When Mishka is abandoned on the streets of Moscow he falls in with a gang of other homeless children, hoping they'll give him a chance of survival. But as winter freezes the city and food becomes scarce, he is left alone, to fend for himself.

Help comes in an unexpected form: Mishka is adopted by a pack of dogs. The creatures quickly become more than just his street companions, they are his family. But he can't stay hidden from the world for ever . . .