The dog looked at Jo as well, as if appealing to her for something. Jo frowned and knelt beside Maxine so she could look her in the eyes. Her expression was soft, because she knew just how much this little girl craved the sort of companionship that a dog could give to her. But she also knew that it wasn't right to make some poor guy live out the rest of his life as a dog just to please a five year old.
"Can you change him back?" she wasn't accusing and she wasn't yelling. In fact, she didn't think that punishment was needed so much as impressing the natural consequences on her. "This guy, he could have a family or friends. People who love him and who are probably desperately worried about him after he's been missing all day. Just think if someone accidentally turned Wash into an animal and he didn't come home and you didn't know where he was."
It was an upsetting what-if, but she hoped that it drove the point home.