During wartime rationing, Karl, a young Austrian boy, is beaten by his father, Spiel, who threatens to sell the boy's St. Bernard (dog) dog to the butcher to pay for food for the family. However, much to the father's fury, Karl sells the dog himself to a kindly Veterinary physician. The dog, with the help of Maria, a spinster, then rescues Karl after he is trapped in a snowstorm. Maria ends up marrying the vet, and Karl's father ends up letting Karl keep the dog.