When I was a child, we had a Welsh terrier named Topsy. Once she started acting violent, and we thought she might have rabies. So my parents shut her up temporarily in the garage.

I played the violin and knew the saying, “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,” although I thought the word was “beast.” So I got out my violin, stood outside the garage doors, and played to Topsy.

It turned out she didn’t have rabies after all. I don’t know whether she appreciated the music or not.

Karyn Joyner, Burlington