A Dog Named Duke

The film begins with Marine Sergeant Terry Pulaski returning home from Afghanistan with shrapnel in his spine and significant nerve damage. His wife and young daughter, Alice, find a stray dog they name Duke, who quickly becomes Terry's closest companion as he struggles through painful physical therapy. When Terry is informed that his injuries require a medical discharge, he falls into a deep depression, fearing he can no longer provide for his family or be the man he once was. Following a tense Fourth of July celebration where his physical limitations are laid bare, Terry makes the agonizing decision to leave his family, believing they are better off without him. He leaves a letter and disappears into a life of homelessness. Ten years later, Terry is living in a dilapidated motorhome in a park, working odd repair jobs and relying on the friendship of a fellow veteran named Javier. His only constant is Duke. When Duke suddenly collapses from a suspected stroke, Terry is devastated. Unable to afford the expensive tests and treatment, and unable to bear watching his best friend suffer, Terry takes Duke to the Valley Animal Clinic. He leaves Duke with the staff along with all his remaining money and a note explaining his situation as a homeless veteran, asking the doctors to 'let him sleep' peacefully. He walks away, once again choosing abandonment because he cannot face the pain of loss. At the clinic, Dr. Angela refuses to euthanize Duke without a fight. She discovers that Duke isn't dying of a stroke but is suffering from vestibular disease, a treatable condition. As Duke recovers, his story becomes a local media sensation. Meanwhile, Alice, now a grown woman and a teacher, sees a flyer about the 'miracle dog' and recognizes Duke. She is now married to Matt and pregnant with her first child, but she has never stopped missing her father. She visits the clinic and, though she doesn't find Terry immediately, she begins a search for 'Camper Terry.' Javier eventually sees the news story and informs Terry that Duke is alive. Terry is overcome with guilt and hope. He returns to the clinic and is finally reunited with Duke. Simultaneously, Alice tracks him down. The two have a raw, emotional confrontation where Terry explains that he left not because of a lack of love, but because he felt 'broken' and 'not a man.' Alice forgives him, introducing him to her husband and revealing that he is going to be a grandfather. The film concludes on Father's Day, with Terry finding a new job as a carpenter and rebuilding his life with Duke and his family, finally understanding that his 'foundation' is his love for them.