While treating a steady stream of patients in Animal Hospital, players will encounter a handful of unique non-player characters. These individuals possess their own stories, quests, and secrets, many of which hint at darker truths lurking within the hospital. Beyond the minor, non-speaking characters, four primary NPCs drive much of the game's narrative and lore.
Dr. Harlow
Dr. Harlow, the chief doctor, appears as a friendly guide through the game's mechanics. However, a "top secret" briefcase he carries and cryptic hints from other characters suggest a hidden agenda. Ratthew mentions that "people with suitcases are hiding secrets," directly implicating Harlow. Furthermore, Ratthew leaves behind a key obtained from the doctor, which unlocks a safe in Room 5. Inside this safe, players find a picture of Ratthew's missing sister, Rattina, accompanied by a note stating that "the 'Shadow' now sees everything." The lobby also features an unsettling anomaly of Dr. Harlow with sunken eyes, adding to the suspicion that he is involved in clandestine activities, possibly related to corporate bio-experiments.
Ratthew
Ratthew is a central figure in Animal Hospital's lore, particularly concerning the disappearance of his sister, Rattina. He begins visiting the ward early in the game, initially cautious but gradually sharing cryptic warnings. Ratthew reveals that the hospital is a dangerous place and advises against trusting those with briefcases, pointing to Dr. Harlow and Ron From Accounting. He explains he is being pursued by the Animal Corporation after his sister vanished upon joining the company. Before fleeing, Ratthew provides the player with a key to Dr. Harlow's safe, where a picture of Rattina and a note about "the 'Shadow'" are discovered, corroborating Ratthew's claims.
To complete Ratthew's questline, players must engage in all his dialogue exchanges. After the fifth exchange, he provides a key. This key unlocks a safe hidden behind a poster in Room 5. The contents of this safe are a significant lore reveal within the game.
Ron From Accounting
Ron is a talkative patient who shares company secrets and hints about the hospital's true nature. He reveals that the hospital is conducting "tests" and that patients are not sick but "infected." Ron also mentions that the Animal Corporation is deleting logs and "cleaning up" files, possibly to cover their tracks. He recalls encountering Ratthew previously, noting that the rat chewed through experiment reports, raising questions about Ratthew's reliability. Ron's storyline concludes with him needing treatment before a meeting with "the boss," presumed to be Dr. Harlow, suggesting Ron himself may be infected. The narrative poses questions about the cause of the infections and the corporation's motives.
Barney
Barney presents a storyline seemingly separate from the Animal Corporation's machinations, but he harbors his own dark secrets. Initially, Barney frequently requests coffee. As the player consistently provides it, he eventually asks for a favor: to watch over a red suitcase labeled "DON'T OPEN." After agreeing, Barney reveals his true form as an "Anomaly" and departs. His subsequent requests become more sinister, including asking for a scalpel before leaving with his suitcase. Later, a police officer arrives searching for a serial killer and shows Barney's Anomaly photo as a reference. Barney then transforms into his Anomaly form, armed with a knife, leaving the player to decide whether to report him or not. Barney is confirmed to be an Anomalous serial killer, with his suitcase likely containing evidence of his crimes.
