still , they begin by searching for a library , which led them to some phone books , which led them to the animal shelters and dog pounds , where inevitably , as had been the case in every town theyd encountered since donna began her great pet liberation campaign , there were , amid all the rotting carcasses , still a few ravenous , emaciated creatures barely clinging to life , shaking with cautious gratitude as they were let out of their pens and fed .