Ep 11. A Boy's Best Friend

In this episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, titled "A Boy's Best Friend," Mary's neighbor and friend, Howard Arnell, asks her to take care of his beloved dog, Chuckles, for a few days while he goes out of town. Mary agrees, excited to have a furry companion to keep her company in her apartment.

However, things take a turn when Chuckles runs away while Mary is out walking him. Mary frantically searches the neighborhood for the pup, enlisting the help of her coworkers at WJM-TV, including Lou, Murray, and Ted. As they search for Chuckles, they encounter a myriad of interesting characters, including a young boy who claims to know where Chuckles is.

Meanwhile, Howard returns to town unexpectedly early, only to find out that his precious dog is missing. Mary breaks the news to him and the two of them set out on a mission to find Chuckles. They eventually track him down to a nearby park, where they discover that the young boy who claimed to know where Chuckles was had actually taken the dog in hopes of keeping him as his own.

The episode touches on themes of responsibility and loyalty, as Mary feels guilty for losing Howard's dog and the young boy grapples with wanting a friend but knowing it's not right to keep someone else's pet. It also features the classic humor and heart that The Mary Tyler Moore Show is known for, as well as the strong bond between Mary and her coworkers.

Overall, "A Boy's Best Friend" is a heartwarming and entertaining episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show that showcases the show's strengths in storytelling and character development.