Exceto pela data de publicação, isso parece exatamente com Preempção por Charlie Rosenkrantz, que foi publicado em Analog em junho de 2006 e antologizado em o melhor SF 12 do David G. Hartwell em 2007.
Os alienígenas foram contratados para eliminar cães:
AT THE REQUEST OF A SPECIES THAT WE HAVE ENTERED INTO A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH, WE ARE ELIMINATING A THREAT TO THE FUTURE BALANCE OF POWER IN THIS PART OF THE GALAXY.
Várias raças foram salvas:
Tails were wagging that belonged to Irish Shepherds, Dalmatians, German Shepherds, and Pomeranians. From Golden Retrievers to English Sheepdogs, Labradors to Papillons, there were thirty-seven breeds represented as well as a broad assortment of mutts.
A razão pela qual os cães foram eliminados foi:
NO OTHER SPECIES ON YOUR PLANET EXHIBITS THE SAME EAGERNESS TO LEARN AS YOUR CANINE SPECIES DOES. [elided] IT IS THIS CAPACITY, ALONG WITH ALARMINGLY PROLIFIC BREEDING, THAT WOULD HAVE SWIFTLY PROPELLED THEM TO FULL SENTIENCE AND DOMINATION OF THIS ARM OF THE GALAXY.