Early in the film, both Kim and her mother are injured in a car accident.
But Kim's dog, Poco, gets spooked during the commotion and runs off into the desert.
Lost in the dangerous wilds, Poco treks across the wilderness in search of Kim.
Poco has several adventures as he makes his way through scenic, diverse, and occasionally treacherous California terrain, from the high desert, the Sierra Nevada mountains, a ghost town, and a romp through Yosemite National Park.
The dog also has several encounters along the way, including a kind old gas station owner (John Steadman) and a benevolent gold prospector (Chill Wills), as well as a few other animal friends, all of whom help Poco on his journey home.