I encountered a blizzard. Had to stop the moving van at the nearest cafe; when I walked back to the trailer I used to tow my van, which was also the hotel room, another car pulled up alongside and the couple who got out struck up a conversation. They invited me to join them and I said thanks, save me a seat, but first I have to get my dogs out of the van and let them stretch their legs. As soon as that was done, I'd throw them back in the van.
Well, the poor lady flew into a rage and started to ream me out but good. I told her not to worry, my dogs are chows and they love the snow. They'd sleep in it if I let them.
Well, like an amazing number of people, she had no idea what chows are or what they're like. Her husband did, though, and he tried in vain to calm her down. She'd started calling me every name in the book, along with "I don't care what kind of dogs you have, it's cruel to leave them locked in the van!"
Since there was no way to calm her, I just shut up, slid open the van door, leashed the dogs, and let them out. First thing they did was to start rolling in the snow and gurgling with delight. Since they'd spent the first 8 years of life almost entirely outdoors, they grew marvelous winter coats, the outer layers up to six inches long in places.
The chows' reaction did more to reassure the angry lady than any amount of talking could've done. Best of all, the couple felt so embarrassed that they insisted on paying for my dinner.
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