It's the August 2007 issue of Dog Weekly. You are surprised by the date, as it's nearly ten years old. You chalk it all up to your roommates never cleaning up, but decide to read it anyway. After all, what else are you going to do?
The front cover has a picture of a group of happy-looking dogs sitting together against a white background. "New Products" large red letters below the title announce. "See pg. 20 for details". Sighing at the fact that you're looking at a dog magazine when you don't even own one, you flip to page 20 and see a page full of muzzles, harnesses, cages, and other ways to subdue vicious dogs. Not seeing anything that really interests you, you flip one page over and see a large, swirled red circle in the middle of a blue background.
"LICK HERE" it says in huge otters in the middle of the circle. You snort in disbelief. What the hell is that supposed to mean? You throw the magazine to the coffee table, shaking your head in disbelief. But, in the end, your curiosity gets the better of you and you flip to the page with the circle again. You suddenly feel dizzy and your head, involuntarily, bends down towards the circle.
Your face stretches out into a muzzle to meet the circle, your nose turning black and wet. Your longer tongue slips out between your new sharpened teeth and lick the circle. As you do, your head seems to puff up. Thick, fluffy fur grows all over your head, from the nape of your neck to the tip of your muzzle. Black on your muzzle and chin, stark white on cheeks, and tannish brown around your head and ears. Your ears, meanwhile, become pointed and move to the sides of your head. Your forehead slants back and your eyes dull to a friendly brown.
You throw the magazine to the floor and pounce on it, still licking the circle. Your neck thickens and burst your shirt collar. Your fingers shorten and fatten, merging into three-toed paws. Your arms snap forward in their sockets, and you are unable to bend them normally. The thick, fluffy fur travels down your front legs and body, sweeping across your back and down your chest and stomach. It covers your butt and crotch and travels downward more until your merging, fattening toes are covered in fur. It's bright white everywhere except your back, sides of your stomach, your thighs, and the back of your neck, were it is the same tannish brown.
Your thighs thicken and your hips widen, shredding your pants and underwear off. Your legs shorten until they are the exact same length as your front legs. Your chest pushes out, shredding the rest of your shirt. Your fur thickens all over your body. You feel a pinprick at the base of your spine as a thick, fur-covered sickle-shaped tail turns up and curls around, resting on your butt area.
As soon as it starts, your transformation is over. Looking back, you realize you have been transformed into an akita. You yelp out in shock and take a few uneasy steps forward on your new paws.