Killer's Last Trip

One was named Chloe and was mostly shepherd, the other was part black lab and ?? named Killer. They were the two largest dogs we've ever had, and over a period of 9 years were our immediate family. Both of them went to Alaska with us in a small motor home in 2003. Chloe managed to get loose and wander around in bear country for an hour or so before being found. Killer got lost at night in a rural housing area near George Town, Tx. where we wandered the neighborhood calling "Killer, Killer" in an area where every household has firearms readily available.

Chloe passed on Nov. 17, 2005 and Killer became a loner. He had always been in the shadows, Chloe was always causing problems, active,etc. while Killer was sorta there. Suddenly, he had to be with us at all times. Sit between us in the car, sleep by one of us in the evenings. He loved other animals. Animals of all kinds, he wanted to visite with them. His best times were when we visited our favorite State Park (Custer State Park, South Dakota), there we could drive out into a herd of bison, the ragged animals would walk around the car as they made their way from one feeding ground to another. We'd have the window down, he'd have his head out. Only sound was a soft almost moaning. Sometimes, he and a bison would be nose to nose smelling each other. The same happened with the wild mules in the park.

We would visit the park almost every year. When we found out that he had cancer and not long left, we took him back to Custer for one last time. He visited Bear Country, where he walked around the inside of the car, watching a grizzly walk around just outside. Then, we made him comfortable until the vet said it was time. The trip, while being just the same ol' thing for him was a powerful experience for us.