Never again will my puppy

Never again will my little puppy

... ride with us to Utah for a spring adventure.

... unknowingly take a giant drink of the salty Pacific. That's saltwater, dog.

... kick Josh Clapp in the balls every time he visits, or steal Tara's pizza.

... howl along with the noon whistle.

... faithfully perform your best trick for admiring students. Shut the door, Walter!

... get the zoomies in the back yard, butt-scooting by just out of reach.

... refuse to jump up onto the cabin bunk bed for bedtime while the Black Dog is too close by.

... take joy in even the smallest dirtiest patch of late spring snow, bathing yourself in grubby crystals of the stuff.

... recognize Colleen and Mary and Terry as real family, different from all the other good people in our life.

... pose for a picture with me on my first day of adult summer camp.

... kick up one paw for victory while you sleep, belly-up, in your favorite chair.

... provide Colleen good company on her training runs.

... roll in the foulest-smelling swamp grass while we still have to share the bench seat with you for another 150 miles home.

... run down Headquarters Trail dragging your long stick and ready to take us out at the knees.

... chase antelope and rabbits on the prairie with the decreasing optimism that comes from prior experience.

... lick my bald head, sweaty from whatever minor exertion I just took on.

... run alongside Terry on the recumbent bike for the neighborhood Fourth of July parade. 

... block the back door by laying on the rug in the sun, six times in a row as I go in and out working on some silly project.

... treat kale stems like the best treat ever, running them out to the yard to enjoy without fear having them taken away.

... surgically snip the back straps of our chacos in your youthful resentment at being left home alone.

... inhale an entire bone-in chicken breast at Kelly's backyard barbecue.

... somehow manage to take up the entire bottom third of the bed if we don't claim our space first.

... wander to the kitchen at any sound of cheese or butter. Just to check our generosity today.

... get swimmer's tail from fear of missing out while we paddled North Crow.

... distinguish the engine frequency of every service and delivery van to ever dare a trip down Sanders Drive.

... bring a smile to students fortunate enough to see you on an afternoon campus walk.

... beg throughout dinner every night, despite the overwhelming odds against you.

... only ever grudgingly endure my efforts to snuggle you while you slept on the rug, in the back seat, in the yard.

... sit. stay. lay down. settle. settle. settle. 

Settle in forever, and rest easy, sweet Walter. You're the best dog we could ever want.