When an old woman took her dog to the police station, she reported that the dog had grown unusually happy. The police looked into it and found something odd.
It was quiet in the police station. The time was approximately ten in the morning. Then an old woman, perhaps seventy years old, strode in with a reddish-plumber dog on a leash on her arm. The dog appeared, to put it mildly, quite animated, wagged its tail, and leaped a little on the spot.
Good morning. Calmly, she continued, “I need to talk to your chief.”
Her meaning was not immediately clear to the on-duty officer.
Do you wish to submit a report, Ma’am?
No. I have a secret to share. Very important. It’s about my dog. And perhaps even more…
The officer repeated, startled, “The dog?” as he peered at the creature, which was attempting to scale the counter with its front paws and tongue protruding.
Indeed. He is, you see. How do I put it? Too happy these days. Too much, even.
Ma’am. A veterinarian facility is located across the street in case your dog has an issue.
“No!” she cut in abruptly. You’re not understanding. I live by myself. I spend every day with him. Something seems to have changed. Not only is he having fun, but he acts as like he’s high!
The cop scowled.
Do you mean that your dog is abusing drugs?
I’m not sure! But let me talk to someone, please. Allow them to examine the dog. There seems to be a deeper meaning behind this.
There was an awkward hush. Silently, one of the younger officers mumbled:
Should we contact a doctor, sir? Social services, perhaps? This woman is not thinking clearly.
However, the senior sergeant, a wise and seasoned guy, abruptly stated:
Bring her to the room where she will be questioned. I will speak with her.
That’s when the police found something really awful and out of the ordinary.
Opposite the sergeant sat an old woman. Still bouncing like a spring, the dog lay at her feet.
Let’s go back to the beginning. For what length of time has he been acting like this?
A week or so. He was quiet and slow before then. As one might anticipate from a dog of his age and physique.
Do you feed him anything?
Just one kind of meal. especially for older dogs. He’s always consumed it. A morning bowl and a nighttime bowl. water with a filter. No snacks, no bones. We take two daily walks: one in the park behind the house in the morning and another along the lake in the evening.
Are the areas where you stroll under supervision?
Well, There are occasionally patrols in the park. There is no one at the lake. There is silence.
I understand. Where do you purchase the food?
At the same store close to home every time. I’ve got a discount card, too. However, the courier brought my most recent internet order right to my house. Same flavor, same package… But a few days later, he began to bounce wildly.
The sergeant instructed that the remaining food be sent to a laboratory. Additionally, the dog’s bowl was inspected. Veterinarians checked the animal’s system for chemicals as a precaution.
Two days later, the result came in: the food included traces of synthetic psychostimulants, which are drugs that are prohibited but are disguised as fat-soluble additives.
Although the food was made by a reputable manufacturer, the packaging was phony.
In the meantime, even in minuscule amounts, the dog’s examination revealed buildup of these compounds in the blood. His “cheerful” demeanor was explained by this.
They soon found the warehouse that was the source of the “fake” food. Small batches containing microdoses of psychoactive drugs were disseminated over the area under the pretense of dog food.
The perpetrators’ idea was that these doses would not raise suspicions right away, but they would eventually cause the animals to become dependent, which would encourage their owners to purchase that specific “brand.”
The old woman, completely by accident, started a massive investigation. Labs in nearby districts confirmed 12 more cases, so her dog wasn’t the only one.
A series of store, supplier, and internet business inspections started.
The woman received another call from the senior sergeant.
You might have saved scores of families, Ma’am. Thank you.
An formal certificate of gratitude was given to her by him.
Following veterinarian detoxification, the dog, meantime, sat beneath the table looking a little sleepy.
The woman grinned and said, “I hope he gets lazy again, like before.”
Well, we’ll be available if necessary. Additionally, we will always keep an eye on your dog—just in case.
They both chuckled.
