"That's how we found out how dangerous it was. It attacked our dogs. Did to them what I figure it did to me. It digests animals and takes their place, including people animals. We figured we had to stop it before it took over a bird or somethin' and got to the mainland."

That would have been the end of all life on Earth. Everyone in the camp had decided not to let that happen - unfortunately, by that point it was almost certain that the Thing already claimed at least one human victim, and no one knew who. Kinner could identify his attacker if he saw him, but it was far too late for that.

"I got jumped in my quarters. Somebody came in who I recognized, but it wasn't him at all, and it was on me before I could do much of anything to stop it. Didn't even get the chance to fight back."