A true story of a family and town's effort to save a beloved and heroic dog named Semper Fi       The father, a Captain in the US Marines and his homemaker wife, contend with the not so earth shattering problems of their twin, fifteen year old daughter and son as well as the antics of their precocious six year old daughter       Their lives tumble along, as most families do, until they must face the grave diagnosis of their faithfully and very loved Golden Retriever, Semper Fi       The family cannot afford the expensive surgery the dog needs       The children jump into action with a plan, spear headed by the fifteen year old daughter       They plan a community yard sale, donating all of their most prized possessions       The family's grumpy neighbor plays an unlikely and unexpected part in the ultimate success of the fund raising       Before Semper goes in for his surgery, he displays a heroic act that almost ends his life       The story unfolds during the holiday season