O.P. came to us when we most needed him. Our son had been dead for just two years when and a friend of his offered us a “free dog” – a cattle dog/blue heeler pup. O.P. brought such joy to our lives. O.P. became “Head of Security” for our small acreage. He learned quickly the perimeter of his responsibility and never strayed. He needed no fence or tethering. O.P. was free to roam the property and had access to his food, water, bed whether we were home or not. Friends reported driving by and honking at O.P. who could be seen sitting or lying on our driveway, watching for us to come home. He was an avid swimmer and enjoyed fetching his toy in the water. Our grandson taught him to be a “go getter dog” meaning he’d retrieve balls, even golf balls. He was so enthusiastic that he sometimes fetched before the ball had been hit or tossed! O.P. loved taking long walks along the river, playing fetch in our field, making snow angels, eating raw vegetables, but his greatest joy in life was “hunting” bunnies. Every evening his “dad” and his companion Trans the cat would walk the field in search of bunnies. He did NOT like wheels/tires. He would bark or bite at lawnmower tires, bicycle tires, stroller tires, skateboards, car tires, door knobs. Don’t know what that was about… O.P. actually smiled when he was riding in the vehicles with us. He loved to “go” and to simply be with his people. With a bucket of water and a box of dog snacks, he’d ride forever. O.P. also sought culture, by attending the outdoor concerts in the park, and was professionally photographed three times. He and “mom” are on the promotional poster for the 2010 Fort Collins Reads. As a “free” dog, O.P. cost us a ton of money. He once ate a 32-oz bar of baking chocolate. Thankfully our granddaughter recognized the stress he was under and sought help. He spent 36 hours in intensive care and just barely survived. He blew out his MCL (knee) three times, requiring surgeries. The hardest part was the rehabilitation which required several weeks of strict confinement. And, through the years he had far too many stitches to itemize. O.P. was a good doggy, one of a kind, and is truly missed by his mom, his dad and his buddy Trans. He delivered 11 years of happiness! Kathy & B.A. Anderson (and Trans) Windsor