During the first film, Ace lives in an apartment alongside many different animals, all of whom hide from his landlord (to whom he owes money for rent), Mr. Shickadance (Mark Margolis) in his absence.

Ace also learns of a missing hiker who coincidentally is named Lois Einhorn, who is a lieutenant of the Miami Police department and tries to figure out the connection she has with his suspect.

As the real Lois Einhorn was still missing, Finkle had used the opportunity to steal her identity by having a sex-change and then joined the police force as part of his plan for revenge.

Following Einhorn to the hideout inside a wharf, he tries to test his theory on her, but finds a normal feminine body and actual hair.

Ace begins a relationship with Miami Dolphins' press officer, Melissa Robinson, while Lois Einhorn a.k.a Ray Finkle is arrested.

During meditation with the Abbot, he discovers Vincent Cadby who originally hired him to find the bat is the same kidnapper who wanted the war to happen so he can take control of the guano deposits there.

After the marriage between the Wachati chief's daughter and Tiny Warrior, Ace is eventually hunted down by both tribes, implying he had something to do with the princess no longer being a virgin.

[1] However, Ace Jr. inherited his ability to discern trouble, which he must rely on when he must assist in finding his classmates' pets along with the missing animals and clear his mother's name when she is accused of the theft.

Ace Ventura is an eccentric self-styled "pet detective" who forsook regular police work to concentrate on this latter pursuit.