Ripley was a rescue. Her first night home with me, she tore away. I was convinced I'd lost my dog after having her for only a few hours. A few minutes ticked by, and she triumphantly trotted back with a dead rabbit in her mouth and a hopeful expression on her face.

"Look. I can provide. Can I stay?"

Yes. You can stay.

She loved to run and to dig. After a walk, she would lay on her back and stretch her feet skyward. She liked it when I sang silly songs to her, sometimes baying along.

When she wanted "scritches," she would rest her chin on my knee, and then lean into me until I stopped whatever I was doing and complied.

She was my heart.

Goodbye, my angel-baby-dawg, my pupper, my boo. Goodbye, sweet girl. I love you and I always will.

Holly A.