Powerful barks from the canine sheltering her pup.

How beautiful the sight of a mother protecting her young.

I step closer since all I want is a better look at the mutt.

I notice her ears are up as if in constant alert, and her tail wags in frightened concern.

I feel her gaze on me as I bend to pet her newborn son.

So up close her true colors appear. With eyes as dark as coal, nails as strong as steel and teeth as sharp as knives, she bites at the hand that feeds. A closer look is all I asked for not a half bitten thumb.