- Joined
- Jan 6, 2014
- Messages
- 3,550
- Reaction score
- 511
- Location
- Washington State
- Website
- shaunhorton.blogspot.com
So, I'm getting a bit close to the end of my current WIP, and throughout the work so far, I'm treading a pretty thin line as far as what people would probably find acceptable, even in a horror novel. The basis of the story is Cujo + The Exorcist. So, if there's anything people will turn away from more than violence towards kids, I think it's probably violence toward animals. Which, yes, there is a bit here.
My current scene is after the dog has been put down, (shot by a police officer in the family's backyard) and is currently at the vet clinic. Everyone has pretty much decided she was rabid, so they have to go through the procedure to test for it. Now, for those that aren't aware, the most accurate and conclusive test for rabies requires a healthy sample of brain tissue. To accommodate this, in a suspected Rabies case, a veterinary practice will surgically remove the head, put it on ice, and send it out in the express mail.
My question is pretty much this. Since I'm already treading a thin line between horror and sympathy and I just blatantly shot the animal, would it be too much for a lot of readers if I actually made it given information in the book about the procedure taken to test for the disease?
(For those curious, the remainder of the scene involves the re-animation of the body, its murderous actions as it searches the clinic for the missing head, and the demonic re-attachment of said head.)
My current scene is after the dog has been put down, (shot by a police officer in the family's backyard) and is currently at the vet clinic. Everyone has pretty much decided she was rabid, so they have to go through the procedure to test for it. Now, for those that aren't aware, the most accurate and conclusive test for rabies requires a healthy sample of brain tissue. To accommodate this, in a suspected Rabies case, a veterinary practice will surgically remove the head, put it on ice, and send it out in the express mail.
My question is pretty much this. Since I'm already treading a thin line between horror and sympathy and I just blatantly shot the animal, would it be too much for a lot of readers if I actually made it given information in the book about the procedure taken to test for the disease?
(For those curious, the remainder of the scene involves the re-animation of the body, its murderous actions as it searches the clinic for the missing head, and the demonic re-attachment of said head.)