"Rudy, put down that gun. You both are damn lucky that the last pick up was at the house across the street,"
the burly sergeant said coming through the door leading Keith Hanover behind him. Keith is naked, collared,
and has the police dog uniform around his neck and draped across his back. The uniform straps hang loosely,
as his still human chest is too broad to secure the straps. He looks dazed and happy and his tongue is hanging
out. He starts to turn around three times before settling on the floor, and you get a glimpse of the tattoo on
his right butt cheek. It's a cartoon character: Deputy Dawg. "Alright, Officer Bowser, I heard Rudy's
confession over the wireless."
"Illegal wiretap!" shouted Rudy, "My confession's not admissible!"
"Oh, but it is perfectly legal. I didn't do anything. You pushed the transmit button on your walkie talkie to
the locked position apparently. All I could do was listen. In fact, anyone on that wavelength heard you,
Rudy. So I imagine, we have more than enough witnesses to your confession."
"Damn, the switch is sticky. I remember, I spilled my maple syrup this morning. Guess I didn't wipe it all up.
So what are you going to do, Sarge?"
"Well, first we'll get, Officer Bowser, ready to serve. Then we'll go into the commandant's office, and see
what he wants to do with both of you. This young fellow deserves that spot in the cadet program, and your
girlfriend deserves to be out of the program, but since he's already changed, I'm not sure what the solution
is. Perhaps the chief has a contingency plan. Yes, I said the chief. Since you're an officer, Rudy, the chief
will have to be notified. He'll determine whether your actions warrant administrative or criminal punishment."
You bark in support of the second option.
"There boy, I'm leaning toward him being disciplined too, but I don't know that jail is the best option," the
sergeant said with a wink that only you could see, "Administratively, Rudy could be transferred to a different
position within the force."
"Not parking detail?" pleaded Rudy.
"It's not my decision. Maybe some other position within the canine corps. Just not in the induction, or
clerical divisions."
"Wait, you mean, I'd have to clean out the kennels and cages? Ew!"
The sergeant exasperated shrugs and shakes his head, "I have no idea. I'll leave it to the chief and
commandant to decide."
You chuckle, at least what passes for a chuckle coming from a dog. It's more like a series of short barks.
You know the sergeant is suggesting that Rudy should become a police dog too.
"You know he bit me!" complained Rudy rubbing his arm where you bit him, "Don't they put down dogs that bite
people?"
"Well, police dogs are trained to restrain criminals with their mouths, and he's a police dog, and you just
admitted to a criminal act. So, arguably, all he did was restrain you. If he broke skin, it's because you
struggled. You did struggle, didn't you?"
"Yes, but only because his jaws were closing on my arm. Wait, you mean he bit me, because I tried to keep him
from biting me?"
"Something like that, Rudy. Now I'll finish up with this one, and you finish putting the harness on Keith, now
that he's all canine," the sergeant said. Then gently stroking your shoulders and back, he says, "You need to
relax and lie down boy. The final bit of transformation takes place when you sleep. See Keith is all changed,
oh, but he's not Keith any more. Rudy, what's that new canine recruit's name. It's on his dog tag."
"Oh, this one is called Karma. Heh, heh, Karma."
"Shut up, Rudy, and tend to the animal."
"Yes, sergeant."
A siren can be heard approaching. Then another.
By the time you are calmed enough to be closing your eyes, the door bursts open and four uniformed and two
plainclothes officers enter. Rudy is arrested and handcuffed, as you fall asleep. When you awaken, the
changes will be complete, and you'll find out whether you'll remain in the canine corps or transfer to the
Police Academy.