We got our dog Zip out of the back of a beat up old pickup truck from some little boys trying to give away a litter of puppies. My husband jokingly asked them how much they were and one boy said well they're free then quickly said $5.00's when he realized my husband might be willing to pay. My husband then reached in his pocket and gave the little boy $3.00's and asked if that was enough. The boy was thrilled and we came home with the best dog we have ever had the pleasure to live with. We have no children and Zip was our daughter. From night one she slept in our bed usually under the blankets for the next 12-1/2 years. We are paint contractors and she was able to go to work with us everyday. She was the job dog and we called her the home inspector. She would go in a house and march through every room and closet taking a quick look then back out to the pickup. When we started picking up at the end of the day she would bark and chase the hoses as we rolled them up to hurry us along. Her happiest time was in the front seat of the truck sitting between us going down the road. We have other dogs and if two of them would begin to quarrel she would run between them and break it up. She was the pack leader in every setting and also the kindest and sweetest dog I have ever seen. I might be a little partial though. This spring we took her to the mountains for the day and she came home extra sore and limping. When this didn't pass we took her in and found out that she had cancer in her hip cartilage. Surgery wasn't an option and our wonderful local vet told us we should take her to WSU for radiation. Dr. Andersen treated her lessening her pain and giving us some more quality time with her. We want to thank Dr. Andersen, Dr. Choy, Betsy Wheeler, and anyone else involved in her care at WSU. Zip was such a wonderful part of our lives. My Husband (Zip's Pappa), Myself, and Zip were together so much we feel we have lost a part of us. There will be a hole in the rest of our lives without her, but we will always be thankful for having our priceless $3.00 dog our Daughter Zip.

Jay M.