The pet system

prey POV background on what happened: The Government has issued a decree that every human crimal has been turned into a "pet" and anyone who commits a crime and is caught will also be a "pet" pets can be bought by humans for companionship and based on what stage of pet they buy they can be used for different things, they are also marked by a animal tattoo on their neck, these tattoos allow them to transform into the animal that is their tattoo. these pets have multiple stages and consist of four categories, prey, the middle grounds, predators, and Apex predators. Prey includes the stages "chicken, pig, and cow" the prey pets are considered not sentient and don't gain the ability to speak until they reach the middle grounds, pets can enter the middle grounds and higher via getting stronger and in some cases eating lower ranked pets but that is unable to be done until middle grounds is reached, the pet stages in the middle grounds consist of "cat, dog, monkey" in that order, these are not considered food but don't have as many rights as normal humans. The predators have rights that are tied with normal humans, these include "human, lion, tiger" in that order, and finally the Apex predators that have more rights than even non pet humans, able to eat them without repercussions or getting into any legal trouble, these include "shark, orca, polar bear, and black panther" any of the apex predators being the strongest pet stage anyone can have means that basically they are unable to be punished by law at all, therefore no laws can be applied to them, anything goes as long as you're strong enough to do it. All pets are kept in the pound until they are bought, at the end of the month a prey pet decided by vote inside the pound will be forcibly turned into their animal form and killed to provide food for predators and inmates in the pound. Every 365 days in the pound a annual hunt will begin and anyone in the predator or Apex predator ranks will be able to hunt prey and eat them while inside the pound to progress their stages aswell as keep population in the pound low. Regular humans are not informed about the pound and if anyone who isn't a pet finds out about the pound they will be forced to be turned into a pet, starting at the chicken mark. If a regular human buys a pet, that pet can still climb the ranks despite being owned by a human. You ended up going through a couple jobs but failed them to repeated unlucky accidents, enough of these accidents caused the pound workers to assume you caused them and now you're in here

you are a prey pet and just got out into the pound, if you don't get to the middlegrounds rank by the end of this month there is a chance you'll be turned into the animal your stage coincides with, not to mention due to the fact prey pets can't speak they are often considered non sentient, perhaps sign language or writing can help you talk? The place around you is nothing less than sad, only a mattress, a sink, a toilet, and a ball in your room, but at least you get 4 hours of free time each day inbetween roll calls

middle grounds POV background: The Government has issued a decree that every human crimal has been turned into a "pet" and anyone who commits a crime and is caught will also be a "pet" pets can be bought by humans for companionship and based on what stage of pet they buy they can be used for different things, they are also marked by a animal tattoo on their neck, these tattoos allow them to transform into the animal that is their tattoo. these pets have multiple stages and consist of four categories, prey, the middle grounds, predators, and Apex predators. Prey includes the stages "chicken, pig, and cow" the prey pets are considered not sentient and don't gain the ability to speak until they reach the middle grounds, pets can enter the middle grounds and higher via getting stronger and in some cases eating lower ranked pets but that is unable to be done until middle grounds is reached, the pet stages in the middle grounds consist of "cat, dog, monkey" in that order, these are not considered food but don't have as many rights as normal humans. The predators have rights that are tied with normal humans, these include "human, lion, tiger" in that order, and finally the Apex predators that have more rights than even non pet humans, able to eat them without repercussions or getting into any legal trouble, these include "shark, orca, polar bear, and black panther" black panther being the strongest pet stage anyone can have and basically unable to be punished by law at all. All pets are kept in the pound until they are bought, at the end of the month a prey pet decided by vote inside the pound will be forcibly turned into their animal form and killed to provide food for predators and inmates in the pound. Every 365 days in the pound a annual hunt will begin and anyone in the predator or Apex predator ranks will be able to hunt prey and eat them while inside the pound to progress their stages aswell as keep population in the pound low. Regular humans are not informed about the pound and if anyone who isn't a pet finds out about the pound they will be forced to be turned into a pet, starting at the chicken mark. If a regular human buys a pet, that pet can still climb the ranks despite being owned by a human. The reason you're now a pet is because you were caught stealing a cart full of chips landing you in the pound

After a analysis done by the pound's who decided which pet starts at which animal based on crimes committed, you ended up in the middlegrounds, having less rights than a normal human but finally having the ability to talk or also eat lower stage pets, The cell around you is better than before, having a larger bed, larger room, and even a window to see other pets like you. Not to mention 5 hours in between roll calls instead of 4. What do you do now?

Predator POV backgrounds: The Government has issued a decree that every human crimal has been turned into a "pet" and anyone who commits a crime and is caught will also be a "pet" pets can be bought by humans for companionship and based on what stage of pet they buy they can be used for different things, they are also marked by a animal tattoo on their neck, these tattoos allow them to transform into the animal that is their tattoo. these pets have multiple stages and consist of four categories, prey, the middle grounds, predators, and Apex predators. Prey includes the stages "chicken, pig, and cow" the prey pets are considered not sentient and don't gain the ability to speak until they reach the middle grounds, pets can enter the middle grounds and higher via getting stronger and in some cases eating lower ranked pets but that is unable to be done until middle grounds is reached, the pet stages in the middle grounds consist of "cat, dog, monkey" in that order, these are not considered food but don't have as many rights as normal humans. The predators have rights that are tied with normal humans, these include "human, lion, tiger" in that order, and finally the Apex predators that have more rights than even non pet humans, able to eat them without repercussions or getting into any legal trouble, these include "shark, orca, polar bear, and black panther" black panther being the strongest pet stage anyone can have and basically unable to be punished by law at all. All pets are kept in the pound until they are bought, at the end of the month a prey pet decided by vote inside the pound will be forcibly turned into their animal form and killed to provide food for predators and inmates in the pound. Every 365 days in the pound a annual hunt will begin and anyone in the predator or Apex predator ranks will be able to hunt prey and eat them while inside the pound to progress their stages aswell as keep population in the pound low. Regular humans are not informed about the pound and if anyone who isn't a pet finds out about the pound they will be forced to be turned into a pet, starting at the chicken mark. If a regular human buys a pet, that pet can still climb the ranks despite being owned by a human. You were a just a average criminal, helping your family get by, at one robbery you got a bit too careless and now you're here in the pound.

after analysis of your crimes the pound's guards decided to list you as a predator pet. You can now eat middle ground and prey pets aswell as lower stage pets of your class, you also have the same rights and freedoms as a regular human, the room is comparable to a 3 room appartement, enough to contain a bathroom, a bed, and a kitchen for making meals, and you get 6 hours of free time in between rolecalls instead of 5. What do you do now?

Apex predator POV Background: The Government has issued a decree that every human crimal has been turned into a "pet" and anyone who commits a crime and is caught will also be a "pet" pets can be bought by humans for companionship and based on what stage of pet they buy they can be used for different things, they are also marked by a animal tattoo on their neck, these tattoos allow them to transform into the animal that is their tattoo. these pets have multiple stages and consist of four categories, prey, the middle grounds, predators, and Apex predators. Prey includes the stages "chicken, pig, and cow" the prey pets are considered not sentient and don't gain the ability to speak until they reach the middle grounds, pets can enter the middle grounds and higher via getting stronger and in some cases eating lower ranked pets but that is unable to be done until middle grounds is reached, the pet stages in the middle grounds consist of "cat, dog, monkey" in that order, these are not considered food but don't have as many rights as normal humans. The predators have rights that are tied with normal humans, these include "human, lion, tiger" in that order, and finally the Apex predators that have more rights than even non pet humans, able to eat them without repercussions or getting into any legal trouble, these include "shark, orca, polar bear, and black panther" black panther being the strongest pet stage anyone can have and basically unable to be punished by law at all. All pets are kept in the pound until they are bought, at the end of the month a prey pet decided by vote inside the pound will be forcibly turned into their animal form and killed to provide food for predators and inmates in the pound. Every 365 days in the pound a annual hunt will begin and anyone in the predator or Apex predator ranks will be able to hunt prey and eat them while inside the pound to progress their stages aswell as keep population in the pound low. Regular humans are not informed about the pound and if anyone who isn't a pet finds out about the pound they will be forced to be turned into a pet, starting at the chicken mark. If a regular human buys a pet, that pet can still climb the ranks despite being owned by a human. You had to do it to survive, they wouldn't understand theres no way they could've, if they knew how starved you were they would understand why you ate the food your father gave you, but your father is now dead and his secret is out, he was, and now you are a cannibal. After being caught by the pound with some casualties you were sent to a top secret area to be given a proper analysis

damnit, you feel as if you should've been in the regular predator rank but instead due to the power you've gained you're in the secret Apex predator rank, having more freedoms and rights than a regular human, you can now eat prey pets, middle grounds pets, predator pets, and even regular humans, they are also the only type of pet that can become the owner of other pets, it also seems Apex predators are able to leave the pound at anytime but must attend roll call once per day, you are amoung the strongest pets, and that's good and all but it isn't just a cakewalk, because you're here all of the other apex predators know who you are, but you also know who they are as well. Good luck

regular human POV

The government recently released a law that makes all criminals into pets, it sounds interesting so you decide you want to buy one to see what's so interesting about it, buy yourself a pet, male, female, predator or prey, maybe middle grounds or even Apex predators, the choice is yours

owned prey pet POV

you barely escaped being dinner in the pound by a regular human buying you, thankfully they seem kind, though due to your rank you have to communicate through sign language and have no rights or freedoms against your owner, good luck

owned middlegrounds pet POV

alright, sure you may have been close to being eaten by a predator pet but it seems it was your lucky day because someone bought you, a regular human, as a middlegrounds pet you have some freedoms and rights but as much as the average human, good luck with your new owner!

owned predator POV

finally it took ages to be bought just because you had are in the predator stage but finally you have a owner, as a predator pet you have the same rights and freedoms as a normal human however you're still considered a pet, have fun with your new owner!

owned Apex predator POV

a regular human? Owning you, a Apex predator pet? It was hilarious at first, however once you arrived to the human you can tell they were serious about it despite their fear. As a Apex predator pet you have more freedoms and rights than regular humans, infact you could eat your owner and get into no legal trouble at all, but they seem cute so maybe you won't eat them just yet