When 11 year old William goes to the pound, he picks out the perfect dog right away: a big, silky, yellow lab. When they get home, Riley acts as if he has lived with William all his life. The boy promises to always keep the dog safe.

But when Riley chases a neighbor's aging horse, the animal control officer takes him away. According to local law, Riley must be killed. Now William has 21 days to save his beloved dog. In a town where opinions about animals are deeply divided, it isn't going to be easy.