There's nothing I hate more than animal stories. They make me a nervous wreck, and for me they're like an accident -- I can't stop watching until I make sure the animal is all right.

I watched this by mistake. Long story - it was on TV and I was doing something else, I kept hearing about a dog - and before I knew it, I was watching it. Against my will.

It's about a dog who is the sole survivor of a car accident in which a man's entire family is killed. Consequently, the guy hates the dog. He leaves it at a vet's and after repeated phone calls, he reluctantly comes and takes the dog. The dog won't get into the car. Finally he does.

One day the vet finds a lost dog ad with a photo of the dog, Cooper. By now, the owner has bonded with him, but he thinks it's the right thing to return him. It turns out these people had lost their grandson. One day the dog showed up in their yard and they just kept him. Then one day he was gone.

Well, the vet figures out that this dog is a miracle or angel - he shows up to help people who are grieving. When the worst of the grieving is over, he takes off.

Meanwhile, one wonders if a relationship is brewing between the lonely man and the lonely vet.

This was a very inexpensive film. For that reason, they couldn't pay the actors much. I for one thought the acting was awful, but for the most part, these are young people starting out. This gave them a chance at a decent credit and a way to work on their craft. I believe some of them were local Texas actors - the male star, John Michael Davis, has done a ton of work since, and apparently relocated to Texas (where this was filmed) at some point in his career.

I knew the ending ahead of time, as you will too, but I kind of wished it had been different.

Jake (Jon Michael Davis) is a Texas businessman, in the computer industry, who has just been given terrible news. His wife and two children have died in a horrific car accident. Only the dog, Cooper, miraculously survived. Rescue workers took the darling black and white canine to a nearby vet, Dr. Caroline (Farah White). Daily, the animal doctor's office calls Jake to notify them about the day he will pick up Cooper, but he doesn't do so. Jake, you see, was persuaded to keep the wandering dog by his children and his present grief is so intense that he can barely move. Fortunately, the vet is patient, even though she is somewhat annoyed. Also, when Jake's mother in law comes for a visit, she helps Jake get the reasons to go on. Meanwhile, Caroline has her own troubles. Her father left long ago and she doesn't trust men and seldom dates. Also, her mother became an alcoholic and is presently in a nursing home. Although Dr. Caro goes often to visit her, the vet still harbors hard feelings about her mother's inability to move on and devote herself to her only child. Inevitably, Jake and Caroline meet, when Cooper is finally picked up. From this beginning, an awkward friendship develops. Then, too, Cooper helps Jake deal with his sorrow and loneliness, more than he ever expected. Trouble arrives. Caroline spies a poster of former owners looking for Cooper. Will they reclaim this "angel dog" who comforts and will Caroline help Jake face this crisis, if needed? Make no mistake, this is a sweet film, but very somber and slow. There is some humor that appears occasionally but its definitely not a smile-a-minute flick. Romance lovers, absolutely, will enjoy it, as will viewers who appreciate a wholesome movie for their loved ones. Davis and White do a nice job and the rest of the cast, unknowns, do well, too. Also, the Texas setting is an asset. So, if any of this sounds like your cup of tea, make an effort to find it. There will, however, be some who will not be patient enough to make it to the finish line.

I agree with what everyone else has said. Not the most polished film, but very heartwarming, and a good message. It makes me want to get a dog and I don't even like dogs. One thing that I did appreciate about it is that it doesn't rush the relationship or focus on the relationship. It realizes that a grieving person is best not to get into another relationship right away until they are fully healed. It could have used a little bit better writing or editing to make it better understood about the man's wife and kids and the accident, and then as others have said with the pacing through maybe better editing through the film as well, but all in all it is very much worth seeing.