Shapeshifting

In True Blood, shapeshifting is the ability of shifters such as Sam Merlotte to change their body into an animal they have seen. Sam is the first supernatural being the series introduces who is not a vampire, and he is often seen keeping an eye on Sookie in the shape of a dog. Shapeshifters are one of several supernatural kinds in the show, separate from werewolves such as Alcide Herveaux, werepanthers, skinwalkers and faeries. At the start of the story shifters, unlike vampires, have not made their existence public.