High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! "Dog of Death" is the nineteenth episode of The Simpsons` third season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 12, 1992. In the episode, Santa`s Little Helper falls ill and the Simpson family must make budget cuts in order to pay for his operation. Although the dog`s life is saved, the family begins to feel the strain of their sacrifices and starts treating him badly, causing him to run away. Santa`s Little Helper ends up in the possession of Mr. Burns, who trains him to become a vicious attack dog. Several days later, Bart stumbles upon the trained Santa`s Little Helper and is attacked, but the dog eventually recognizes his old friend and stops.