Rainbow Ruby was an old dog with a systemic infection. I
found her in the Manitowoc animal shelter and she lasted
about 10 months. Ruby was a beautiful and inventive dog
but her illness limited her. Before my parents moved to
assisted living, Ruby and I would walk the mile to their
house nearly every day. She loved to go, but she could
only manage to move at about 2 miles per hour. She loved
the woods but couldn't climb the river banks, so she would
have to walk upstream or down to search out a more gentle
crossing place. On her last day, Ruby asked for one final
walk around the block. She made it, but collapsed in our
driveway and gently passed away.