The station was quiet.
It was close to ten o’clock when a woman of about seventy walked in, leading on a leash a stout, reddish dog. The animal wagged furiously, hopped around the tiles, and seemed, to put it mildly, far too full of energy.
– Good morning. I need to see your chief, – the woman declared firmly.
The duty officer hesitated, puzzled.
– Ma’am, do you want to file a report?
– No. I came to reveal a secret. Very serious. It’s about my dog. And maybe even more than that…
– Your dog? – the officer repeated, baffled, watching the pet try to scramble up the counter, tongue hanging out.
– Yes… You see, he has been… how should I put it… overly spirited. Far too much.
– Ma’am… if your dog has a problem, there’s a veterinary clinic right across the street.
– No! – she interrupted sharply. – You don’t understand. I live alone. I’m with him every day. I know when something changes. He isn’t just cheerful—he behaves as though… as though he’s on drugs!
The officer’s face hardened.
– You mean your… dog… could be under the influence of illegal substances?
– I can’t be certain! But please—let me speak to someone. Let them examine him. Something is wrong here.
A tense silence filled the hall. One young officer whispered:
– Sir, should we call a doctor? Or… social services? She may not be well.
But the senior sergeant, experienced and sharp-eyed, cut in:
– Bring her into the interview room. I’ll take it from here.
The old woman sat opposite him. Her dog, lying at her feet, still twitched and bounced like a spring.
– Start from the beginning. When did this behavior appear?
– About a week ago. Before that, he was calm, even sluggish. Normal for his age and weight.
– What do you feed him?
– Only senior dog food. Always the same. Morning and evening meals. Filtered water. No bones, no extras. We walk twice a day—morning in the park near home, evening by the lake.
– Are those areas watched?
– The park sometimes, yes. The lake—never. It’s empty.
– Understood. And the food source?
– Always the same store nearby. I even have a discount card. But the last bag I ordered online—a courier dropped it off. Same look, same flavor… yet a few days later he began jumping around wildly.
The sergeant sent the leftover food to the lab. The dog’s bowl was taken as well. Veterinary specialists were asked to run toxicology.
Two days later, the results came back: traces of synthetic stimulants, analogues of banned drugs, disguised as additives.
Although the packaging carried a well-known brand, it turned out to be counterfeit.
Tests confirmed the dog’s blood had built up these compounds, even in small amounts. That explained his unnatural excitement.
Investigators soon tracked down a warehouse. Behind dog food branding, packets with microdoses of psychoactives had been distributed across the district.
The plan wasn’t to cause alarm immediately, but to make pets dependent, forcing owners to keep purchasing that “brand.”
The woman had unknowingly sparked a major investigation. Her dog was not the only victim—labs later identified twelve other cases nearby.
Authorities swept through stores, suppliers, and websites.
The sergeant eventually called her back.
– Ma’am, you may have saved many families. Thank you.
He handed her a certificate of appreciation.
The dog lay beneath the desk, calmer now—recovering after detox.
– I hope he turns lazy again, like before, – she laughed.
– If not—we’ll be here. And your dog will stay under our care… just to be safe.
They both smiled.
