The next afternoon, the sound of a heavy knock echoed through the house. Chloe opened the door to find two local animal control officers standing on her porch, looking grim. “Ma’am, we’re doing a perimeter sweep of the woods behind your property,” the lead officer explained, checking his notes. “Our night-vision trail cameras caught a massive, dark silhouette slipping over your back fence around 2:00 AM and heading deep into the forest. We believe it might be your dog.”
Chloe swallowed hard, trying to hide her panic. “He’s just adjusting to being inside after two years on the streets,” she offered defensively. The officer offered a sympathetic but stern nod. “We understand, but you need to lock him down. We’re still not clear as to whether there is an actual apex predator lurking out there in the brush. If your massive dog gets caught in the crossfire of our tracking traps, it won’t be pretty.” Chloe felt her stomach drop as she realized the stakes.