Penny the pit bull is a friendly, happy pup with a loving family-and a few fears. Chirping squirrels, hopping bunnies, buzzing bees, and the neighbor's pool frighten Penny; they all look so scary! While Penny is afraid of scary-looking creatures and water, people in her neighborhood think she is scary-looking. It seems that no one sees Penny for the sweet dog she really is.

However, when the boy next door gets in trouble, Penny is the only one who can help. Facing her fears, Penny discovers that she can be brave and overcome what scares her. When people hear how heroic Penny was, they realize that she's not so scary after all, and Penny learns that love, courage, and doing the right thing, even when you're scared, are the things that matter most.