, Shadow was a puzzle. His vitals were fine, his bloodwork was clean, but he spent his days staring at the air vent that connected his enclosure to the recovery ward.
Historically, behavioral issues were viewed as training problems or personality flaws. A dog that bit at the vet was "mean." A cat that urinated in its carrier was "spiteful." A horse that refused to enter a stable was "stubborn." Veterinary science has since caught up with human psychology researchers: animals act out due to fear, pain, or learned trauma—not malice.