Dick filed that away in his brain to tell Batman later. That was something, that he recognized the value of nurture against nature. There was hope for rehabilitation there.

"I'm surprised you feel it, though," Dick pressed. "I mean, I saw-- Batman was strict, he never accepts good when he knows I can do better -- I have to get straight As or I hang up the cape, for one thing -- but he never... did anything to hurt me. Mentally or physically. He wanted me to leave all the work to him, he's never asked me to do anything horrific like-- like with the dog."

Dick's never had a pet before, mainly because he doesn't have the time for one, but he grew up around elephants and lions and there's always been an animal lover deep in his heart.

"Look, I hurt people sometimes, I'm sure I've fractured some bones, and maybe some people deserve it, but an innocent dog..."