Shiloh is an abused beagle who runs away from his owner one day, and meets Marty Preston (Blake Heron) as the young boy is walking home. Young Marty is immediately conflicted - he knows that Shiloh belongs to the mean Judd Travers (Scott Wilson), but he also knows Judd's reputation for his cruelty to his dogs. Marty's dad Ray (Michael Moriarty), however, doesn't see the conflict, and requires Marty to return Shiloh to Judd. When Shiloh again runs away after another mistreatment, Mary knows better than to let his father see the dog. He instead hides the dog in a shed, and does what he can to fight for the dog, trying anything he can think of so that Judd will allow him to keep the dog, and to protect him from whatever dangers might exist for Shiloh.