New Orbit Magazine Issue 08; Feb 2020, The Future of Animals

only people who aren't trying to tear our
throats out for letting patented products run
wild – and aggressively devolve – are the ones
who say we are accountable for it. By cutting
down the deer, Monsanto’s ferals have
reverted Grand Cascadia from a dustbowl.
Apparently the place is healthier than it’s
been since the 1980s. They're calling them
“Wild-state dogs”, and rewilders and eco-nuts
are suggesting we release more of them, into
other parks.”
“At least they were,” one of the lawyers
raised over Jemima’s audible horror. “Til it
got out that we had less-than-friendly
intentions towards the existing Cascadia wolf
packs, now they're up in arms about that.”
“They are not wolf packs,” Jemima
corrected firmly, gathering herself to stand.
“They're Dogs. Capital “D”. Trademarked,
patented, products, and entirely under our
jurisdiction. I don't care how much they’ve
reverted to this so-called “Wild-state”. This
has gone on long enough. You’ve got some
meetings with the USNPS today, yes?”
“The National Parks Service and the
EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Department of Health and Agriculture –”
“Good.” Jemima interrupted, checking
the time. “Get it done, because this is a
powder-keg that I cannot deal with right now.
I’ve got the National Suppliers’ Companion
Canine Convention to oversee, opening
today, now, and I can't have people literally
crying wolf about a couple of ferals that
criminal breeders have let loose. Get rid of
them. Any means necessary.”
The suits all nodded dutifully. As
concerned as they looked, Jemima had a
begrudging confidence in the unlikable trio,
which allowed her to give them a
companionable nod back as she gathered her
things and left the conference room at a trot.
***
Soulless as the job would seem – as as
Jemima felt, sometimes – she had started
working for the Companion Canine Institute
for a pure and unfettered love of Dogs.
Everyone loved Dogs. They were America’s
favourite companion animal – some would
say the world’s, possibly even more beloved
as today’s generation of adults had grown up
in a world that had nearly been devoid of
them.
A combination of irresponsible kennel
clubs and breeding practises, environmental
decline, breed specific legislation and the cost
of animal care had seen dogs as a species in
such a rapid decline that they were set to
follow the path of the majority of wild
animals into functional extinction.
Freshwater fish, once the most numerous pet
in the USA, had come to be a white elephant
that only corporate and political royalty
could keep. Cats were almost as rare.
But dogs – the Invisible Hand had seen
something worth saving in dogs.