Your scientific notation is messed up. "2.965e5" is 29650, but you have it set equal to 296500, which is actually 2.965e6. This is consistent - 12,250 =/= 1.225e5.
It's a minor thing, and doesn't really affect my overall enjoyment of the game now that I have it figured out, but before I knew what was going on it drove me nuts.
"Bark is a fearless dog."
Did you mean, "Bark thought you were never ever coming home ever, so he panicked and tried to find you"? Because if a portal sucked me in, I can't think of a single dog I've ever owned - Rottweiler OR mutt OR cockapoo - who wouldn't be so terrified as to be peeing themselves.