What was the resolution in the story Sounder?

Without getting into too much detail, the lead human character is arrested and hauled off to prison, and the dog howls and pines. The title is derived from the name of the Dog, possibly an allusion to a telegraphic sounder, but dogs do not click out dots and dashes. Maybe telegraphing the punches- the events of the novel. it is a downer and ends on a tragic note.