"Caught another one?"

"Yup."

"What is that? The seventh one today?"

Elliot looked upon his coworker, who held a small beagle by the scruff.

"Found this one bothering some folks in the park, looks like he might have had a license at some point."

"Well, that should be it for the day right?" He tone of voice made it sound like he was telling and not suggesting, "Why don't you go ahead and knock off for the rest of the day, Sam? I can handle things around here."

"You sure about that?" Sam asked him with heavy bags under his eyes.

Elliott waved away his concern with an impatient hand, "Of course I'm sure, go on, get some rest, you look like you need it. I'd need a little shut eye too if I spent my days chasing these filthy mongrels."

Sam stood there for a long moment, seemingly unsure, "Well...alright, I guess I could do with some sleep. Just make sure you feed 'em and lock up afterwards, would be a real pain in the behind to have to go after any of these again, especially that beastly bull mastiff we keep in the back."

"Sure thing old timer."

Finally Sam left, leaving Elliot to put his feet up and prepare for what was destined to be a very lackluster few hours. "Don't know why I always gotta be here to watch these darn mutts," He chuckled absentmindedly to himself, "what are they gonna do? Plot some sort of escape?"

A slow howl emerged from one dog, then as if a natural chain reaction had occurred, another joined in, then another and another, a smaller, more ear piercing one joined in as well and soon enough a whole chorus lit the entire pound up, drowning out the sounds of the rushing cars and wagons outside, as well as the busy going-ons of the dog catchers and their accomplices.

Some diverted from the usual one-two tempo in order to direct the song into a more solemn tune. It worked as they all huddled together and continued to howl in apparent despair and hopelessness, throwing their heads back to draw it out further. Their heads swayed from side to side, continued 'singing' waking up even the oldest, most tired of dogs and encouraging them to join in to the best of their ability.

It went through a few more verses, a few more shrill howls, a few more barks, a few more whimpers and a few more tears and sniffles, before finally, with a great reluctance, they all mentally and mutually agreed that the song should have been brought to a close. Carefully they finished up the last verse, taking care to harmonize with each other in order to give it the ending which it deserved. It ended on a drab note, but that did nothing to hinder the supposed saviness that immediately made itself know in the atmosphere of the room.

"Why did you guys stop?" A short legged, brown dachshund, Daschie, looked at four dogs in particular, crossly, "I need at least one more chorus, or there's never going to be any escaping today."

Toughy, no more than a mutt, looked at him exasperated, "That's the ninth one today! How far are ya actually? Cause I thought you said you could dig us out here today."

"Patience my friend," A larger dog, Boris spoke up suddenly, "As the wise philosopher once said, 'Escape the lies of those who promise that tomorrow they'll love you better'."

"You calling me a liar, borzoi?"

"I not call you one who keeps his promises."

"Why I ought to-"

"Alright! Alright, you guys," Another dog, one with a bushy tail and shining white coat, Peg, spoke up next, "calm down, would ya? A dog can't ever get any sleep in here with all the arguing that's always going on."

"That's the way it goes around here," A chihuahua, Pedro smiled to himself. "What's the big deal today amiga? You're acting less like you and more like my sister, Rosita Chiquita Juanita Chihuahua, she gets annoyed as easily as a Mexican who gets told how to make salsa."

"Is it so much to ask for a little peace every now and again?" Peg challenged.

No one said anything in retaliation.

Bull sat up straight, having suddenly gotten an idea, "Why I wouldn't give a fortune to hear something new today." He slobbered out quickly. "Whaddya' say Peg, quick performance? Just for your pals."

"I don't know about that..."

A disappointed round of mutters passed through the entire pound, when she began to head back to the spot where she had been sleeping.

"I need one more chorus of anything, really!"

"I'm gettin sick of all this howling."

"We're never getting out of here."

She groaned, but ultimately agreed, "Fine, I needed to warm my voice up today anyways, show dog's gotta perform every now and then." Cheers immediately went up in response, brightening the room's atmosphere. "Alright boys, take it on an upbeat, one, two-"

Peg froze suddenly as the sound of the heavy metal door swinging open marked the presence of one of the dog catchers. Immediately everyone's head turned and the shallow hole that the daschund had been digging was almost instantly covered up and patted down.

"Not too sure why your little girl would want one o' these useless mongrels, even as a pet," He led a man, woman and child into the hallway, a family by the look of things, "but I'm not here to judge, so go on, take your pick little one." He waved his head down the hallway. "Don't be shy, they don't- or rather, can't bite."

Every dog watched her carefully as she skipped up and down the hallway, red dress moving along with her rhythm and excited eyes passing over every dog. She stopped at the cell containing Peg, Bull, Toughy and Pedro. Boris looked at her with a rather amused look.

"Mhm..." She hummed to herself, waving a pointy finger at them all before finally settling on one of them, "I want that one!"

It took him a second to realize that she had her finger pointed directly and assuredly at him. "Me?" Toughy asked in surprise, despite the fact that she couldn't hear or understand him.

"Sure thing." The dogcatcher quickly went to work unlocking the cell, "Back you filth! All of you back!" He pushed the others back with his shoe, earning a growl or two, and grabbed Toughy harshly by the scruff.

"Don't worry fella's." He said whilst being dragged away against his will. "I'll be back for all of ya!"

"I want to call him Fluffy!" The little girl gleefully declared as they left the room.

Toughy's face scrunched up in horror, as he gave his friends one last look. "Pray for me."

Stunned silence filled the room when the door was slammed shut again. Bull was the first to speak again, "Talk about unexpected. Toughy, of all dogs, getting adopted by a couple and their little girl."

"Don't you mean Fluffy?" Pedro interjected, snickering to himself, "They're gonna get him a collar and everything."

"So who wants his spot in our little choir?" Peg asked, taking one last look outside the cell.

Boris cleared his throat. "If there are no takers..." He looked at all of them.

"No offense Borzoi," Dachsie went back to digging his hole, "but I don't know if you have the right ear to hit those kind of notes."

Boris merely chuckled, "To listen is an effort, to hear is no merit. A duck hears also."

"Whatever you say man." He opted to focus entirely on his work, not understanding the quote at all. "Just so long as I can get a chorus over here."

"Alright you heard him guys." Bull slurped in a bit of saliva. "On a downbeat, and a one, two, one, two, three..."

Peg sighed and walked away as their endless, soppy howling started anew. She went over to a corner and covered her ears with both paws, wondering whether they would ever see daylight again. Maybe Toughy (Fluffy?) would do good on his promise to return, but even if he did, what good could he do? If anything it would only end up with him sitting right back with the rest of them, doomed to howl away his sorrows for the rest of his days. Or maybe there really was some benefit to having a collar.

AN:

Jaiden113: Hey guys! Thanks for reading, this is my very first fic, so any and all criticism and tips are welcome! Can't wait to hopefully see everyone back for chapter two :3.

PenName099: Thank you for reading, reviews, favorites and follows are appreciated :). We'll try to keep updating monthly.