The next morning all the dogs were imprisoned at the
research institute, a part of the university’s school of
veterinary medicine. The complex consisted of a number of
buildings for instruction, animal care and treatment,
scientific study and experiments.
Morning light was starting to filter through the upper
widows of the animal experiments building, casting beams
of sunlight across the large floor filled with cages
containing 10 to 15 dogs. Wiley, Buster and all the other
dogs with blue collars were together in one holding cage.
Wiley was starting to lose it. “Look at this place. Cage after
cage filled with dogs. They all appear sick. Something is
very wrong. What’s that horrible smell? I want out of
here,” he said anxiously.
“You're not the only one,” said Buster. “This place is
some kind of medical clinic and I think we are the patients.
We have gone from a bad situation to something worse.”
One of the dogs in their blue collar group approached
Wiley and Buster. He had a full coat of red and white hair
38
and was half Springer Spaniel and half Collie. His name
was Astro. In a relaxed voice, Astro introduced himself and
said, “This place gives me bad vibes.”
Wiley and Buster eyed Astro with concerned
expressions. Wiley agreed, “Me too.”
Standing unnoticed as he stared up at the larger dogs,
listening to every word with his little pointed ears was a
small terrier mix named Gibraltar. “I doubt any survivors
come out of here,” he chipped in.
At that moment, in strode a small, thin, bald-headed
man with a dark beard, wearing a white smock and yellow
tinted glasses. He had a very stern dictatorial look on his
face. This was Doctor Howl, the head of the institute's
experimental programs. Wiley, who had extraordinary
hearing, picked up his ears and listened as Doctor Howl
was directing his three assistants.
“I want those dogs,” he demanded, pointing over at
Wiley’s group. “Put the ones with the blue collars in kennel
105.”
“Kennel 105?” questioned an assistant.
“Yes. These are the next volunteers for my extended
39
life experiments,” said Doctor Howl.
The assistants moved into the large holding pen and
herded the dogs with blue collars, including Wiley, Buster,
Astro and Gibraltar, into kennel 105. Doctor Howl came
over and finished counting out loud the number of dogs,
“Nine, ten, eleven, twelve. This is a start, but we need fifty
more,” he said.
One of the assistants asked, “Where will you get that
many dogs?”
“No problem,” answered Doctor Howl briskly.
The blue collar dozen in kennel 105 were milling
around as Wiley tracked down Buster. “Those medical
guys are talking about some kind of experiments they're
going to do on us,” Wiley whispered.
“I'm no guinea pig,” Buster bristled.
It was mid morning and John had again returned to
the CACC and caught up with George at his desk. George
was up tight as he was expecting county officials and the
press any minute.
“I have a neighbor who saw one of your trucks in my
40
my neighborhood yesterday afternoon. “They could have
picked up Wiley,” announced John.
George had no time for John. He snapped back, “I
can't be concerned with your dog. I have my own
problems.”
John continued, “What? I need to know.....”
George got up and started to leave his office. As he
left, he said, “Look for yourself. I have an important
meeting.”
Back at the institute, Wiley was sound asleep, lying
on the concrete floor of kennel 105. His ears were picking
up a voice while he slept.
“Hey, how you doing?” asked a dog from a cage
across the aisle. Wiley opened his eyes for a moment but
went back to sleep. Then he heard another question. “Are
you all right?”
This time Wiley's ears picked up the voice loud and
clear. His eyes opened and he raised his head. He looked
around and saw a slim, medium-sized dog across from him
in another cage. The dog, a German Pinscher, was about
the same size as Wiley with a smooth brown coat, skinny
41
legs, dark brow eyes and long nose. He had a green collar
on and his name was Rollie.
“Did you say something?” asked Wiley.
Rollie glanced around to see if the coast was clear and
then gave Wiley a warning. “You have to get out of here
today.”
“Why? Who are you?” asked Wiley.
“It’s not important. I’m Rollie. Now listen. It's your
only chance before they drug you. You and all the dogs
with blue collars are going to be in Doctor Howl's next
experiment,” warned Rollie.
“Who is Doctor Howl?” asked Wiley.
“He runs this place,” whispered Rollie. “He's a mad
scientist who's trying to find a drug for humans so they can
live forever.”
Wiley replied, “That’s just great. I guess he doesn’t
know we already extend humans lives.”
“He keeps failing, but he won’t stop until he
succeeds. The yellow collar and red collar dogs didn't last
long.” Rollie looked at the other green collar dogs in his
42
kennel. “I guess we're next. You have to save yourself and
the other blue collar dogs.”
Wiley was on his feet and very alert. He put his head
against the kennel bars across from Rollie’s kennel, ears
straight up at attention. Rollie checked around and in his
commanding voice gave instructions to Wiley. “Now listen
carefully. They'll take all of you to the bath and clip area.
Every dog is bathed and clipped before they drug them.
This is a task managed by bored people who aren't very
careful. They leave gates open. Look for gate nine at the
end of the row. It goes down a long corridor that leads
outside to an exercise field. Once you're outside, get across
the field and over the railroad tracks.”
Wiley was intently listening to every word and
repeated it back. “I understand Rollie. Our only chance to
break out is when they’re giving us our baths and we must
go out gate nine. We can do that.”
Rollie quickly added, “Remember, you have to get
over the railroad tracks before the freight train comes by or
you will be trapped.”
Wiley peeked around to see if anyone else had heard
43
their conversation. “Come with us Rollie,” urged Wiley.
Rollie coughed. “I can't. I don't have the strength.
Hey, what's your name?”
“It’s Wiley.”
“One more thing, Wiley,” advised Rollie. “Tell your
blue collar dogs to keep an eye out for a gigantic dog that
roams around the building. He’ll attack any dog out of his
cage.”
“Thanks, Rollie,” said Wiley. “I won’t forget you.”
Rollie was pushed out of sight into a bunch of other
green collar dogs by a large Rottweiler mix who stared
menacingly over at Wiley. But before Wiley was out of
hearing range, Rollie yelled out a warning, “Wiley, watch
out for Titanic.”
44
