“Sarah, take Leo!” Mark yelled as he rushed into the room. He grabbed his son from the crib and handed him to his wife, who was standing frozen in the hallway. Inside the nursery, Duke was spinning in circles, growling and snapping at the air near the wall vent. Every time Mark tried to approach, Duke would lunge toward the vent and then spin back, his teeth bared in a terrifying snarl.
When Mark reached out to grab Duke’s collar, the dog snapped toward his hand with a ferocity that made Mark jump back. The fear was no longer a flicker; it was a roar. “He’s gone mad, Sarah! Call them now!” Mark retreated from the room, locking the door and leaving Duke inside.
The sounds of barking and scratching continued, muffled by the heavy wood, as they waited for the police to arrive and handle the animal they no longer felt safe around.