Henry stretched out and yawned, his tail thumping against the kennel floor as he rolled up from his nap. MaryAnne nosed him affectionately, and the two dogs licked each other's muzzles before Henry stood and shook himself, then padded over to get a drink from the large water bowl. He felt completely relaxed and content, though his nose and ears were providing some interesting input. Each dog in the kennel had a unique scent that told him health, maturity, sex, even mood. A couple still had faint traces of human lingering in their scents, something he did not find in his own scent.
The door opened and the woman who had put them all in here walked down the aisle between cages, inspecting the animals. Several snarled and growled, probably pissed at being turned into dogs, while others huddled in the back and whined. When she got to Henry and Maryanne's cage, she stopped and smiled at him. His tongue lolled out and his tail thumped on its own, feeling a curious if pleasant happiness at pleasing her. Maybe he wasn't quite so mentally unchanged as he thought. But Henry saw no benefit fighting feelings of contentment. Most people were never really happy with their lot in life. Being a Great Dane seemed to come with built-in satisfaction.
"Well, it seems we have at least one subject who appreciates his new look." She opened the cage door and stepped in to ruffled the fur of Henry's neck with her fingers. MaryAnne came over to get attention as well. Henry licked the woman's hand, his ears perked and eyes bright. The woman's approval sent a shiver of happiness through him, as if he'd gotten a promotion and a big raise all in one. "It looks like you really enjoy being a dog. And so you should! You are a magnificent young male, championship quality. We have papers being created that will make you one of the most sought-after studs in the Great Dane community." She continued petting and stroking him as she spoke, and Henry felt the bond between them strengthen. Or was it more than that? He could barely imagine himself being human, and the contentment he had felt just minutes before was solidifying into a sense of 'rightness' that settled deep in his soul. He licked the woman's hand again, tail wagging, staring up at her with adoring eyes.
She laughed in delight and rubbed his chin. "Such a wonderful boy! But try not to let everything go. Keep a little of that fine mind so you can impress the judges at shows. I expect it is too late for numbers and writing, but you should still be able to understand English."
Henry cocked his head curiously at that. Numbers and writing? He had no problems.... numbers. They were symbols, marks that represented.... A low whine escaped his throat as he struggled to connect scraps of fading knowledge.
"Dog's minds don't work quite the same way as human's do. Abstract thought is going to get harder, but it isn't something you really need." She rubbed his ears. "You are a beautiful boy, a good boy. I am so happy with you, Henry! You are perfect!"
The praise restored Henry's high spirits, and the flickers of concern about his vanishing intelligence faded away. He was perfect!