Unleashed Bonds

Jesse, Tom, Jerome, and Jimmy, collectively known as the SCRUFFS, inhabit the lower flats of Portland where they engage in daily skirmishes with snobbish students from the local high school. Jimmy nurtures a fervent desire to finally outdo the preps at their own game. However, a brawl erupts at the neighborhood pizzeria, intensifying the animosity between the preps and the scruffs, and resulting in community service obligations for all involved. Jerome finds himself assigned as a pig slop processor, Jimmy must repair damages at the pizzeria, while Jesse becomes a kennel attendant at the local ASPCA. During his time at the shelter, Jesse strikes up an endearing friendship with an overweight golden retriever whom he affectionately names Buddy. Tragedy strikes when Jerome's lifelong aspiration to join the Army Rangers takes a tragic turn during his first parachute jump from a C-130 Hercules. The impact renders him unconscious, and a string inadvertently tightens around his neck, depriving him of air and ultimately leading to his demise. This devastating loss casts a profound shadow over the lives of Jesse, Tom, and Jimmy, and affecting their cherished bond of friendship. However, a heartwarming moment ensues when Jesse's newfound friendship with Buddy the golden retriever brings the three friends together once again. This pivotal moment sets the stage for their ultimate challenge, pitting them against the preppies' Ibizan Hound in the grand Dog Dock Diving contest of the Pacific Northwest. In this competition, Buddy takes a one-in-a-million shot. Through this endeavor, they learn that perseverance and the lessons they have learned in life are far more valuable than a mere trophy.