February 11, 2010

• Tripper, RIP

  This morning my son-in-law, Mike, had to have his dog put to sleep.  Her name was Tripper, and she was thirteen years old and very infirm.  Mike got her when she was a puppy, and the first thing he did was to drive from Florida to California alone with the puppy in his lap.  Her name comes from that trip, and she was a loyal friend through all those years.  She was a black Labradore Retriever, and she weighed about 100 pounds.  She was extremely gentle and friendly, although at the end she couldn’t even stand up or control her bodily functions.  Mike is very sad, of course, but he knew he did the right thing for his buddy.

  They told Liza this morning that Tripper wouldn’t be at home when she got back from school today.  They told her Tripper was going home to God.  Liza cried a little, but she’ll be fine.  Liza told her teacher about Tripper first thing this morning, and the class said a prayer for Tripper (Liza goes to a Catholic school).

  I’m sad about Tripper, but I also know Mike would never have put her to sleep if it wasn’t the best thing for her.  Liza wants to get a cat now, but her mother doesn’t see that happening.  Liza’s teacher used Tripper’s passing for a religion lesson, and that can only be a good thing.

  ED

  • 9:28 pm
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