Based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Scottish writer Sheila Burnford,[2] the film follows the adventure of Luath the Labrador Retriever, Bodger the Bull Terrier, and Tao the Siamese cat as they journey 300 miles (480 km) through the Canadian wilderness to return to their home.

The film's human cast consists of Émile Genest, John Drainie, Tommy Tweed, and Sandra Scott, with Rex Allen providing narration.

It was the final film to be scored by longtime Disney composer Oliver Wallace, who died two months prior to its release.

His housekeeper Mrs. Oakes is coming the next day, so he leaves her a note, including how he plans to let the three animals staying with him - Tao the Siamese cat, Luath the Yellow Labrador, and Bodger the elderly English Bull Terrier - out for a morning run.

He retires to bed, and reflects on how his friend John Hunter (Luath's owner, who lives nearly 250 miles away) received an offer for a visiting fellowship at the University of Oxford.

Tao and Bodger belong to Hunter's children Elizabeth and Peter, respectively, and Longridge offered to take in all three pets while the family was away.

It breaks, and Tao is washed miles downstream, where he is rescued by a little Finnish girl named Helvi, who nurses him to full health with her parents' help.

Tao manages to free the dogs, and the trio wanders into the harsh Ironmouth Mountains, where there will be no more help from humans, and a terrible wintery climate.

[3] There were three animal handlers; Hal Driscoll looked after the Labrador, Bill Koehler the Bull Terrier, and Al Niemela the cat.

Fox in the roles of the animals unlike the original where they are mute, the film keeps the same basic story line, but adds a subplot in which the kids are dealing with a new stepfather.