After Homer expels Santa's Little Helper from the house for stealing a turkey drumstick, Bart and the dog run away from home. Bart tries to steal a pie cooling on a window sill at Mr. Burns' mansion, but Burns' hounds chase him away. While wandering the streets, Bart uses Homer's ID to sell his blood and visits a breadline that is serving Thanksgiving dinner to homeless people. Kent Brockman interviews Bart for a human interest story at the soup kitchen. The family sees the report on television and call the police, hoping they can help find Bart and bring him home. When the police fail to locate Bart, Homer and Marge regret saying severe things that drove him away.