A Dog's Way Home 2019

As the basement of an ancient dwelling serves as a sanctuary for a brood of canine companions, led by their stalwart matriarch - a full-grown Pitbull - and a feline mother with her tiny kin. Unbeknownst to this harmonious menagerie, their existence is soon betrayed by Gunter’s vigilante instincts, prompting Officer Leon of Animal Control to pay them an unwelcome visit. Despite the best efforts of Gunter and Leon, one plucky pup manages to evade capture thanks to the cunning guidance of its feline guardian.

In the aftermath, the mother cat, her kittens, and the wayward puppy retreat to their underground haven, where the mother cat assumes the maternal mantle and nourishes the youngling. As this makeshift family finds solace in each other’s company, Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King) and his girlfriend Olivia (Alexandra Shipp), residents of Denver, Colorado, stumble upon a construction site beset by an array of kittens, a mother cat, and one lone puppy - its mother and siblings already whisked away by the city’s impound team.

Lucas, moved by their plight, rescues the pup, whom he dubs Bella (Shelby), and takes her in as his own. As Bella grows at an alarming rate, she finds herself thriving under Lucas’s care, with the two forming a bond that only deepens with time. Meanwhile, Lucas and Olivia take it upon themselves to safeguard the feline contingent from the impending destruction of their humble abode, which looms large on the horizon.

As Lucas navigates this new role as Bella’s guardian, he finds solace in the VA meets his mother, Terri (Ashley Judd), attends. It is here that Bella proves herself a natural charmer, winning over the hearts of veterans grappling with PTSD and forging lasting bonds with her newfound friends. As Lucas and Olivia grow closer, their mutual passion for the welfare of these felines only intensifies.

Lucas’s continued efforts to feed the cats at the old house, however, place him squarely in Gunter Beckenbauer’s (Brian Markinson) crosshairs - a man hell-bent on razing the property to the ground. In response, Lucas takes matters into his own hands, alerting the city to the presence of these feral felines and thereby delaying the demolition.

As tensions escalate, Terri and Lucas find themselves at odds with Gunter, whose permit to demolish the properties is eventually revoked thanks to the duo’s tireless efforts to expose the truth. With this impasse resolved, the stage is set for a heartwarming tale of redemption, compassion, and the transformative power of love.

As Gunter’s plan unfolds, Officer Leon (Tammy Gillis) serves as a formidable enforcer, warning Lucas that if Bella is found on the streets again, she will meet a grim fate. In an effort to safeguard their beloved pet, Lucas and Terri pour all their energy into training Bella to return home from any location within Denver’s sprawling metropolis.

When Bella eventually falls prey to the city’s strict laws, Lucas springs into action, paying a fine to reclaim his cherished companion. However, with the threat of impalement looming large, Lucas takes drastic measures to ensure Bella’s safety by sending her to live with Olivia’s aunt and uncle in the distant town of Farmington, New Mexico.

But Bella’s heart remains firmly rooted in Denver, and she embarks on an arduous 400-mile odyssey, traversing the rugged Colorado mountains, passing through towns like Durango, where missing posters bearing her image serve as a poignant reminder of Lucas’ tireless efforts to reunite with his loyal companion. Along the way, Bella survives by scavenging for scraps and relying on the kindness of strangers.

As she navigates this treacherous landscape, Bella forms an unlikely bond with a cougar cub whose mother was senselessly slaughtered by poachers. With her maternal instincts now in high gear, Bella takes it upon herself to care for the orphaned cub, even going so far as to pilfer food from unsuspecting barbecuers to ensure its survival.

As the cub grows stronger under Bella’s watchful eye, she finds herself protecting it from a pack of snarling coyotes. But their bond is put to the test when two well-meaning strangers stumble upon Bella’s collar and Lucas’ phone number etched upon it. Though they manage to make contact with Lucas, their fear of the cougar cub sends them fleeing before he can answer, leaving Bella bereft of her identifying collar.

As she traverses the treacherous terrain, a chance encounter with a buried man in an avalanche serves as a poignant reminder of her own odyssey. Two kindly strangers take her in, one of whom astutely guesses her name, Bella, and presents her with a new collar. As the days pass, the familiar scent of home wafts through the air, and she decides it’s time to resume her journey back to Lucas.

At each stop along the way, she encounters individuals who possess their own unique stories and homesteads. However, these chance meetings also serve as a poignant reminder that she must continue moving, driven by an insatiable longing to reunite with her family.

Her path next leads her into the care of Axel (Edward James Olmos), a homeless individual who utilizes Bella’s presence to solicit alms from passersby. Though Axel’s fate is ultimately sealed, he leaves behind a lasting impression on Bella, as well as a tangible reminder of his presence in the form of a steel chain that proves nearly impossible for her to escape.

Stranded and alone in an isolated spot near the riverbed, it seems as though Bella’s fortunes have taken a drastic turn. However, fate intervenes once more, as two curious youths stumble upon her predicament and rescue her from her precarious situation.

Though she is once again beset by the threat of predators, this time in the form of a pack of coyotes, Bella finds herself spared by an unexpected ally: the very same cougar cub that had earlier served as her protector. Now grown into a majestic feline, the cat accompanies Bella to the outskirts of Denver City before departing on its own journey.

As she approaches the highway, a sudden turn of events leaves Bella with a broken leg and a desperate need for assistance. Her eventual arrival at Lucas’s doorstep is met with a stunning revelation: the house now belongs to a different family altogether. The new occupants summon animal control, prompting Officer Leon to arrive on the scene.

Though initially hesitant, Bella recognizes the officer and makes a hasty retreat, eventually finding solace at Terri’s VA center. A tearful reunion with Lucas is ultimately followed by a tense confrontation with Officer Leon, who threatens to confiscate her. However, Terri’s timely intervention reminds him that federal property is exempt from Denver city laws, effectively safeguarding Bella from harm.

In the aftermath of this ordeal, Leon’s superior takes issue with his actions, leading to charges of corruption and animal cruelty that ultimately result in his suspension.