Eventyret begynder da Lady og Vagabondens hvalp Vaks løber hjemmefra. Han møder Angel, en sej lille pigehvalp, som tager ham med på lossepladsen, hvor Buster og hans klike bor. Og de lever præcis lige så frit og uden bekymringer, som Vaks kun har turde drømme om. Men selvom Vaks stortrives, er det nye miljø også meget hårdere end det trygge hus han har forladt.

This holiday tale has all the elements of a classic heartwarmer--cuddly dogs, small town spirit, and even a full-fledged Christmas pageant. Set during the meager years of the Great Depression, 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS follows the story of Emma, a 12-year-old who is sent to live in Doverville, a rural town, with her aunt. The town has, like the rest of the nation, fallen on lean times and seem to have lost all interest in celebrating. However, Emma manages to enlist the town's dogs into a colorful holiday pageant that reminds the inhabitants that even the Great Depression cannot ruin the spirit of Christmas.

Skippy, the mischievous son of a wealthy doctor, meets Sooky in poverty-ridden Shantytown, and together they try to save Sooky's pet from a cruel dogcatcher.

The cat of the house has its nap interrupted by two playing puppies, which sets off a chain of events.

In this variation on "The Three Little Pigs", Droopy and his brothers, Snoopy and Loopy, repeatedly outwit the big bad wolf, a dogcatcher who tries to find a way to get the pooches out of their house of bricks.

Alice presides over a secret club which proposes to rid the town of dog catchers and free the dogs!

The dog catcher of the title is arrow-narrow Slim , and his "love" is pert Peggy. Alas, his rival is handsome bow-wow fancier E.R. Ketchum, whose luck with women borders on the fantastic.

Popeye, feeling sorry for the puppies in the window of Olive Oyl's pet shop, buys all the animals (mostly dogs) and sets them free. A parrot declines to go, singing the title song to explain why it likes it just fine in the shop. Meanwhile, the freed dogs are not faring well.