I first met Trapper while I was serving as a Field Investigator for the Humane Society of North Central Arkansas in Mountain Home.

I had made it a point to avoid contact with most of the shelter animals as our weekly triage group would have to evaluate all the animals whose time was running out. My wife who was a volunteer had seen Trapper and had asked me about him 3 of 4 times, I finally said I would take a look at him. Well I walked the shelter and was unable to locate him but found a couple of his sibling who were still housed together as they were only 2 months old. At lunch I went home and told my wife that he was gone and he must have been adopted - she was heart broken.

The next day Betsy had gone to the shelter to help out and low and behold Trapper was there! It appeared that when I looked they had him outside in the exercise yard and I just didn't see him.

Well the next day we were going through the adoption process and setting up his appointment for neutering. That evening as we were taking him home, I received a call of abandon dogs tied to trees in a remote part of the county. Betsy, Trapper and I responded and about 30 minutes into the drive Trapper peed on the front seat of my truck. After completing the call we started back and Trapper was getting restless - up to this time he rode like a pro setting and looking out the windows. Betsy said, "I think we better stop he might have to go again". Well we stopped and sure enough he had to go - diarrhea, thank heavens we stopped.

Trapper turned out to be the best pal I ever had, he was our hero having alerted us to a break in of a near by business one night allowing us to alert the police and keep the business owner from any losses. Trapper was a constant companion, always the one to go with us when ever we grabbed the car keys.

As we had time at the shelter we were able to consult breed books to try and determined breeds for identification. Trapper was a Pointer cross showing traits of both an English and Portuguese pointers. Trapper was a big boy and often people would ask if he was a Walker or Beagle and we would proudly say "He's a Pointer". Trapper enjoyed his pasture walks with us and his big brother Zues, our Great Dane, Rhodesian cross, and he would go on "point" for rabbits, and other wildlife.

Visitors would often comment on his animations as he had a large vocabulary and with head tilts you could see he was following conversations. He would "woo-woo" if the word was "ride" or any other that made him happy.

In 2004 I was diagnosed with gastric-esophageal cancer and underwent surgery. During the month I was in the hospital Trapper was upset (as I was) about my absents, and the strange smells on Betsy as she returned home from visits with me. Betsy and our daughter Rachel brought me a picture of Trapper to help me but there was no way to bring Trapper out of his depression.

I spoke to my Surgeon and he arranged for Betsy to bring Trapper to the hospital on the day they let me out of intensive care. A nurse took me in a wheel chair to the courtyard where Trapper was waiting for me. Betsy had a chore to keep Trapper from trying to climb onto my lap and lavished me with kisses and he talked up a storm and wagged so hard I thought he would fall over.

A couple of months later I again was in the hospital for more surgery and a month stay and again Trapper was beside himself. When I returned home he was my guardian and would alert Betsy or Rachel when he thought I needed help or if I fell.

Trapper hated loud noise - Thunder storms and fireworks put him on edge and we knew when a storm was coming before the weatherman told us. In 2005 our oldest boy from Florida got married and Betsy, Rachel, Trapper and I went there. After the wedding there was a reception at the kid’s house, and a neighbor started setting off fireworks to help celebrate, Trapper, being scared of the noise came and climbed into my lap and stayed there until it all quitted down again.

Disaster struck for Trapper in May 2006. Betsy noticed that Trapper was depressed looking and when she checked his gums they were white. We rushed him to the Veterinarian and they felt he had cancer and need emergency surgery. Zues who we always called Trappers brother was now to become his blood brother as Trapper needed a transfusion.

After the surgery our veterinarian told us that Trapper pulled through but it his spleen and lymph glands were removed and that it was hoped that they had removed all the cancer. The cancer appeared to be what is called "Hemangiosarcoma" but the lab biopsy would confirm that, and if it was a malignant. As we were to be on out way to Florida for our boys 1 year anniversary it was decided that Trapper would stay at the hospital to recover and Rachel would come to see him daily. About 5 days later while half way home from Florida we received a devastating call - Trapper had malignant Hemangiosarcoma, prognosis - 6 to 8 weeks.

The rest of the trip home was solemn and we tried to only think good thoughts. The next morning we were at the veterinarian hospital and spoke to our vet and we were given the options. As the type of cancer was almost always fatal and Chemo and Radiation could possibly only extend his life another 4-6 weeks or could also shorten his life we took him home to love him. Having had cancer myself and having gone through the treatments I thought it best not to make him suffer more for the short time it would give him in the long run.

The staff brought Trapper out to us and he wouldn't stop giving us kisses and we had to work to calm him down. We took Trap home and put him on a regiment of Science Diet food to help his stomach and to get his strength back. Trapper improved and we even took him and his brother on a picnic to an old mill in Missouri. We monitored him and kept him on Science Diet and he passed the 8 week mark and the blood work looked good.

In October, 15 weeks or about 3 1/2 months after surgery, disaster struck again. We had gone to Wisconsin for Betsy's parent’s anniversary and of course Trapper went with. When we arrived Trapper didn't care to eat and we thought he was just nervous from the 11 hour ride and strange surroundings.

That night we called home to check on things and we were told by our daughter that the other 3 dogs were having diarrhea problems.

The Second day of our trip it started - diarrhea! Trapper still wouldn't eat except for a few dog treats. As we would be returning home in two days we hoped the diarrhea would clear up by then, but no such luck.

As we started for home on a rainy day, Trapper was uneasy. We stopped to let him out to potty and now he was showing blood in his diarrhea. Two more stops and Trapper started throwing up also.

We were still 3 hours from home and I placed a cell phone call to the Vet. I explained the problem and said I could be there by 4 PM. I was assured that they would be standing by and a Veterinarian waiting for us. I drove as fast as I dared and we made it to the hospital by 3:15 PM and they took Trapper right away.

Our at 7PM that night our Vet called to tell us that Trapper had a viral infection and he was on IV's to hydrate him and that he was pretty sick. 3 days later Trapper was released from the Hospital and appeared to be back on the road to recovery and we were given medicine for all the dogs to clear up the diarrhea. We were as hopeful as our Vet was that Trapper might be beating his cancer as he would always bounce back with treatment.

January 2nd 2007 - Trapper was restless and looking depressed. We watched Trapper as he slowly walked into the bedroom and lay on the floor by the bed.

Betsy went to him and he barely wagged his tail - in checking his gums they were white! I called the Veterinary clinic after hours number as it was now 6:20 PM. Our vet returned my call and said she would meet us there in 15 minutes.

I asked Trapper to go for a ride and shook my keys and he walked out the door to the truck but staggered a bit. I opened the door and without as much vigor he jumped in and sat looking toward the driver’s seat, waiting for me. I got in and tried to have him sit closer to give room for Betsy but he didn't move. I asked Betsy to take the other truck and meet us at the Hospital. At the hospital he didn't want to leave the truck but we finally got him out and he walked into the clinic and into an exam room.

Trapper watched us and let the vet touch him and do an abdominal tap - Trapper was bleeding internally. We talked about what steps could be taken and transfusions and surgery were the only options. We knew that could maybe give him a couple of more weeks as an x-ray showed a new mass in the abdomen.

Our Boy had suffered enough and was slipping from us and the pain showed in his eyes. We sat and held him and said goodbye over the next 15 minutes and then gave permission to end his suffering.

I wished the cancer would have taken me and let him live - he was so good! I whispered in his ear that I would see him soon and we can go for more rides, and maybe another picnic.