Gamblers, grifters, ne'er-do-wells, and dirt poor-to those who live on the outskirts of Columbia, South Carolina, such is the reputation of the Temmens family. Most of all, they're known to be trouble, and when Gene, the youngest son, returns from a vagabond trip around the country, that's exactly what he brings.

Hounded by Texas bookies, Gene and his destitute family have no choice but to gamble on one last ace: The Sweet Muffin Ranch, their family-owned and operated dog rescue and rehabilitation center that, to everyone's surprise, quickly becomes a runaway success, one that makes the Temmens the talk of the town and offers Gene the chance to leave behind his illicit past.

But when Hollis Lerne, a nefarious local loan shark arrives to collect on old gambling debts and one of the Texans goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Gene and his family are caught in the middle of a bloody, unorthodox war that threatens the lives of humans and canines alike.