A story appeared in my social media about a dog. I suppose the invisible algorithms have already pegged me as a sucker for animal rescues, which is accurate. Orphaned squirrels, elephants in a ditch, and stray beagles growling from under an abandoned car all draw me in. 

 

The one today had a matted mongrel baring his teeth. The woman trying to rescue him was patient, as if she had all the time in the world. She tossed a steady stream of treats, which eroded his reluctance. Slowly the ferocity subsided, and his ears lessened their lean. His commitment to bravado weakened. Maybe it was the food. Maybe it was the lull of her voice. But within an hour he was wrapped in a towel in her lap on the way to the shelter. 

 

I know before the video starts how it will end, But I still crave watching. The animal using all its energy to be the bad guy had his reasons too. Abandonment, a battalion of fleas, and starvation could make even Snoopy turn ugly. 

 

Then at the vet, the dog gets a bath, and a haircut to reveal his pleading brown eyes. His defenses slump to the ground, and he believes he is at long last safe. 

 

A friend suggested that the same is true of angry people. What happens when we offer a parade of generosity, even in the presence of biting words?

 

I cannot say. For myself, I am just trying to stop being the one snapping.