Sweeney is a Chihuahua puppy who has only one goal in life-to love, and be loved in return. Yet for Sweeney, this dream seems to be impossible. Even though her friend, a German Sheppard named King, tries to keep her spirits up, her owners abuse and neglect her. Finally, they abandon her in the woods to starve to death or be killed. Sweeney survives with the help of a tough, smart squirrel named Squeaky, and begins a harrowing adventure that takes her to the Humane Society of Connecticut. She meets many human and animal friends there. In spite of their affection for her, Sweeney longs for a permanent home. A construction worker named Jimmy Star adopts her, and she gets a new name-Rocket. But when Jimmy's mean landlady forces Jimmy to move, trouble begins for both Jimmy and Rocket. The semiautobiographical Rocket & the Construction Worker is designed for young adult readers, but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.