@TarkabarkaHolgy@ohai.social I believe Ryder was originally American, and learned engineering at an American University. But where did the sentient, talking dogs come from? That, I think, was not 100% Ryder's invention. I think, while he was in university, he stumbled across an abandoned program from the 70s. One which was attempting to genetically uplift dogs. Their most successful experiments were two great danes, although the older one could barely talk. The experiment shut down when the dogs were liberated by the pot addled hippie who had been volunteering at the facility, last seen with three others in a teal van with large green daisies. I also think that, at the same university, Ryder befriended marine biology and agriculture students Mr. Turbot and Miss Yumi, and offered them funding for their projects if they came to Adventure Bay.