When Maggie, her husband Kyle, and their son Ethan move into a house once owned by a late man named Christopher, they’re hoping for a fresh start—especially for Ethan, who’s healing from bullying at his old school. But their new beginning takes a mysterious turn when a husky starts showing up at their door every morning.
The dog, old and gentle, seems to belong—not just to the neighborhood, but to the house itself. Ethan quickly bonds with him, naming him CJ after discovering the name “Christopher Jr.” faintly etched on the dog’s collar. Maggie suspects CJ may have belonged to the previous owner, and the dog’s daily visits feel like more than coincidence.
One day, CJ behaves differently—whining and pacing near the woods. Ethan insists they follow him. What they find shocks them: a pregnant fox caught in a hunter’s snare, barely clinging to life. Maggie frees the fox and, with Kyle’s help, rushes her to the vet. CJ stays close, as if guarding her.
The fox, later named Vixen, survives surgery and is brought home to recover. CJ never leaves her side. Days later, Vixen gives birth to four kits. The family builds a den in the woods and releases them when they’re ready. But every weekend, Ethan, Maggie, and CJ visit—and Vixen always comes out to greet them.
What began as a move to escape the past becomes a story of connection, healing, and unexpected guardianship. CJ wasn’t just a dog—he was a bridge between lives, guiding Maggie’s family toward a deeper kind of home.
