"Uma questão de forma" , uma novela de H. L. Gold ; publicado pela primeira vez em Astounding Science-Fiction , dezembro de 1938 , disponível no Internet Archive . Você pode ter lido na antologia Ficção Científica: Os Grandes Anos , editado por Carol & Frederik Pohl .
Não é o repórter que troca a mente com um cachorro. Os personagens principais são: Dr. Moss, um cientista louco que está desenvolvendo um procedimento para transferir a mente de um homem rico moribundo para um corpo jovem e saudável; Gilroy, o repórter de jornal que está investigando o caso dos misteriosos vagabundos "catatônicos" (experimentos fracassados); e Wood, um "baixo-e-exterior" altamente educado que é "contratado" pelo Dr. Moss, escapa no corpo de um collie e, com grande dificuldade, consegue comunicar sua história a Gilroy. Uma de suas tentativas malsucedidas:
He moved the pencil in his mouth over the sheet of paper. It was clumsy and uncertain, but he produced long, wavering block letters. He wrote: 'I AM A MAN.' The short message covered the whole page, leaving no space for further information.
He dropped the pencil, caught up the paper in his teeth, and ran back to the newspaper building. For the first time since he had escaped from Moss, he felt assured. His attempt at writing was crude and unformed, but the message was unmistakably clear.
He joined a group of tired young legmen coming back from assignments. He stood passively until the door was opened, then lunged confidently through the little procession of cub reporters. They scattered back cautiously, permitting him to enter without a struggle.
Again he raced up the stairs to the editorial department, put the sheet of paper down on the floor, and clutched the doorknob between his powerful teeth.
He hesitated for only an instant, to find the cadaverous reporter. Gilroy was seated at a desk, typing out his article. Carrying his message in his mouth, Wood trotted directly to Gilroy. He put his paw on the reporter's sharp knee.
'What the hell!' Gilroy gasped. He pulled his leg away startledly and shoved Wood away.
But Wood came back insistently, holding his paper stretched out to Gilroy as far as possible. He trembled hopefully until the reporter snatched the message out of his mouth. Then his muscles froze, as he stared up expectantly at the angular face, scanning it for signs of growing comprehension.
Gilroy kept his eyes on the straggling letters. His face darkened angrily.
'Who's being a wise guy here?' he shouted suddenly. Most of the staff ignored him. 'Who let this mutt in and gave him a crank note to bring to me? Come on—who's the genius?'
Wood jumped around him, barking hysterically, trying to explain.
'Oh, shut up!' Gilroy rapped out. 'Hey, copy! Take this dog down and see that he doesn't get back in! He won't bite you.'