Pug would never forget the day he met Fido McNutty.

He was locked up in a prison at the time. Not that he’d done anything wrong, he wasn’t that type of dog. He was simply a youngster finding his way on the streets who’d made the mistake of not noticing the Dog Catcher.

The net had been dropped over him without warning while he’d been sitting outside a butcher shop window one morning staring dreamily at a large T-bone steak. He’d been captured all too easily. Next time, he’d promised himself, he wouldn’t be caught off guard like that. He’d keep his wits about him and make sure he had an escape route.

Pug had been thrown into the back of the Dog Catcher’s enclosed van without ceremony to join a large Afghan hound who tried unsuccessfully to get out when the door was opened.

‘Oh no, you don’t,’ said the man slamming the door on him.

The Dog Catcher hopped back into the driver’s seat and the van took off. There were no side windows, only two small ones at the top of the twin back doors. They were too high for Pug to see out but not so for his new companion.

‘Well I had to try, didn’t I?’ said the Afghan.

‘Of course. Where is he taking us?’ the young Pug asked. He noticed that the Afghan’s long silky hair was damp; a tangled, matted mess that was long overdue for a good brushing.

Pug was glad that he was a short hair. He might shed a lot but at least it didn’t become knotted.

His fellow captive looked at him sadly. ‘To the Pound,’ he answered. ‘If our owners don’t claim us within three days we’ll be put up for adoption. Then if nobody wants us..,’ the Afghan shuddered, “it”s the needle. Sleep time. The end.’

Pug didn’t know what the needle was but he didn’t like the sound of it if it meant the end.

‘How do you know?’ he asked. ‘Have you been there before?’

‘Once,’ replied the Afghan. ‘I never thought I’d be going there again but that’s what’s happening.’

‘How did he get you?’ Pug was curious.

‘My owner had just put me in the bath and I don’t like baths. That didn’t help. The front gate was left open and the temptation was too great. I was out of there. I’d only gone three blocks when I scooted around a corner and, trust my luck, I ran straight into the Dog Catcher. To make matters worse before we stopped to add you to the collection we even drove past my owner who was out looking for me. She didn’t see me,’ said the Afghan miserably.