A strange howl can be heard from the woods. Canine characters, upon hearing the howl, suffer a sudden compulsion to let out a howl themselves. This is a minor urge, which can be resisted - but once a canine howls, there is a sudden feeling of satisfaction and gratification such as when quenching a great hunger.

Canine characters can now be infected by an unusual memetic plague that spreads almost entirely by howls. Characters affected have an urge to howl at least two-three times a day, preferably after a meal. The urge is minor and can be resisted, but giving into the howl releases a soothing effect of satisfaction and gratification, as if after a meal. After the third howl, a character is no longer urged to Howl again till midnight the next day.

Canine characters that are not wolves have a 10% chance to turning into an anthro (or feral if they are quad) wolf once they howl! Wolves are not affected by any transformation but are infected from the moment they hear a howl from an infected canine. Vulpines have a 10% chance of being affected.

Howls from non-infected canines do not change anything. However, non-canine characters that are within 50 feet of three or more howling canine characters will be transformed rapidly into a canine form of their current body. The speed of transformation depends on the number of canines in proximity.

Curing is simple: one just needs to transform to a non-canine form, then change back (or dispelled) at which point they are no longer infected and revert back to their original form. Transformations that are not reverted/dispelled remain with no fall-off until dispelled. However, there is no vaccine, which means that infection can occur upon hearing another howl again. Filtering out the howl in a person's audio range can prevent the memetic effect as well.

Canines that howl while in proximity to each other may feel a sense of connection and friendliness to each other, the pack instinct growing stronger.