Badger gasped and slunk into the murky shadows. Once the Dog Catcher had gone past, he crept out and made his way back to the garden.

The party was in full swing, and the mead was proving very popular.

Little did they all know that Otto had secretly added a few playful ingredients to the mead mix: a sprinkling of agar-agar powder; a handful of flax seeds; and a razz of rhubarb.

“Badger, where have you been? You’re missing all the fun,” hiccupped Lennie “You have to try some more of the home-made mead. It’s amazing!”

“Thanks Lennie, but I need to concentrate on who I’ve just seen out there in the lane,” said Badger darkly.

Snif stopped jiving and tilted his head, “What’s that, Badger? Who did you see?”

“Yet another old friend of ours! But one who wasn’t invited. I’m afraid the Dog Catcher is back and on the prowl.”

The lane went quiet. The music stopped, and everyone huddled around the Mystical Mutt firing questions at him. There was panic afoot.

Suddenly, the Earl stepped into the middle and shouted: “Halt! Keep calm everyone!”

There was a collective hush.

“Now, listen here. What do any of you have to fear from the Dog Catcher? I believe that you’re all in good homes or good jobs. Surely you are now all official?”

“That’s true,” said Top Dog. “Hamish’s Big Folk made sure I was micro-chipped when they took me in.”

“And I’ve got a collar now, and needed documents to be able to go on tour,” added Dodgy Dave.

“We had to get permits and go through all the correct channels to be able to set up PLOPP, so that must mean we’re safe too,” said Snif.

“I made sure Lennie had his passport before we could go travelling. Besides which, I’m his guardian now,” said Louie proudly. Lennie beamed.

“And of course dear fellows, there’s never been any question about my lineage,” added the Earl, with just a glimpse of his old pomposity.

They all breathed a sigh of relief and got ready to boogie again.

“Hang on a minute,” said Badger, “I think there’s someone we’ve forgotten; someone who is still a stray, with no home. And someone, who is this very minute, in danger, out there in the fog, on her own.”

They all turned round and shouted at once “Pickle!”

“So how can we help her then, gang?” asked Badger.

“Why should we do anything?” frowned Dodgy Dave “She’s been horrible to all of us.”

The others muttered and nodded their agreement. Badger stood quietly and listened.

“So tell me, why do you think Pickle was behaving so badly?” asked Badger.

“Because she’s always been mean?” offered Snif.

“Maybe she never did, and still doesn’t, like us?” suggested Top Dog.

“Perhaps she’s missing Pogo Paws?” said Lennie.

“I think that’s it in a nutshell, Lennie,” agreed Badger “She sees all of you doing well, being happy, and none of you are on your own. Rather than admit that, I think Pickle was lashing out and pretending she doesn’t care.”

The others mulled over what Badger had just said. It was Top Dog who spoke up first. “Right, what can we do to get her to safety?”

“Well, I know where she was, but I don’t know if she’ll still be there,” said the Earl. “She was under a very damp bush further up the lane. Follow me.”

As they all trooped off to find their friend, they could hear the distant thud of the Dog Catcher’s boots behind them, and the jingle-jangle of his keys.

“We’ll have to be quick,” said Badger, sniffing the ground to pick up Pickle’s trail. The others did the same.

“She’s over here!” yelled Snif. They rushed to the bush where Pickle was sitting defiantly with her paws crossed.

“What?” she said. “Can’t a girl get any peace from you lot?”

“Pickle, we don’t have time for this right now,” said Badger urgently. “The Dog Catcher is right behind us, and he’s coming for you. We need to get you back to my garden and hide you in the shed.”

“Leave it to me,” said Otto the fez, diving off Badger’s head and into a spin. Within seconds, the fez had transformed into a red-velvet, rectangular box.

“Wow!” said Badger impressed, “I forgot about your shape-shifting talents.”

“You should make use of me more often then,” said a voice from one of the cushion tassles.

“Right, Pickle, get in!” ordered Badger.

“I’m not getting in there!” said Pickle

The others lunged forward, grabbed her by the ruff and bungled her in.

“Lennie, sit on the top, and make sure she stays quiet.”

They hoisted the box on top of their shoulders and headed towards Badger’s garden.

But as they set off down the lane, they bumped slap bang into two big boots.

“So what’s going on here then?” glowered the Dog Catcher.