‘Hey, it’s Baxter, aka Little Man. Quite a day – lost precious Lamb Chop, braced a sneeze-fest in Broccoli-ville and faced feline foes in the kitty kingdom! But hey, all for the love of Pawsburg and chicken muffins. Lesson learned: Doggy Sherlock rocks. PS: Lamb Chop is home and safe! Woof out.’

Listen to the story here

‘Bless my monocle, who better than one-eyed Baxter to decode the mystery of the missing Lamb Chop?’ was my first thought this morning. A dog of his stature, albeit miniature, possesses an astute intellect well-respected in Pawsburg.

After spending the day sunbathing in Maltese Meadow, this brave Chihuahua of one indulges at Bone Appetit. The atmosphere is always lively, filled with wagging tails and a constant chorus of canine laughter. Baxter, with his slender snoot, usually orders chicken, which he dismembers with a vigor most voracious, avoiding the dreaded broccoli as a cat evades water.

The sight of Baxter’s success draws admiration and intrigue alike. And since the vanishing of his favorite toy – an enigma even worthy of our doggy Sherlock, the murmurs of appreciation had grown to a crescendo. The wash of inquisitiveness painted all our faces, none more than Baxter himself, considering the Lamb Chop was more than a mere plaything.

‘And to think,’ told Baxter, sounding as suspicious as Cocker Spaniels appear, ‘it disappeared from the guarded vaults of The Fetching Feline Pet Emporium – ghastly, isn’t it?’ Western Husky Hill echoed with the gasps of disconcerted dogs.

The clue, you see, was in this peculiar piece of information. For while dogs flocked to Pupsicle Palace and The Dapper Dog Salon, they kept a wide berth from The Fetching Feline Pet Emporium. ‘Of course!’ I exclaimed, ‘The cats!’ Baxter looked as though a lightbulb had flickered to life above his head.

With his unusual mix of black and white fur ruffling in the evening breeze, Baxter embarked on a mission, attempting to bridge the age-old cat-dog divide. With the resilient charm of a diplomat, and the intelligence of Sherlock himself, he ventured into the whiskered territory, confident and yet timid as a puppy facing a vacuum cleaner.

Baxter was indeed the most reluctant Pet Detective ever to grace Pawsburg, but as they say, despot times call for despot measures. His journey brought him face to face with unfriendly felines, chilly water bodies, and at a regrettable moment, even a broccoli broccoli laden salad.

But for this admirable Chihuahua, his heroism was powered by love. Love for his favorite toy, love for chicken, love for his friends – and most of all, love for Pawsburg, the canine utopia he cherished.

His adventure was filled with hardships, filled with comic terrors that dogged him at every corner. Yet Baxter managed to uncover the mystery of the missing Lamb Chop, creating waves of laughter and relief throughout the town.

As the town hailed Baxter, the reluctant hero, Pawsburg carried on its doggy business as usual. But the tale of Baxter, the one-eyed Chihuahua, a pet detective with a heart of gold, was forever etched, celebrated, and narrated with fondness and fervor under the clear blue skies of his beloved town.

The End.