All in the Family

Biography: Update: After much discussion, we decided that Tippy had lived a very long, happy life but was no longer experiencing the quality of life she'd known or deserved. On June 18, 2009, Tippy took one last heartbreaking trip to the vet's office. Although she is gone, she will never be forgotten. May the fields she now runs through have soft grass under her feet, plenty of fresh water and vanilla wafers, and many interesting smells to explore. I miss you, Tippy Toes. [My mom adopted Tippy, a Mini Schnauzer/terrier mix, from the El Paso TX Humane Society in August 1992. She's a great dog, although she almost earned a trip to the gas chamber when she ripped up the new carpet some years ago. My mom relented and gave Tippy to me, instead, thus receiving a stay of execution! Now, at age 16, she tends to get lost in the front yard and forgets which way the door opens, but she's still a sweet, loving dog. Her favorite treats are vanilla wafers, although she also loves chewing rawhide bones. She spends most of her days now snoozing on a comfy bed of blankets in our home in Washington State and still tries to ignore the cats, who take great delight in pestering her.]