A Dog Named Christmas

Don't miss the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "A Dog Named Christmas" which airs on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 9 PM (EST) on CBS. The movie is an adaptation of Greg Kincaid's novel of the same name, and is the perfect family movie to get you in the holiday spirit.

The Plot

Todd, a 20 year-old (developmentally challenged) son of a Kansas family who lives on a farm, learns that the animal shelter is looking for families to foster dogs for the holidays...in hopes that those pets will be adopted.

Of course there has to be opposition otherwise there would be no movie. Todd's father, George, does not, however, think Todd is capable of caring for a dog and therefore opposes the idea of fostering and eventually adopting a dog.

This turns out to be a tough guy act because the real reason George does not want Todd to have a dog is because of his own experience with dogs, which apparently ended quite poorly. George was just trying to save Todd from the same heartbreak.

Well, leave it to a woman to get a man to change his mind because George's wife, Mary Ann, convinces him that it would indeed be a good thing for Todd - knowing all the while that it would actually be a great idea for George too since dogs have that magical ability to heal a human's heart. We don't want to give away what happens next but suffice to say, the yellow Labrador Retriever named "Christmas" finds a way of melting human hearts.

Human Cast

George - Bruce Greenwood from "Star Trek"
Mary Ann - Linda Edmond from "Julie and Julia."
Todd - Noel Fisher from "The Riches" and "Medium."

*If you live in the greater Houston area and are interested in fostering a dog, click here for a list of shelters.

*Note: If you and your family think you have the time, energy and money to care for a dog responsibly and are considering adoption, please read the article, "Are You a Responsible Dog Owner?" before making any life-long commitments. A dog is not a Christmas toy that can be discarded when children get bored; a dog is a loving member of the family, and only those that can treat dogs as such should consider adopting a dog.

To read more articles by Bobbi Leder on Associated Content, click here.