After successfully locating and rescuing Homer from a corn maze, Santa's Little Helper is recruited to be a police dog. Santa is teamed with a grizzled veteran cop named Lou. The team ends up arresting a known drug dealer; however, he is set free when it is revealed in court that Santa's Little Helper violated police code. Upset by the injustice, Santa becomes jaded and bites Bart when he tries to surprise him. Santa is subsequently sent to live with Lou. Trying to help Bart cope with his loss, Marge and Homer agree to buy Bart a python. During a show and tell session at school, Bart's python escapes and accidentally releases a toxic cloud from the science lab. Santa ends up rescuing Bart from the toxic cloud and they are reunited once again.