delegate dogs to London. They travel to London by "swooshing", gliding just off the ground.

Pongo and Missus decide to investigate Cruella to see if she's behind the mysterious events. Joined by Tommy and the white Persian cat (both from the first book and both of whom are awake due to being dubbed "honorary dogs") and a few dogs, they arrive at her house, where the doors magically open for them. As it turns out, Cruella is now marketing a line of metal raincoats and is fast asleep like all the other humans on earth.

The dogs travel to Trafalgar Square where they are addressed from the top of Nelson's Column by Sirius, Lord of the Dog Star, an extraterrestrial dog. Every dog perceives him as a dog of his own breed. Sirius invites them all to travel back to his home where they will be safe from the dangers of nuclear war on Earth, not to mention the whims and potential abuse of humans. Some dogs are for this, some against, but in the end all the dogs agree that Pongo, known for his braininess and heroism, should make the decision.

Pongo joins in a conference with Cadpig and her "cabinet" (the dogs of all the human cabinet members) discussing whether to go with Sirius or not. Then three skinny, mixed-breed strays arrive and ask to be heard. Pongo is sure that they will want to go with Sirius, but they want to stay on earth and someday have "pets" (owners) of their own.

Pongo tells Sirius the dogs can't abandon their humans and the Dog Star sadly accepts the decision. Before he leaves, he grants every dog the power to reach his home before the humans wake up. All the stray dogs take the opportunity to go to the Battersea lost dog home.