"You know, what's strikes me as puzzling is that it's just cats and dogs that this stuff is impacting. What about their wild cousins, wolves and large cats?" he asked. You could of course make the argument that whatever was infecting the pets, it originated from a source that was located in heavier populated areas, where wild animals, of sorts, were less likely to wander. However, "So what do cats and dogs have in common?" Padraig considered. "And what is the affected area? The pads of their feet. But some wild animals are more inclined to wander into populated areas, foraging for food."
Those animals, he added, addressing both Faith and Amaris, tended to have a different relationship with two footed mortals. Raccoons, for instance, found rubbish bins outside any given kitchen door to be a great source for an easy meal. Along with the gardens and parks. And raccoons had pads on their feet. There seemed to be no logical, scientific explanation for that. Not a natural one anyway. He agreed with Amaris though. If they could get a sample, all the better.
He grinned a little at Faith when she suggested doing just that, phrasing it in an interesting way when she did. But another good idea. The woman who's conducted their training with Cosmo. She might be someone to speak to, along with someone who treated animals, or maybe, "Someone at the University?"
"I can't help but to wonder, however," he added with the frown. "Still, why just domesticated dogs and cats, when other, wild animals that tend to coexist with us aren't affected? Skunks for example are very like cats, my grandfather once told me when I spied some out our window one night eating alongside a mother cat and her kittens. If that's true at all..." Still, something about it didn't quite make sense. "I'm inclined to wonder if whatever this is, may not be naturally occurring, but manufactured and targeted instead."
Those animals, he added, addressing both Faith and Amaris, tended to have a different relationship with two footed mortals. Raccoons, for instance, found rubbish bins outside any given kitchen door to be a great source for an easy meal. Along with the gardens and parks. And raccoons had pads on their feet. There seemed to be no logical, scientific explanation for that. Not a natural one anyway. He agreed with Amaris though. If they could get a sample, all the better.
He grinned a little at Faith when she suggested doing just that, phrasing it in an interesting way when she did. But another good idea. The woman who's conducted their training with Cosmo. She might be someone to speak to, along with someone who treated animals, or maybe, "Someone at the University?"
"I can't help but to wonder, however," he added with the frown. "Still, why just domesticated dogs and cats, when other, wild animals that tend to coexist with us aren't affected? Skunks for example are very like cats, my grandfather once told me when I spied some out our window one night eating alongside a mother cat and her kittens. If that's true at all..." Still, something about it didn't quite make sense. "I'm inclined to wonder if whatever this is, may not be naturally occurring, but manufactured and targeted instead."
