Ep 12. A Man's Best Friend

Andy Griffith Show season 6 episode 12, "A Man's Best Friend," follows the life of Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffith, in the small fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Throughout the series, viewers have gotten to know Andy, his son Opie, and the eccentric cast of characters that make up Mayberry. In this episode, the town's annual rabbit hunt brings up the question of what man's best friend really is.

The episode opens with Andy, Deputy Barney Fife, and their friends and neighbors preparing for the annual rabbit hunt. As they gather their shotguns and hunting dogs, Barney expresses his excitement for the day's events, but Andy is less enthusiastic. He's uneasy about the idea of killing animals for sport, and as they set out into the woods, he muses about how he wishes he could bring his own dog, but he doesn't have one.

Back in town, Aunt Bee is getting some work done on her front porch when Opie comes home from school with a new friend – a lovable mutt he's named Fleegle. Opie begs to keep the dog, and Aunt Bee agrees, but she cautions him that keeping a dog is a big responsibility.

Meanwhile, the rabbit hunt isn't going as planned. Barney's dog, Blue, is barking at everything but rabbits, and Andy is struggling to even hold his shotgun. When they come across a mother rabbit and her babies, Andy hesitates to take a shot. He convenes with Barney, and expresses his concerns, but before he can finish his sentence, he accidentally fires his gun, startling the group and injuring Barney's pride.

Back at home, Opie is showing Fleegle the ropes. Aunt Bee is still cautioning him about the responsibility of owning a dog, and Opie is confident he can handle it. But when he tries to teach Fleegle to sit, the dog doesn't understand. Aunt Bee explains that training a dog takes time and patience, and that it will require a lot of work from both of them.

As the hunt continues, Andy starts to realize that there might be something to his unease about killing animals. He confesses to Barney that he's not having any fun, and that he wishes he could be back in Mayberry playing fetch with a dog. Barney scoffs at the idea, but Andy is determined, and heads back to town to try to find a dog.

Meanwhile, Opie and Fleegle are bonding, but Aunt Bee is growing frustrated with the amount of work it takes to care for a dog. When Opie asks her if she'll help him train Fleegle, Aunt Bee snaps and insists that she's not responsible for the dog. Opie is left alone, confused and hurt.

In the end, Andy finds a dog named Sam at the local pet shop and brings him home. He's relieved to finally have a dog to play with, but as he watches Opie and Fleegle bond again, he realizes that dogs aren't just for fun – they require a lot of work and commitment. He apologizes to Barney for his behavior earlier in the day and vows to take better care of Sam. As the episode comes to a close, Andy and Opie play fetch with the two dogs, and the town of Mayberry comes together to enjoy a meal and celebrate their community.

"A Man's Best Friend" is a heartwarming episode that explores the relationship between humans and animals. It raises thought-provoking questions about the ethics of hunting and the responsibilities of pet ownership. As always, Andy Griffith and the cast of The Andy Griffith Show bring their charm and talent to make an episode that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant.