It did seem wired for a Zoo to have a Dog Park, Farm Exhibit and even a rather concealed-like area called ‘Myth Valleys’ but these were all areas this zoo advertised. That being said for awhile now you’d been thinking of asking your parents for a dog, mostly thanks to the afterschool job walking the dogs of select neighbours lately, though they often said after you got home walking a dog for someone else and actually caring for one beyond was a big difference. Thankfully according to some of what you read on the area’s description spoke of helping visitors understand dogs better (Well all exhibit descriptions did but that was somewhat beside the point) and your parents agreed visiting the park was a good idea anyway so off the three of you went.
Upon arriving what really drew attention about this Dog Park was that it was surrounded by a wired fence with the only completely safe way through was this single-floored but somewhat large building, otherwise the field was huge and included small running rivers, bushes and small tree collections to even in climbs and a small collection of benches and bins. The building indeed was the transfer point between the Dog Park and the routes to the other zoo areas by the people going through, though once inside instead of a simple check-in desk most of the building was flooded by wall mounted changing booths on both sides while the door to the park itself was actually two on either side of the check-in desk that for some reason it doubled as what appeared to be a dog collar and lead seller. What’s more as you and your parents approached people were entering these changing stalls in pairs or groups without dogs while those leaving always had at least one with them with the former actually getting collars from the counter first.
“Ah welcome folks. This your first time?” the girl at the counter asked as you and your parents reached her. “Well yes, it is. Very little free time for all three of us together plus the large crowds during the early opening days” your dad answered. “Then I best go over how things work here. Version needed with those under a certain age” the girl then assured while briefly looking at you “Mind I did see you looking at the stalls so maybe look at one you saw someone go into on the way”. “O…K…?” You responded in a bit of confusion as you quickly chose one with your parents following suite. Only when it opened instead of the young couple that you saw enter only the girlfriend exited only now accompanied by a fox-red Labrador Retriever on a lead who approached the counter “We’ll be back in 3 hours then” the girlfriend they said to the girl. “we only react when people try and stay beyond closing time or try to leave unreverted” the girl responded. “If you say so” the girlfriend accepted as she made to leave “ready Matt”.
“Where did the guy with her go?” your mother asked. “He’s now the dog she left with” the girl started “here at this Zoo we don’t merely allow the basic viewing of animals, we allow guests to within reason to get firsthand experience of animal lifestyles”. “So…you turn visitors into animals?” you asked in wonder. “Indeed and here it’s done so via wearing one of provided collars, blue if you want to be a male dog and pink for female” the girl continued answering “I mean these days if this kind of transformation was very public you really expect the main holders like the Zoo’s Board of Directors to force those who see themselves as having suffered a nasty trick of fate at birth to be forced into their wrongly assigned gender?”. “…see your point there” your dad admitted. “Now as for the stalls, well… users need to be…naked besides the collars when they transform” the girl nervously confessed “But on that note we do allow if needed options for strangers to partner up, usually those coming alone wanting a taster of the transformations with visitors usually just wanting to see the park as humans”.
“But anyway. Who here wants to try being of the canine kind today?” the girl then asked: