Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief

Maya Dolittle attends a college interview for San Francisco College's veterinary program. The interview exposes weak grades and a lack of meaningful extracurriculars, leaving her waitlisted with four weeks to prove herself. The admissions committee makes clear she must demonstrate real-world animal handling potential.

President Sterling explains that his dog Daisy is a symbol of his presidency and is acting out. With John Dolittle away on travel, Maya volunteers to step in and communicate with animals to calm Daisy and help protect the Kalampura rainforest. She hopes the mission will earn her a POTUS recommendation for SFC.

Maya meets Cole Fletcher, Dorian, Courtney, and Selma Dixon, the aides and allies she will rely on. Cole is a presidential aide she develops a crush on; Dorian is the chief of staff; Courtney is Sterling’s daughter; Selma is Dorian’s ambitious assistant. The introductions reveal the high-stakes political environment behind the mission.

Daisy acts out by urinating and biting visiting dignitaries, undermining Sterling’s image. Maya struggles to calm the volatile dog, feeling the pressure of the presidency on her shoulders. Sterling decides to relocate support to his Sterling Ranch to manage Daisy and the animal network.

To control Daisy, Sterling shifts operations to his nature reserve at Sterling Ranch, which also serves as a working refuge for the animals. Maya must navigate Daisy’s animal allies and begin coordinating with them to keep the peace. Daisy uses her leadership among the ranch animals to push back against Maya.

During a group therapy session, Daisy’s friends coordinate against Maya, making the session chaotic and humiliating for her. Selma gleefully notes Maya’s failure and remarks on how she intends to influence geopolitics by the time she’s thirty. The episode underscores the scale of the challenge Maya faces.

Sterling gives Maya a pep talk, urging her to keep trying and to expand her approach. He shares his own stories of failure—like not making his high school basketball team and losing an election—to illustrate perseverance. Maya resolves to befriend Daisy’s friends to gain influence and calm the group.

Maya enlists Cole to help rescue Courtney when she sneaks away from the presidential retreat to attend a party that goes badly. The incident deepens the bond between Maya and Courtney as they bond over parents they struggle to live up to. Maya realizes Courtney’s trouble echoes Daisy’s need for companionship with Sterling.

Maya realizes Daisy’s misbehavior stems from missing time playing with Sterling. This shifts her strategy from discipline to friendship, reframing the challenge as a bond-building exercise. The insight shapes Maya’s next steps with Daisy and the animal allies.

At a dinner with Tharoor and Kalampura’s princess, Dorian sabotages the deal by corrupting the information and providing tainted oysters that cause food poisoning. Daisy’s food is spiked, triggering a chaotic scene that nearly ruins the negotiation. Daisy’s friends present a letter from Dorian’s safe proving he profits from forest destruction, exposing the plot.

Dorian is arrested after the fraud is uncovered, and the forest-saving deal is rescued. The revelation confirms the sabotage and halts the plan to strip the rainforest for profit. The episode also vindicates Maya and solidifies her standing with Sterling.

Sterling writes a strong recommendation for Maya to SFU, acknowledging her perseverance, courage, and leadership under pressure. Maya finally secures admission to the veterinary program, achieving the goal she sought from the outset. The mission strengthens her bond with her father and cements her place at SFU.