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Hume Control
by Dr. Alsekl Stnik, D.V.M.
Humes are wonderfully intelligent creatures, and as such can be some of the best pets one can have. They are capable of understanding complex verbal communications, and as such can be taught to do a variety of physical tasks. They can be used as support for the disabled and elderly, allowing them a greater quality of life. Or they can simply be a companion to help you through the day.
You've probably seen plenty of humes on the streets, some on leashes, some content to simply hold their owners' hands. But this guide is not about those.
This guide focuses on unaccompanied humes.
If you see a hume unaccompanied, the first thing you should do is see if they are on a leash. If they are, observe their behavior. If they are calm and staying in a specific area, they are likely waiting for their owner while they are doing another task. If they are panicking, they likely have gotten separate from their owner. The latter also applies to humes without a collar.
Either way, you can tell by their response to you trying to lead them away. If they refuse, then they are likely waiting, and should not be made to go elsewhere unless they have been unattended for thirty minutes or more. If they accept, they are likely lost, and you should lead them to the nearest law enforcement or hume control. They can assist the hume in returning to their owner.
If the hume is not on a leash, check the color of their collar. Hume's collars are colored differently depending on their age at time of ascension and societal status.
Humes with black collars are strictly used for breeding, and should be taken to hume control as quickly as possible. Breeding humes should only be handled by hume control, veterinarians, or breeding specialists. They can be aggressive, so take care not to get too close.
A red collar indicates that the hume was an adult at the time of ascension, and is likely to be uncooperative. Again, keep an eye on them from afar and contact hume control.
Blue collars indicate a service hume. They should be led to the nearest law enforcement or hume control. Try to keep them from interacting with housepets.
A yellow collar shows that a hume was between the ages of seven and fifteen at the time of ascension. If they react to you aggressively, then you should back off and call hume control. Otherwise, you can lead them to hume control yourself.
A green collar represents that the hume was younger than seven at the time of ascention. These humes are typically harmless and again, should be led to hume control.
If a hume is uncollared, then they are untamed, and a different set of protocol should be taken.
A very young hume has most likely escaped from a breeding facility. They will have a mark on the backside of their hand indicating which facility they are from. They should be led to hume control, who can assist them in returning to their facility. Make sure you talk to them the whole time, letting them know that you're just helping them get back home and that you don't mean them any harm. They may not be able to communicate back, but they can understand us.
For an older hume, one should exercise extreme caution. Older untamed humes can be highly dangerous and should not be allowed contact with other humes. Call hume control and keep an eye on them from afar, making sure not to be seen. Inform anyone passing by that there is a wild hume and they should stay away from the area. Wild humes have a tendency to attack tamed humes, especially the younger ones. Once hume control arrives, back away from the area and let them handle the hume.
Inform them if the wild hume has attacked anybody or attempted an attack on another hume. Hume control and medical services can again ensure that the injured are taken care of.
Large packs of untamed humes should be reported IMMEDIATELY. Stay far away from them and contact hume control. They should not be confronted under any circumstance, as wild humes can be highly violent in groups.
So, a basic overview:
Leave alone: an unagitated leashed hume
Gently take to hume control or law enforcement: A scared leashed hume, blue collar, green collar, unaggressive yellow collar, young branded untamed hume
Leave to hume control: Black collar, older untamed hume, unbranded untamed hume
Make sure you know where the local hume control agencies are. If you do not know where one is or are unable to reach one, law enforcement should be your second choice. Otherwise, you can contact the Global Hume Control Line at 4444. (No extension needed.)