BOSTON — A serious medical emergency occurred this past weekend after a Boston Dynamics robotic dog named Spot got into an unattended Ziplock baggie of flash drives, sources confirm.
“We knew something wasn’t right when he unexpectedly went into sleep mode and leaked oil all over the carpet,” said college student and new dog owner Sarah Clark. “Those thumb drives were just for some recreational activities, I had no idea Spot would be able to unzip my backpack and open the plastic bag they were in, I swear I’m a responsible pet owner.”
The 22 year old was in tears as she rushed her electronic canine into the 24 vet at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Robotic Veterinary Practice, whose veterinary doctors were able to perform a live saving debug.
“It’s not the first time we’ve had a case like this, they practically teach a whole unit about it in undergrad, that and what to do when an HDMI cord is wrapped around your dogs neck is pretty much robotic veterinary 101,” says Brionna Martin, the Chief Veterinarian at MIT’s emergency vet clinic. “99% of the time the dog’s anti-virus software catches any problems, all that’s left after that is a simple reboot and two day charge.”
Boston Dynamics, the manufacturers of Spot, released a swift response statement stressing the importance of safety and responsibility that comes with being a robotic dog owner.
“We try to urge anyone who is considering buying a dog to take the preventative measures to avoid anything like this happening,” says Boston Dynamics’ Public Relations Officer, Dylan McDonald. “Low to the ground water features, an unsecure wifi network, and even a single grape can be a death sentence to our delicate pups.”
At press time, Spot has made a full recovery and the whole ordeal has encouraged his owner, Sarah, to kick flash drives and get sober.
