Tia heads to Detroit to help a rescue facility at risk of being shut down; the Villalobos team looks for a stray pit bull in a nearby neighborhood; a grieving adopter comes to VRC, hoping to find a dog to fill the void in her heart.

When Tia receives an adoption email unlike any she's seen before, she makes a cross-country trip to find a dog a special home in time for Christmas; the kids' significant others band together to give the family an unforgettable present.

Tia attempts to rescue a stray, but her leg injury holds her back; new parolee Mike struggles to balance working and being a parent; a family comes to Villalobos hoping to adopt a dog for their daughter, but finding a good match proves a challenge.