The not so great Great Recession. Christmas. An out of work father. And an injured, aging family pet requiring costly ACL surgery. Ron Stempler fully intended to have their nine year old Labrador medically fixed up until everyone suggested an unthinkable alternative. Everyone except his wife and his daughter Darlene who claimed to have an unbreakable ESP connection with her beloved black lab. While trying to decide what to do with the animal they consider a "family member," it is Ron himself - disenfranchised, self doubting, but loving father - whose hard choices allow him to rediscover his valued place as a "family member."