The Hand that Feeds the dogs is Morgan's hand. But who feeds Morgan? It's also Morgan who feeds Morgan. This makes the opening sequence of the story symbolic, because the dogs are similar to Morgan in that Morgan depends on herself for protection, insight, and provision, just like the dogs do. However, she loves the dogs and strives to make a good home for them while allowing herself to be abused. The dogs are agents of her unconscious, and when they kill Bennett and mutilate his body, she can act surprised, but she knows too much psychology to avoid the truth for long.
She was involved with a straight-up sociopath. The dogs were right about Bennett, it seems. When they kill him, that is a primal image for justice, because they have witnessed the animal behavior between the two humans; Bennett has been domineering and abusive while obviously concealing a horrible agenda. Although Morgan fails to realize this, she discovers the truth in the aftermath when she learns that everything he ever told her was a lie.
After being confronted by the truth, she realizes that it is strange that she should study criminal psychology while failing to notice criminal behavior in her private life. The answer lies in therapy—not because the therapist has some secret insight that Morgan couldn't discover alone, but rather, because attending therapy is a physical choice that speaks of Morgan's decision to invest in her own wellness. By seeking health, balance, and clarity, she realizes that she is the Hand that Feeds herself, and without self-love, she is betraying herself to the interests of people who seek to use her.
