Book Title Requested

[Schutzengel]

I have been trying to remember a book title for ages.
The story was slightly similar to The Plague Dogs, in that the dog (and I think a second dog), had either been rescued or escaped from an animal experimentation research laboratory. The main character took in the dog, or dogs, but the authorities were searching for them, to capture and return the dog to the research laboratory.
The book ended with the man and dog sitting on top of a hill, watching the searchers getting closer and closer. The man's final words to the dog were heartbreaking. Paraphased - "I'll never let them take you". Then with his arm around the dog, he put a bullet in the back of the dog's head. Please can someone help with the title and author, as its driving me mad trying to remember. It was quite a few years ago when I read the book, and I don't know what happened to it, but I really would like to read it again and take better care of it this time. Many thanks in advance.

[jessiedog]

Could it be this ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchers_(novel)

[Schutzengel]

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, this isn't the book I'm looking for. This one is a horror story. The one I'm looking for, although it's a novel, it's drawing attention to the issue of the secrecy surrounding the experimentation on live animals. Thanks again for your efforts. I'll just have to keep looking.