Benji

Benji is a stray dog living in an abandoned house on the outskirts. He moves through his days with a calm rhythm and forms a gentle bond with Paul and Cindy Chapman, who treat him with kindness. Mary the housekeeper feeds him when she can, while Dr. Chapman remains distant because of his dislike of dogs.

When the Chapmans expect Dr. Chapman to arrive, the children tuck Benji under the table to keep him out of sight. The ruse succeeds and the father is momentarily fooled. This tiny deception keeps Benji in the household for the moment.

Mary tells Benji that Dr. Chapman is a decent man at heart despite his stubbornness about dogs. She explains the household rules and why the dog still has a place among them. Benji senses the warmth underneath the formality.

Benji wanders through the town, chancing on people and even a cat. He greets Officer Tuttle who hints at his upcoming wedding, and he accepts a bone from Bill at Bill's Café as payment for a cheerful wake-up call. The day offers small moments of friendship and routine.

Three suspicious figures Linda, Henry, and Riley try to break in near the Chapman property. They plan to use the house as a hideout for their boss Mitch and his illegal activities. Benji, hungry and curious, stumbles into their presence when Henry leaves a groceries bag behind and Benji dives into a pudding cup.

The intruders grow more confident as the family learns of the looming threat. Henry notes that his groceries toppled, and Riley voices a fear that the house might be haunted. Mitch and Linda begin to test the family’s defenses while keeping a careful watch.

In the park, Benji meets a pretty white dog rummaging through a trash can. He offers her the bone from Bill's Café, and she follows him back toward the Chapman house. The pair lightens the tense atmosphere for a moment.

Tiffany, the park dog, follows Benji back to the Chapman home, where Mary affectionately names her Tiffany. The moment brightens the household briefly, while the threat outside continues to loom.

Dr. Chapman discovers that the family has been feeding Benji and forbids the dog, arguing that he could carry diseases. This creates friction as the children advocate for Benji while Mary remains cautious.

Riley crafts a ransom note to extort money from Dr. Chapman, threatening the safety of his children. Henry belittles the plan at first, then writes a new note to deliver when the signal comes, shifting the scheme into motion.

Mitch and Linda kidnap the Chapman children, catapulting Benji into a desperate race against time. The family is torn apart as fear and urgency take hold in the quiet town.

Benji rushes to warn the family but is shooed away by Mary. He tries to snatch the ransom note himself to guide the police, but the note slips away. He ends up in the police station, barking through an intercom until a passing officer frees him.

Benji recovers Riley's first ransom note and heads toward Mitch for answers. Tiffany bursts onto the scene and bites Mitch, drawing a violent response from him as Benji races back toward the home front to regroup.

Linda arrives first and snatches the note from Benji, concealing it in her purse. Mary catches up and finally recovers the note, which she rushes to Dr. Chapman to reveal the kidnappers' plans. The suspense tightens as the family awaits the next move.

Benji leads the police, FBI, Dr. Chapman, and Mary to the hideout, and the criminals are stopped at gunpoint. The Chapman children are joyfully reunited with their father, and Dr. Chapman recognizes the dogs' bravery. Benji and Tiffany have found a permanent home alongside the Chapman family.