Oh, so you mean a lot of weak enemies on the map? I guess it was confusion on my end, but I thought you meant in the fight itself, as in a cat/dog mentioned along with the cannon-fodder rats.
Now that I'm thinking it through, it wouldn't make much sense for them to team up given the little background you just gave about them. Oops, I guess! xd
I remember we got some sprites of the dogs a while ago, which made me wonder how they fit into this setting. I might take a look into the hideout computer and try to match for myself. That lore dump you did was much appreciated lol
Lastly, had that whole ordeal with payment processors and Itch.io been solved or will it affect your next chapter's pricing? I haven't been able to follow the news.