dog, domestic

Approximate Pre-Holocaust Price:
Ranging from $0 to multiple thousands of dollars for exemplars of a purebred varietal.

Approximate Post-Holocaust Availability:
Domestic dogs should be rather easy to locate after the dead once again walk. Some may have formed packs with their abandoned brethren, but it would not be difficult to find one eager for a return to close interaction with humans.

Benefits:
The proverbial “man’s best friend” (a title that will likely be shifted to that last bullet every good zombie defender saves for himself when the end times come), dogs offer a number of extremely positive benefits for those who allow them into their fold. First off, it is very difficult to discount the measurable increase in morale that occurs at any time a dog is brought into a survival unit. Their love for humans and playful spirit can warm even the most hardened of hearts. Having a dog present in your group is one of the best ways in which to make sure the spirit of Rule 78 (“A happy group is a vigilant group.”) is upheld. Beyond being a companion, the dog can prove to be an invaluable assistant due to their many unique traits. Their highly acute senses of smell and hearing can help alert one to oncoming shamblors long in advance of when the human would have detected them. Highly trainable, the dog’s compact size and agility can provide for quick search and rescue operations. It is also important to note that research has demonstrated that zombies are uninterested in consuming the flesh of dogs, making canine assistance in areas concentrated with undead that much more valuable. One of the final main upsides to siding with a dog is their undying and complete loyalty to a trusted human. This fidelity is amazing and can be exhibited in remarkable manners, including the fact that if their human is placed into a life or death situation the dog can be willing to defend that person while selflessly risking their own demise. Research is inconclusive as to whether or not a dog killed by zombies will itself become a sort of zombie dog.

Drawbacks:
Dogs may be quite loyal but frequently they can demonstrate that they are not the brightest of animals. It is common for dogs to focus on their need/never-ending desire for food above and beyond all other worries in life. Aided by their extraordinary sense of smell, dogs can search and find their food from a distance. A problem arises in that zombies, with their open flesh, exposed muscle tissue and copious gore, frequently appear to many dogs to actually be traveling snacks and leading to the initiation of many unneeded dog/zombie interactions. This response varies from dog to dog, making it imperative to choose wisely before investing too much of yourself into your companion. It is also possible at times to see a dog’s blinding loyalty as a drawback of the species. Lacking the overwhelming self-preservation instinct common in cats, the dog’s willingness to self-sacrifice can at times be useful (as when allowing the human to escape while the dog has the zombie’s attention) just as easily as it can leave a human prone to irresponsible actions to try to save their animal friend from destruction. It is best to stay aware of this possibility during the selection process.

Overall Effectiveness Score:
Variable from 4 to 8 of 10. Even a small dog may prove to be the distant early warning that your group needs to survive a swarm of rot boxes, but their blind loyalty may prove to bring a quick demise to your four-legged assistant.