Annual Pet Contest Ends in Polymorph Chaos

The annual Waterdeep Pet Extravaganza, typically a dignified affair showcasing the finest mastiffs and faerie dragons, descended into chaos yesterday when the head judge accidentally triggered a wild magic surge while scoring a particularly cute puppy. The surge released a wave of polymorph energy that swept through the arena, instantly swapping the species of every animal present. Cats found themselves barking, dogs began meowing, and a prized show chicken suddenly grew scales and breathed a tiny puff of smoke. The owners were left staring at their pets in confusion, trying to determine if their beloved companion was still the same soul inside a different body.

Panic was averted when the organizers assured the crowd that the effects were temporary, lasting only until the next moonrise. However, this did not stop the confusion. Several owners struggled to feed their pets, as the dietary needs had suddenly changed. A woman was seen trying to feed milk to a dog that now believed it was a cat, while a wizard struggled to keep his new pet rock from rolling away. The betting rings, which had been established on which pet would win the beauty contest, had to be suspended as the criteria for judging became impossible to apply. How does one judge the grace of a turtle that thinks it is a hawk?

Some owners actually preferred the new arrangements. A farmer whose dog was notoriously lazy was delighted to find it had turned into a workhorse, even if it was the size of a terrier. Conversely, a nobleman whose cat was a skilled mouser was dismayed to find it had become a goldfish, albeit one that could walk on land. The event organizers are now facing a lawsuit from a participant whose hamster turned into a owlbear and ate the judging table. The insurance company has declared the event an 'Act of Magic' and is refusing to pay damages.

By evening, most pets had reverted to their original forms, though some lingering effects remain. Several dogs are still chasing laser pointers with unnatural intensity, and a few cats have developed a fear of vacuum cleaners that they did not possess before. The head judge has been suspended pending a review of his spell components, though he claims the surge was caused by a spectator sneezing during a critical somatic component. The Gazette recommends all pet owners keep a dispel magic scroll handy for future events. Next year's contest will be held in an anti-magic field, though organizers worry this will make the pets too boring to watch.