Author's notes:
1)To Begin with, English is my second language so forgive me for any mistakes.
2)All updates will be edited in this post, but I'll post to warn of the existence of the update. I'm doing it like this to make the story easier to read.
3) this is PG-13 rated and somewhat darkish.
4)Yeah, I only discovered about that side-story Ricky wrote explaining about pets lifespam after this fanfic was started. In order to make this plot keep working, I'll have to ignore the canon evidence of the contrary. Sorry about that.
Prologue

My name is Joel and this is...was my story.
When I was a kid, many knew me as the "The stupid who followed his pets into a very dangerous stupidity". Yeah, the kids of my neighboorhood and school weren't exactly bright, but they knew how to be mean. I sincerely don't know what my old pets expected from when they took me with them. I wonder if they thought I could provide them shelter or food, when they finally realized a kid had no conditions of doing anything for them, they started to be very cruel to me.
Eventually, I managed to sneak away from my first pets while they were asleep and went to the police and they returned me back to my parents. Needless to say they were even more furious at me than ever before.
My folks weren't exactly good parents, sure they always granted me food, clothes and a bed, but they weren't nice. At all. Because of my little adventure, as I said before, all the kids I knew started calling me names for running away from home with pets and then come back crawling at home. It was then that I saw i had no real friends. even the guys I used to play with were mocking me.
I had to endure all this until I graduated from high school, at seventeen years-old. Somehow they never let me forget what I have done. At that point I hated being near with other people and pets for the matter. But I tried to tell myself that not everyone was that rotten. In fact I liked...like animals. But I feared them as well.
After spending a good a good time reflecting what I wanted to do with my life, I decided that I should try overcome my childhood fear of pets and try do something good to them. I seeked some professional help while I worked part time in pounds to make myself used to contact with animals. Sometimes I wonder if I should never have changed jobs. At the Pound Arkhan Asylum, I wasn't exactly loved, but i wasn't hated either. I then managed to get a job at ASPCA at the age of twenty-one and that's when things went downhill for me...

Chapter 1: Liar Liar

At first, I was quite anxious to work there. I thought I could prevent pets and other animals from being abused like mine were. I had a partner called Jake. He was a tall and strong guy with black hair. He seemed a quite serious person, at first. But That was one of the moments the universe told me things aren't like they seemed to be.
Jake was supposed to me my senior, my sempai, give me hints or soemthing like that, but He was awfully lazy. It was I who had to make sure we attended to all calls no matter how petty they seemed to be. Jake told me he was looking for a better job and was only there for the moment. He didn't care about pets in the slightest.
He tried several times talk me into doing anything, but work so much, but I couldn't. The thought of my childhood nightmare happening to someone else made me drag Jake everytime under the threat I would made a complaint against him. That was my first bad move. Jake barely talked to me and I felt some chills when he looked at me with spite.
The scond mistake of mine was during a call about some dogs chasing a wounded dog across a neighborhood far from where we were. It took me some time to drive there. When we got there I told Jake: "Let's split up. From what the witnesses told us, it's a gold retriever being chased by some rottweilers."
"Sure...You go there and I'll keep an eye in case they show up." he replied me.
resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but I started running after the dogs. It took me good ten minutes until I spotted them in an alley. The rottweilers were spanking the gold retriever on the floor. I picked up my communicator and told Jake where was I and that I needed back up since there were four quite frightenning looking rottweilers. However, I knew it was futile to wait for him, so I rushed to them and yelled: "Hey! Stop doing that!"
One of the dog bullies snarled at me and he seemed to have rabbies and he dashed against me. If I hadn't use my left arm to block him, it would have been my face he bited. I yelled in pain and with my free hand I picked a tranquillizer gun and shot him. and one more of the rottweilers. The other two managed to get away. I placed my gun back and I called the central to back me up and gave them the details about the two unconscious dogs and the two that ran away. My arm hurt a lot and there was some blood leaking from it, but it didn't seem anything serious. I was more worried at the moment about the beaten dog on the ground.
I then approached the gold retriever and gave him my good arm to help him to get up. "Are you alright?" I asked him. But he slapped my hand violently and said
"What took you so long? Do you have any idea who I am?" the gold retriever snarled at me while he got up by himself, but he seemed to be in much pain so I held him even if he didn't want to be touched.
"What do you mean? We came here as fast as we could" I asked confused and quite angry at his lack of gratitute.
"But it seems you didn't even get all those idiots, you incompetent jerk!" he insulted me once more.
"So you wanted me to abbadon you irregardless of how hurt you are just to catch the runaway dogs? I already called the back up. They'll get him. Now shut up and and wait. I'll take you to the ASPCA and they'll take care of you and treat your wounds." I told him breathing as deep as possible to mantain my calm.
The gold retriever growled, but said nothing else. Five minutes later Jake appeared with the car and then got out of it when he saw us. he sighed and asked when he spotted my wounded arm: "I suppose you want me to carry these dogs to the cages, right?"
I frowned and replied: "My arm is feeling great, thanks."
He picked up the unconscious dogs and and carried them to the car to put them in cages while i helped the gold retriever to walk to the car as well.
When we got there, I sat on the passenger's seat and Jake looked at me angrily. "If you want me to drive in this condition, fine, but don't blame me if I lose control of the car." I said losing my patience with him.
He grunted and went to the driver's seat saying "My old partner was much better than you were, Joel. At least he wasn't a goody-two shoes."
I almost laughed at his comment. I was called several names during my life, but never a goody two shoes. I'm was just trying to do my best despite of how jerk people were around me. I wrapped my arm with bandages, which were inside of the frist aid kit we had in our car. I still can't believe my biggest concern at that moment was if I got rabbies or not.
When we got there, all three dogs were sent to examination. The gold retriever had a couple of broken bones, but no life-threatening injury. But the two rottweilers really had rabbies and apparently they were part of a pack of dogs who aalso had this disease. I don't know what rabbies do with a dog's mind to make them so violent, but I think they were evil even before that. To end my wonderful day, I had to start recieving shots to prevent me from getting this stupid illness
Two days later, the wounds on my arms were starting to get better, I was at my office writing a report, when a woman who worked there got to my office and told me our boss was calling me.
As I walked towards my boss' office, I could see everyone whispering to each other while poinbted at me with angry looks. I was oblivious about what was going on and I tried to ignore them until I arrived at my boss' office.
As soon as I got there I saw him sitting down on his chair and looking at a few papers on his desk. "You called me, sir?" I asked.
He merely rose his eyes, but not his face, which was odd because he was usually friendly to everyone, including me. He then told be bluntly: "Sit down, Joel!"
I did as I was told with a strange sense of dread. i wondered if I was in trouble for not getting the last two
rottweilers.
"Joel, we recieved a quite disturbing complaint against you." My boss told me sternly finally raising his face.
"What?" I said surprised. "What complaint? I didn't do anything wrong!"
My boss got up from the chair with a furious look "You mauled a dog, that's the problem."

Chapter 2: Successive Betrayals

Bad things never come along. They always have to bring their friends: disaster and sorrow. I was being charged of hurting that gold retriever I had saved from the rottweilers. According with the ungrateful (censored), I had offered meat and home to the dogs with rabbies to chase me to that alley so I could punch and hurt him nonstop until my good partner Jake arrived to save the day. He also told the authorities I betrayed the dogs when Jake arrived and even said I threatened Jake!
My partner had even comfirmed everything Aurium, the gold retriver's name, had said. he told my boss he only now had the courage to face me. It's nonsense. How could a guy of his size be scared of a fishbone like me. the worse part was that my boss believed all the charges because of what both the dog and Jake had said. For some reason people tend to believe in other just because they knew each other for a longer time. I tried to give mny version of the facts and tell my boss how Jake truly was. I could see the veins appearing on his neck as I shaked a bit hearing him roar: "Jake has been a good man and a good officer for a long time! Don't think for a second I didn't notice how sad and angry he looked when he started working with you!"
Of course my beloved partner was angry at me. I didn't let him do a horrible job like his old partner did. I tried to make him work like a decent person and that's the payment I get? Now I think I should have todl all these things to my boss, but it would have been futile anyway. My boss didn't want to hear a word from me and suspended me from my duty.
When I got out of the office, I saw everyone, humans and also some K-9s who worked there, looking at me angrily. They must have heard it all from Jake and they completely believed I was the bad guy.
I tried to keep myself cool, with no much success. I then decided to hire a lawyer to help me with this case. But things didn't go downhill. No. My whole life crumbled. A collar with diamonds and an "Au" simbol was "found" in my locker after Jake told then he saw me hiding somthing there. I was being accused of both assult, blackmail and thievery.
At the judgement the golden retriever called Aurium gave the biggest show. He told everyone how I was the devil who robbed him of his collar and beat him up with the help of the dogs with rabbies. As for the rottweliers, I couldn't count with them because they were considered insane and therefore their testemony would be nulled even if they told the truth.
I tried to give the jury the truth, but they didn't seem to like me and believed in the lies of the poor innocent dog. I wondered at that time why he was destroying my life like that, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to the court, the worst haven't happened yet. Somehow Aurium had contacted several dogs and cats I helped while I worked at the local pound. These...monsters told absurd lies about me to the jury. The same animals I spend nights comforting, taking care of , helping them to get decent homes were now describing me as a maniac.
I couldn't control myself anymore. The feeling of betrayal was just too much as a few tears rolled though my face. I got up of the chair and started yelling at them telling them all the good things I did for them, but they seemed to just not care. Not only that, The judge ordered for me to stay in prison because I was being too hot headed.
Later, my own lawyer adviced me to plead guilty so, at least I could get out of jail sooner. But doing so was my only way to minimize the damage. After my little outburst, everyone think I'm unstable, but what you expect from me? All the pets I tried to help had just stabbed me on the back! I knew it was a lost cause. No matter how hard I tried to plead innocent the jury had already condemned me.
But I couldn't just let them win. I tried to prove, but I found no one willing to testify for my sake, not even my old co-workers. for some reason they weren't called as witnesses. well, I now know why, but I'll explain it later.
To sum it up, I was sentenced to five years of jail...

Chapter 3: Jailtime and PETA

It was horrible staying in jail. I had to share a cell with a bank robber and a murderer. I only allowed myself to sleep after I could hear them snoring soundly. I didn't deserve to be there. I didn't do a thing. Why did I even try help pets or any animal for the matter. They didn't deserve it! That was what I thought at the moment, anyway.
What hurt me the most was what happened three weeks after my jailtime started. A guard told me I had a visit, which was odd. I haven't been in contact with my family for years and I had no friends. A guard handcuffed me and guided me to a room which was divided in several small booths. These booths had a chairs and were divided in two sides by a bulletproof glass. The comunication was made by phones, one at each side of the booth.
When I got to the cabin I saw who was there. It was Aurium, who was already holding his phone. I immediately picked the phone to give him a piece of my mind when I heard him saying with a grin "For your own sake I hope you be quiet and listen if you don't want your situation to get worse."
I clenched my teeth as I gave him a death glare that said it all. He kept a calm expression as he told me why he was there: "I told my parents that i wanted to talk to you so I could forgive you for what you have done to me and you should have heard how many times they kept praising me for being a big and forgiving person..."
I wanted to strangle that little monster. "Do you have a point in all this? Why are you doing all this to me? I've never done anything against you."
His expression darkened as he replied: "I was going to get there, but I guess I might do you a favor since I'm better than you I'll forgive you for your lack of education."
It's a pity that I had a blunt weapon at my disposal, but there was a glass separating me from him...I kept quiet since any effort opf mine would just make my situation get worse.
Aurium then continued: "You see, thanks to your lateness I was chased down like a petty homeless feral, beaten up and I even lost my beautiful collar. If it weren't for your partner to capture the other two rottweilers he would be here with you."
"What? But there was no report about the other two rottweilers being captured." I asked. It didn't surprise me Jake was part of this dog's scheme, though.
He gave a smile that made cold wave come across my spine. "But he tracked them down. And when he did, he killed them and showed me the bodies for me to recognize. And before you interrupt me again I'll tell you why we started working together. You see, I heard him complaining about you a lot while you two took me to ASPCA. When I was alone with him I made him the suggestion to be part of my plan to get back at you. Sure I was mad at him for not rescuing me before those insects could harm me, but he helped me so much I was willing to forgive him."
I almost yelled at that moment and it took me all my self restraint to not do so. I was the only one to care enough to search for him. I was the one who was bitten for him. I was the one to save his sorry butt. How about MY gratitute? But I didn't ask him any of that. I, instead asked him something else: "How did you make the animals form the pound to say all those lies about me?"
His smiled was now disburbingly wide as he told me that, pity I didn't have a recorder at that time. "Ah. That was easy. You see, my parents give me a very fat allowance to do whatever I please with the money. I first asked Jake if that was your first job and he told me that you used to work at a local pound with a quite familar name, I might add. I wonder how copyright wasps haven't reached it already, but they'll need my help to expose their name and close down that piece of junk." after a brief pause he said: "Sorry, I distracted myself. You see, it wasn't hard for me, with the help of your old partner to track all the dogs and cats you 'helped' (he said that using two fingers to do the " while he said that) under the excuse you might have treated them bad. They were kind enough to give your partner the adresses of them and all I had to do was offer cash to them. They didn't even hesitated in doing so. Their homes weren't as trash as I thought they would be considering you 'helped' them to get adopted, but I do wonder how much of what they said was actually truth. As for your former co-workers at the pound, I tried to be polite and sublte to make them help my case, but they refused since they didn't actually see anything and I feared to bribe them. Well, I already had a winning game, so I wasn't going to throw it all away like that."
I guess my heart stopped beating while I heard that. I made sure all these pets got decent homes and families. I did so much for them and that's how they re-paid me? I then remembered of how my two pets tried to use me for their needs and when they saw no use for me, treated me like trash.
I'm positive that he found my horrifed expression something amusing because he was chuckling on the phone. "That's all I had to say to you. I hope you never dare get near me again, or else I won't be so nice to you." he said before hanging up and leaving. I stood there unmoving until I felt a strong pat on my shoulder to drag me back to reality and back to my cell.
That night I cried for the first time since I was a kid. I covered my mouth to not make any sound because if someone else found me crying, it would be my doom.
It took me a few days to recover from that. I tried to forget it all about pets and about how everyone betrayed me. I wanted to start from scratch. I did my best to be a role model in jail. I went to the psychiatric every week, so she could see I wasn't any of the things I was accused of and I got in no fights in jail. I still can't believe they conceded me probation after a year of jail along with comunity service for two years.
I also had to look for a job. I tried many things. Painter, work in commercial establishment, construction, fix computers, etc. But no one would hire an ex-convict. I found myself with next to no option. As I read a newspaper looking for jobs I saw a few families walking with their paets and they all seemed happy. I frowned at that. I wondered how many of them would abbandon their families in a heartbeat if something better showed up in front of them.
However, I saw one doberman carrying a human child, about 3-4 years or so, on his shoulders next to the family. That dog seemed to be very happy and I could hear the mother asking him to put the little boy on the floor since the dog has been carrying him for about an hour. The doberman then replied: "There's no need, mom. He's quite happy where he is. Besides, I'm not tired."
I wondered if his feelings were true or not. And I guess the universe decided to pull a prank on me. I started seeing lots of pets helping and playing happily with humans, both adult and children. My heart sank there.
Maybe I had the bad luck to meet only bad pets so far. Maybe there could be good ones out there. I guess evil was something you choose to be and not inherent to a specie.
I sighed as I focused on one particular and weird add about an organization called PETA, which was looking for recruits to help save pets. I stared at the add for a while and decided to take it. I innitially thought they would refuse me like the others had, but I decided to give pets one last chance.

Chapter 4: It's NOT a wonderful Dog's life

Yeah. At the age of twenty-two my life had more weird twists, but this, by far, gets the cake. I was hired by PETA, which surprised me since they didn't even think of checking my backgroud. It seemed like they were anxious to get as many members as possible without any regard to their skills of mental sanity for the matter. I'm bringing that up because my new partner, Adam, scared me. I caught him talking to himself out loud mostly about how pats and humans shouldn't live together.
Day after day, I started to regret getting that job. The PETA wasn't the kind of organization I thought it was. It wanted to shove down their believes into other peoples throats no matter what the cost. I sadly have to admit i didn't quit of the job because I needed the income.
The strange thing that happened to me, as I mentioned earlier, happened after I was sent to jail. Again. This time I wasn't completely innocent. I felt really sorry for that husky called Fox. I shouldn't have let Adam even take him inside of our vehicle. I should have foreseen that my insane partner was going to do something horrible to Fox. If I knew that I would have certainly stopped him. But nobody can change the past. But, again, I wasn't comfortable with the fact we were taking Fox away from everything and everyone he liked. But remembering it now. I should have done something at that moment.
After I was handcuffed, the memories of my jailtime came back to my head. I didn't want for that nightmare to happen again. The police officer who arrested me left me near our vehicle to chase after Adam. Who would have guessed someone so chubby could run so fast?
Anyway, I started to run as well desperate to not return to jail, but I stopped after a few minutes. I wondered what I was doing. i had nowhere to flee and I was making my own situation to get worse. It was then I was ambushed by some K-9 units. I admit I was feeling angry not just with the universe for allowing more bad things happen to me, but also with myself for letting myself get in this situation. It was because of that I ended up telling the brief version of my life's story to those dogs when they tried to lecture me.
I then was sent for trial once more when an enormous griffin, who wanted to be called as Pete. Yeah family guy reference. Hahaha. Now moving on, He ended up tricking me and turned me into a corgi under the excuse to teach me a lesson or something. That's what I assumed he was trying to do at least. It was december 24th when I was turned into a dog. Great Christmas present, don't you think? Don't forget the fact I can't even pronounce my own real name!
He made me experiment the new life style as a dog. Like the only kind of food I was allowed to eat, use the bathroom on the outside and even the delightful visits to the vet, which makes me wonder how he even managed to schedule a visit to the vet so fast.
When I when outside to mope my sheer amount of bad luck I met him. The same dog I helped to kidnap before. Imagine how awkward it was to me, especially after he offered me to sniff his rear. I know it's a dog thing, but I've always found that gross. I don't know why he was being so friendly towards me. I guess part of that is because he didn't know I was me.
I ended up taking his offer to play with his squeaky bone. Boy, I hadn't had that much of fun for a loooong time. The downside of that was after we finished our game, he talked to mne about how I 'misteriously' escaped from jail. I coudl'nt blame him for feeling like that. I was partia...no. I was responsible for what happened to him. I then tried to take his mind off of those thoughts and we resumed with the squeaky bone fight game.
After that he showed me around and we talked a lot. I don't remember someone ever treating me so nicely before. He even invited me to two parties. Both on 25th december. The first was during morning at his house and it had an awkward end after I admited to have never sniffed another dog's hear. I then tried to cover myself by saying i didn't have contact with friendly dogs during my life, which was in fact true.
I managed to dodge that bullet, but not the one that came later. The other party was at the Good Old Dogs Club or something like that. Fox kept telling me, as we went there, that all other dogs would like me. I wanted to thank him over and over for being so nice to me.
I met lots of dogs there, I recognized some from Fox's house. I just regret meeting one dog. Bino. When I introduced myself to him, he frowned and made sure to say that he was the leader of that particular club. I didn't care much and only said: "I see. Good for you then." I swear I didn't mean anything bad with that. I just wasn't interessed in his position. But he thought otherwise. I could notice he staring at me as Fox introduced me to everyone else.
Later, Bino came to me carrying a present. He had a smile and I must admit I fell in his prank. As soon as I opened the gift it exploded in my face making me smell like catnip.
I barely heard what Fox was yelling at Bino. All that I had in mind was the feeling of betrayal. I exploded in anger and sorrow as I yeleld at them and prevented Fox from following me. I couldn't even hold back my tears as they flowed through my cheeks. I left that club not caring for anything else. All I wanted to do was go back to my facny prison and rot there.
That was until I met a female dog called Sasha. She was nice to offer herself to walk me home. I guess she just wanted something to do since her father locked her outside just because she didn't get him any girls. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to be involved with pets anymore but I couldn't bring myself to abbandon her like that. It remembered me of how my pets were treated and I felt really sorry for her. I ended up staying the night with her on the street. We used a newspaper to use as a blanket to protect us from the cold.
On the next morning, I was waken up by Pete. I don't know if I wanted to hig him or punch him after he said everyone needs to work hard to achieve their goals. Good changes aren't a fast thing, sadly. And I wanted to punch him because I thought I was going to be turned into human, but he gave me the news I had another vet scheduled soon.
I stood there not knowing what to do. i wanted to cry again because I really thought he was going to change me back at that moment. But then Fox suddenly appeared worried about me. I apologised to him for what i did at the party and he was cool with that. I couldn't help but to find it amusing that Fox had broken Bino's right leg, left arm and muzzle.
I thought that being a dog wouldn't be that bad. But it sure had its consequences...

chapter 5: The Game of Life

I know am aware that stupid griffin didn't want to teach me any life lesson. He wanted to use me as part of some sort of game. That nine-tailed Fox or dragon didn't explain to me what kind of game it was or what was at stake. I guess they go by the rule 'ignorance is a bliss'. Because of that I avoided Tarot and her house at all cost. I feared if I interacted with her too much I would be part of the game once more. I liked being neutral in all this.
At least now I don't have to stand Pete's control over me anymore. I've started living in the wolves house in June, after the party when I had my little trip to another realm. The Great Kitsune said something good would happen to me to compesate what Pete did to me. I guess he meant that living with the wolves would be the reward. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate them or anything like it. They're very nice to me, but I do wish they could learn a bit faster how to do human things.
There was a time when their television wasn't turning on because their cubs, when playing around, unplugged the TV from the socket and the TV plug could be seen lying on the floor. But I shouldn't expect them to know all that in a few days since they lived in the forest for most of their lives and they barely had a year living in that house.
But I must admit it's quite nice eating on a table with a functional family. The Miltons often came by to check on us. Technically pets should have pets, so it was only natural for them to make sure we weren't doing anything wrong. I think it was because of that I started teaching them how human made objects worked and also some human customs so they don't get in any trouble. The downside of it is that there's way too many things to teach and I also end up spending a good time being the play toy of their cubs. Miles was right in wanting them to get older before picking their names, but looks like they enjoy the names they picked up. But I've heard stranger pets names before.
Soon July came and I was getting somewhat used being a dog. Sure I still wanted to go back being human everytime I saw myself in a situation I could only fix if I were human. One example of that is Sasha's father. That guy adopted her for the sole purpose of having a maid and use her to get girlfriends. Let's not forget he's also an alchoolic. I felt really sorry for her and it amases me how faithful she is. No matter how poorly he treats her, she always loves him. I wished I could do something about it. Maybe if I still worked for ASPCA I could give her a better home. She's much smarter than most people think she is. I sometimes think she knows her father doesn't love her and she clings to the idea he does so she can have a father. I can say this after I noticed she forcing her smile everytime she tried to make up an apologie for her father's behavior.
Besides, I think Sasha deserves a better boyfriend. I noticed how Bino only keep Sasha as his girlfriend because he can say "Look at me, I have a girlfriend!" I think Sasha teases Bino because she wants him to show he cares about her and not just treat her as propriety. It's because of that I don't even step inside of the GODC. I'm also baffled how Fox can stand Bino, but I see how Bino is wary everytime Fox is around now. I also noticed how Fox and Peanut have been talking a lot.
Peanut seems like a very energetic and ncie person, but I avoid him because he's Tarot's boyfriend and I want to avoid her at all costs along with that cat named Grape. I won't risk make her think I want to date Tarot. I like my limbs the way they are: attached to my body!
My life was far from what I had idealized, but it was much better than I had initially thought it was going to be when Pete turned me into a dog. I was...starting to get happy with my situation.
But, sadly, the universe wanted to remind me that having good expectations in your life always lead to disapointment. My final moments begun when a certain clock, with my name on it fell on my head...

Chapter 6: Why Me?

Just when I started enjoying being a dog, I was remembered I had a sad past as a human. It was awfully hard get that clock back from Bino. That guy hated me, it was no use asking him to return it to me. Besides if I humiliated myself to him, Fox would become more suspicious than he already was.
Fox is a great friend. I still can't believe he was willing to let the subject go. I felt really bad hiding the truth from him. But he wasthe first person I saw as a friend. I couldn't afford to lose one of the last good things of my life.
I took the watch to Sabrina and she explained to me howmy soul was stuck in limbo until I picked up which what I wanted to be: a dog or a human. She also told me to keep the watch safe until someone from heaven appeared to take it.
I was sitting on my bed holding the clock. it showed it was midnight and it was raining outside with lightings every now and then. I think curiosity didn't kill just the cat, but all conscious living beings.
I started seeing what this watch could do. I didn't believe a piece of my soul could only display th correct time! But as a pressed the top button of it, a date appeared on the screen. 12/25/2011.
I muttered: "Well, this sucks..." when lighting stroked after the date appeared.
It was the end of October when it happened. I wondered what that date could mean. I thought it was the date when the person from heaven would pick the watch. But I wondered why it was displaying on my watch and why take so long to do it. I placed the watch back inside of the drawer, locked it and hid the key inside of my collar. I couldn't afford the wolf cubs finding it by accident.
I trid to get some sleep and I was going to ask Sabrina or Tarot some more about it by the morning.
On the next day, I saw Peanut on the street picking up the newspaper for his parnts. I breathed hard and I greeted him: "Good morning, Peanut."
He gave a smile and said: "Good morning. Your name is King, right?"
I nooded. For some reason I was relieved to know he wasn't at the GODC on the night before. I didn't want to answer any unconfortable question. "Do you happen to know where Sabrina or Tarot live? I need to speak with one of them." I tried to sound as subtle as possible, I didn't want him to thinkI was after his girlfriend.
The brown-furred dog didn't seem to mind my question and he answered me: "Tarot and Sabrina live in the same house. Their house is by the end of the street. The blue house in the corner. But Tarot isn't there. She came here very early and told me she had to travel somewhere today."
I thanked him and went to the house to at least find Sabrina there.
When I was getting near of the house I saw Sabrina walking with a quite angry expression on her face. I immediately winced. I thought it was because of something I did or didn't do. But thankfully it wasn't the case.
When she saw me her expression softened and she asked me: "Good morning, King. Have you seen Fido today? I need to talk to him about last night."
I didn't understand what she meant by that. Fido had appeared to try help me after some time he left the house when I was being held by those two dogs...I wondered if she had something to do with it. I then answered her: "No, I haven't seen him today. Look, may I talk to you? It's about the watch."
She looked now quite worried at me and replied: "Sure. But if it's about when someone will pick it up, I told you it'll be sometime soon. Tarot went to notify them about it."
I shook my head and said: "No. It's not about that. You see, I...ended up trying to figure it out that watch out and a date appeared on it. It's 25th of December of this year. Why does it mean?"
Her eyes went wide and she started to get visibly incunfortable. It wasn't a good sign. At all.
"I shouldn't be telling you this...But know that you've seen it, I guess I have no other choce. You see, when Pete turned you into a dog, he didn't translate your human years to dog years. You are a twenty three year old dog, King." Sabrina explained me.
I already knew pets usually lived about twenty five years at best, but I had to protest: "This can't be right! I don't feel old!"
"It's because of Pete's magic. He did so in order to use it to coerce you into submission in case you tried to rebel against him. But now that Great Kitsune forbade him for having you as his avatar he tried to snatch your fate to have a control over you again. This date, King, if you don't choose until this date expires, you'll die of old age unless you decide to remain as a dog or go back being Joel."
I shut my eyes tightly: "This is not fair! I didn't chose to be turned into a dog! Why did that stupid griffin kidnapped me from the trial to begin with? Why me? I didn't do anything to him. I should've just spend some time in jail for what I did to Fox and then tried to move on with my life. It's not Fair! Why do everyone plays with my life as if I was nothing but a doll!" I ifnished saying that with tears now steaming from my eyes.
My heart stopped when I heard a gasp behind me. Both Sabrina and I searched at the source of it and we discovered Fox with his eyes wide open and his ears lowered hiding behind a tree...

Chapter 7: Alone

"FOX!" I shouted. I panicked when I saw him there. "Look, I can explain." but my voice only made him step back.
"A-are you Joel? H-how?" Fox asked. I couldn't blame him. This whole magic thing was hard to swallow when I found out about it too.
I then heard Sabrina tell him with a worried expression: "Look, Fox, try no be alarmed. I'll explain everything, but first you need to calm down!"
Fox still looked nervous but his ears at least were back upwards. “What’s going on here?” he asked.
I didn’t know what to do. I imaged that Sabrina giving him the story would destroy our friendship. But I also knew that the result would be the same if I did so. At least he deserved to hear it from me…
I then spoke before Sabrina could: “Fox, I’m really sorry for hiding this from you for so long…” I gave a short pause and breathed deeply. “But it’s true. I’m Joel.”
Fox’s eyes went wide: “How? How is this even possible? You’re a dog!”
“It’s complicated…” I started doing my best to not let my fear become evident. “There are no words I can say that’ll make you forget what happened to you that day. I swear I didn’t know what my partner at PETA was trying to do with you. If I knew I wouldn’t have let him!”
The husky just blinked. I wish I could know what was going on in his mind. But it was then when Sabrina meddled: “What he said is true, Fox. I know this whole ‘magic really exists’ might be weird to you, but…”
But she couldn’t finish what she was saying. Fox’s expression was something that plagued my dreams after I saw it. He bared his teeth to my with a spiteful look in him eyes. He then said, cutting her off: “I can’t believe you…did this to me! I thought we were friends!” he was clenching his fists hard and then he gave Sabrina the same death glare: “Yes, I do believe in magic. I’ve seen Tarot doing weird things, like Flying with Peanut on a broomstick last Halloween.”
After a brief pause he inquired her once more while pointing accusatorily at me: “How many people know about him? Was I the only one who didn’t? How about the wolves? The Miltons, Peanut, Grape and everyone else?”
Sabrina frowned at his tone. “Calm down, Fox. The only ones that know about King are Tarot and me. I know this a big shock, but you shouldn’t…”
“Shouldn’t WHAT?” He snapped starting to quiver. “I have every right to be mad at both of you! Now it makes sense why you wanted that watch so bad.”
“Fox, I…” I tried to say trying to step closer to him.
But for growled at me and said: “I don’t want to hear anything else from you! You betrayed me! I can’t believe I was so blind!”
After he said that he stormed away from Sabrina and I. I felt like crying at that moment. In a few minutes my life crumbled to nothingness…again!
I then started to think about my choice concerning the watch. I then turned to the cat and asked her: "So, all I have to do is choose before Christmas, right?"
She looked at me worriedly and was quiet for a few seconds before she replied: "Yes...If you decide to embrace your dogness, for example, your human years will be automatically translated to dog years. You'll be a normal three to five year-old corgi. But, King..."
I then cut her off once more after I understood my situation: "Thanks, Sabrina." and then I turned and started walking away from her. Luckily, she understood I needed to be alone.

Chapter 8: Decision

Weeks passed by and Fox still avoided me ever since he overheard me talking to Sabrina. The cat even offered me some help to deal with it, but I refused it. I felt like it would be insulting to Fox if I started to send other people to talk to him in my place.
Needless to say, I was stuck between a stone and a hard place. My best friend now hates me and I can't really blame him for that. He suddenly discovered I was the guy who kidnapped him and that I lied all this time to him.
I spent a lot of time indoors with the wolves. Lucretia and Miles were really worried about me and they tried their best to cheer me up. They also tried to make me talk about what was bothering me. They're really nice people. I know their cubs are quite rough to deal with but they did make me feel a little better.
So, that's why I made my decision. If I'm to die if I choose between stay as a dog or live as a human and be sent to jail far away from here...I'll remain a dog. At least I can try do something worthile to those around me.

Chapter 9: Change part 1

On the next day, i gained enough courage to look for Sabrina, but after no one answered at her home, I looked for Fido to ask him if he knew where she was. He then told me that her owner had to go on an emergency travel and had to leave town for a few days.
This was quite troublesome since the only other person who could help me, wel...freaked me out a little. After gaining a bit of courage I went to Tarots house and before I even knocked, she answered the door holding a bunch of papers.
"Hello, King. I see you finally made your choice"
As I stated once, she's creepy.
After a brief, yet awkward, silence I finally said: "Yeah...I want to be a dog. My lifespam will be translated into dog years, this way, isn't it?"
She nodded and said: "That is correct. Also yes, you need to fill those. Once you do, bring them to me and I'll send it to heaven and you'll be a normal six year old dog. Go to your home and once you're done writting everything down, come back here."
I picked the papers from her hand and asked: "Why can't I do it here? Wouldn't it be faster? It doesn't seem to have much to write here."
She then said: 'Sorry, King, but until you're officially out of the game I can't do you more favors than what I'm already doing for you."
Favors? I thought it was kinda rude of her saying that giving me paperwork and wasting time was some kind of favor, but I thought it would be better if I didn't argue with her and just be done with it.
I picked the papers and then left back home, Imagine my shock when I found Fox standing in front of my door with his paw raised pointing to the doorbell, but without actually ringing it.

Chapter 10: Change part 2

"Fox?" I asked him as I approached him from behind.
The husky jumped and quickly turned to me. "King!" he said startled. "I was just about to leave and..."
"We need to talk, Fox." I told him quickly before he left again.
He sighed and said: "Yes, we really do..."
After that there was a brief, yet heavy silence between us. I then broke it by telling him we should go somewhere more private for this and he agreed.
He then took me to his house saying his father wasn't at home at the moment.
We just stared at each other for a while. I didn't know what to say exactly. I wanted to talk to hiom, sure, but I never did plan this far.
He then talked first: "why did you kidnap me?"
This caught me by surprise. I didn't expect him to ask this among all the thngs that happened last time we actually talked.
"I thought my PETA's partner was a crazy for taking you into our van. I was against it and I know I should have objected harder and I should have done something to helpl you. But I swear I didn't know what he was going to try to kill you. I know there isn't an excuse, but..."
He then interrupted me by asking something else: "When did you intend to tell me about this? Do you have any idea how I felt when i discovered my best friend kept a big secret like this from me. That my best friend was teamed up with the guy who almost killed me?"
"I said I'm sorry, Fox! I didn't want any of this to happen between us. I enevr wanted any harm to come to you. I thought PETA was actually trying to help animals, but I was wrong. I know that I fell horrible whenever I remember what I did to you!" I suddenly snapped at him.
The husky just stared me with widen eyes. I think he was surprised by my sudden outburst. I couldn't deny he had a point, thou. I wanted him to forgive me really bad.
"What do you want me do, so you forgive me?" I begged him.
Fox just stared at me, silently.
"Please, just tell me what do I have to do. I still need to fill this papers. Do you want me to go to jail? If that's so, I can write here I want to be a human again." I pressed the issue. I didn't want to go back to jail, but if Fox forgave me I thought it would be worth at the end. However he didn't answer me.
I honestly don't know what went through my miond after that, bceause I then said to him: "Please...say something...Do you want me to stay as dog? As a human? I...can also not sign these papers, you know. If you want to...I can..."
Fox then walked next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder and said solemly: "Die? Do you really think that would fix anything? I overheard you and Sabrina. If you don't make a choice you'll die by the end of the year, isn't it?"
I was speecheless, but it only raised another question: "Why are you accepting this whole thing of 'human becoming dog' so easily, anyway?"
Fox scratched the back of his head and answered me: "Well, I've been Fido's friend for a long time and I've seen and heard some stuff Sabrina did. So your story isn't too far-fetched."
I don't know how I should even react to that. However Fox asked me once more: "So, what do you want to do, King?"
"I...would like to remain as a dog. I've made more friends here than in my whole life as a human. If I could, I would go back into the past and prevent that whole ordeal with you if I could. You're my best friend, Fox. I don't want to loose you."
I was surprised by what came next. Fox hugged me and said: "You're my best friend as well, King. You can't imagine my confusion and anger when I found out the truth about you. I knew you're a good person, but I did loathed what you and that other PETA guy did to me..."
I hugged him back and said: "Maybe we can start over?"
The husky then let go of me and said with a smile: "I would like that. But no weird secrets between us this time."
I have to say, I never felt so happy ion my life before.

Chapter 11: Epilogue

What can I say? I've thought I was dreaming for a while. Fox was giving me a second chance. I didn't even know what to say. But then he suddenly said pointing to the papers I was holding: "You need to fill those, right?"
I looked to my hand and remembered that. "Can I fill it here? The wolves are at home and I was already scared one of the cubs might find those before I reach the my room."
The husky smiled and said: "Sure."
Then he guided me to a desk and gave me a pen for me to fill the options and sign my name. As I did so, Fox and I chatted a bit.
"This seems alwfully simple for something so important, don't you think?" he asked.
After he mentioned that I stopped writting, then turned to him and replied: "I know how you're feeling, but believe me. If you saw the things I did it would make you question about your very existence."
He crossed his arms and replied with a grin. "Give me one example!"
I believe he said that mostly because he didn't believe what I just said, but I decided to satietye his curiosity: "How about this: heavenly beasts are playing with our lives as if they were part of a dungeons and dragons game."
His smile disappeared and he asked once more: "You're joking, right?"
I gave him a 'no' with my head and said: "I know this sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth.
Fox shrugged and then saidd: "Oh, before I forget, don't mention that Sabrina is Fido's girlfriend to anyone. He truested me with this secret some time ago and you know how some dogs here are with cat lovers."
I then replied: "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."
Once I was done, I told Fox I needed to give those back to Tarot. The Husky told me he would accompany me. I thanked him and we walked together to Tarot's house. The Husky even invited me to go with him to visit some relatives for the Thanksgiving.
I accepted the invitation. I really couldn't believe that we came across this situation. If my previous life experience had been the one to triumph, then Fox would have ditched me. But he is a really good person and I'm thankful for being his friend. Now I'm certain this will be a wonderful dog's life for me.

PG-13? Darkish? this sounds like it's going to be Fun~ HA HA Haaaa!

A Good Start!

Off to a novelty start, I see.
I'm curious, give us more

Thanks for your comments! I hope you like this story. Chapter 1 is done and I had to make a slight change in the Prologue because I forgot Joel was kidnapped by his animals and not chosen to go with them.

It will be interesting to hear more of this story.

chapter 1: aw, Joel FRAMED!

next chapter is ready. Sorry for the shortness of them...
BTW, I've been reading a good zombie book and now I want to write a zombie housepets fanfic, but Ricky would kill me because there's no way to keep it PG-13 tops.

Cool, can't wait till you put it up. I really like what you're doing with this story.

The drama is very intense, poor joel!
But...I don't get it: why the heck Aurium should get all this way to frame Joel...unless Joel's partner had bribed him big time. But to do it, that guy's reason must be really shady for putting up such a setup. Right?

I think you'll be surprised why they are doing these things to Joel. It will be revealed in the next chapter. I don't want to spoil.

this is very interesting. It definitely gives a good explanation (albeit unofficial and non-cannon) for why King is the way he is. Such betrayal would definitely lead him to have this view:


aka that all animals are just the same in that regard.

These were exactly the pannels which inspired me to write this fanfic.
EDIT: new chapter is up.

That is one evil dog. I think even Bino would be appalled.

Aaaand, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner for the Doggy Psycho Award of the year!

That was my plan. To make Aurium ('gold' in Latin) a self-centered psychopath, who actually thinks he was right in doing what he did.
BTW, new chapter is up.

yes, that sums up nicely Joel's POV on the whhole arc's matter.
Good job, sir!

I'm really liking this fanfic. The only (constructive) criticism I have is: don't just summarize the Housepets! story (we all probably know it well enough), focus on your own spin on it. This latest chapter seemed to be mainly telling us things we already knew.
overall, though, this is very well done and I'm excited to see where it goes from here!

I wasn't very fond of telling once more the events of the comic, but I felt it would be cheating if I simply skipped the moment when Joel was turned into King. But it was the last time I did it. The new chapter is ready and the next one will take place after the events of "Not all dogs".
edit: chapter 6 is up.

Okay, now this is definitely getting good.

How will Fox react to this news? What will King choose as his fate? Will Aurium ever come back to haunt Joel/King?

I do like this fanfic. Here's to many more chapters!

:O

^ Was my face for a good minute. Always good to have twists like that!

Nothing like a tragic twist~ The pain is so yummy!

You have to give up~ you have to give up~
You have to realize that someday you will die~
Until you know that, you are useless~

heck!
Aw, ouch, poor King...

I know this is just a fanfic, but I thought I read somewhere in one of the Brief History of the Universe posts that Housepets animals live longer than pets do in our world, about 40 years.

but this IS a fanfic, and this definitely provides a lot of potential drama. Keep it up, this is going in a very interesting direction!

This is getting good...

Thanks a lot for your comments. I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I've been quite busy lately (and I'm still very busy).


As for the 20~25 years of lifespam of dogs and cats, I read about it here a long time ago: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1278&hilit=school
But I'm interested in reading this, can you show me where you read it?

I didn't read the entire thread.
Sorry...

Nice update. So Fox finally knows, huh? About time!

Well, Fox is going to need a better explanation of things. I wonder who will do so?

Okaaaay. I know I have no excuse for not updating this for so long, but, honestly, I kinda forgot about it.
Also, I updated it (yeah, it's not a long chapter, but the story is quite near of its end).

YAY! Update, and the right decision!
Hope Fox forgives Kingy...

The argument between then shall come soon.
Also update

Argh! Paperwork + confrontation!! That makes for SUCH a lousy combo, man!!!

Yay! An update! I hope you continue. This is an interesting story.

I wonder what Fox and King will talk about. Should be interesting indeed.

True, but the papers are the slightets of the problems. XD

I hope you enjoyed what I came up with.
Update time.

Fox you are very kind, so King don't mess this up

Ooo, nice. Fox and King have been resolved. King will become a dog for good.

Now I just wonder where you are headed with it...

SUPERYAY!
They're friends again! That was a really touching moment!

Thanks a lot for your comments. The epilogue is now done. Thanks a lot for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed this ending.

It was a wonderful ending! Tied everything up nicely.

Fox is going to lose a lot of sleep knowing he is just an NPC in some giant cosmic game.

Yay! Fox forgives King and becomes friends again.
What a happy ending.