An eccentric chicken farmer, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a penguin sanctuary from fox attacks in an attempt to reunite his family and save their seaside town.
The parent of a grown child died many years before the story takes place. The loss has a role in the story, but not one I perceived as traumatic in any way.
The dog does get shot with a tranquilizer once, but it isn't really shown aside from some blood and a minor wound. It's not full on abuse, but the dog is injured in a way.