Responses

No vet but animal enthusiasts. You are quite near there. By watching the other animals and checking their ears he is closer to either a sheep, goat or cow. But as well I think I saw a father so maybe he was the original infected one and that's why they took away little a to prevent him and others to get infected and since he was showing side effects they let him be.
I don't think the uncle's a dog, maybe it's his hair but i do agree with the theory of him not sending that letter
honestly, for the looks of the uncle, maybe he was being held hostage by those lab freaks and that's why he was in a hurry for the bus