Dogs, like any other mammals starved, malnourished and mistreated will revert to the most basic of survival instincts. Pushed to the edge, they resort to a kill or be killed mindset. I witnessed this elemental, visceral trait multiple times during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Sadly, for Sherry Schweder, and her husband Lothar Schweder, their lives ended tragically, violently, shockingly. It must have been terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying.

ALL mammals, cornered or treated cruelly, can become savagely brutal, sadistically animalistic, and a group only serves to expedite these deadly dynamics.

A cornered mind, atop four legs or two legs, can only tolerate so much. A mob of dogs, a pack of people, a gang of any kind, can only be pushed so far, before they retreat too far back.

We need to do a much better job of listening to each other, of looking out for one another, of not demonizing the “others” among us, of not fanning the fires of ignorance, anger and violence.

Not because we should, but because we can.