A rescue dog once labeled aggressive has shown a gentle side after a surprising encounter with the family cat.
Charlie, a dog adopted from a shelter last year, came from a harsh background. He was locked in a shed, suffering from a skin infection, malnourished, and surrounded by flies. Despite warnings from the shelter that Charlie might be aggressive toward other animals and children, Brittany Briscoe’s daughter insisted on bringing him home.
“My daughter saw him and wouldn’t give up,” Briscoe told Newsweek. “The shelter said he might be aggressive, but we quickly found out he’s patient and gentle.” Charlie now protects the family’s newborn and gets along well with the 2-year-old child.
When her daughter was away for the weekend, Charlie spent more time with Briscoe and tried to befriend their new cat, Genesis. However, Genesis was often uninterested and moody.
Despite the shelter’s warning that Charlie might attack if there was a cat in the home, Briscoe shared a video on TikTok showing the two cuddling on her bed—until Genesis suddenly swiped at Charlie. Briscoe quickly separated them and scolded the cat, explaining she acted out of fear for the dog’s safety.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Briscoe said. “I had less than a second to react. People think I was harsh, but I was mostly joking and scared.”
The video has since gone viral with over 6.8 million views. Many viewers came to Charlie’s defense, with comments like, “Did they mean Charlie is likely to get attacked by a cat?” and “Poor Charlie was scared.” Another added, “The cat was scared, but the dog stayed calm. It could have been worse.”
Charlie’s story challenges the initial doubts about his temperament and highlights the patience and kindness rescue animals often show despite their pasts.
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