Rest In Peace, Ruffers

Ruffers, who has been an anchor of the pack since 2014, is no longer with us. She passed away with chronic kidney disease this past Thursday. Ruffers brought a playful spirit to the pack from the moment she joined. She would often be seen in play-bows around Valmont Dog Park, inviting packmates Coco, Sputnik, Mamacita, and countless others to chase or wrestle around with her. Throughout the years, she welcomed new pack members like Colby, Rey, Zoey, and Avo with the same inviting attention, making fast friends with everyone without exception. On the trails, she was a curious explorer who let her nose lead her on her journeys. In her younger years, that propensity showed when she would wander off the trail after a scent, like the time I had to go find her after she tracked down a cached deer carcass; in later years, it showed when she would backtrack and linger behind the pack to thoroughly investigate something along the trail that only caught her attention after she had already passed by it. In recent times, packmate Bear was always happy to linger with her and keep her company as they investigated together side-by-side. Carl, who tends to be a bit aloof with other dogs, had a great love for Ruffers - particularly since the passing of his big sister, Zoey - and seeing her always made him burst with excitement. Ruffers had favorites of her own, which she made clear when she would rush in past me to go find Jen at our house. Her appreciation of butt rubs and ear scritches was unmatched, as evidenced by the groans of satisfaction they would always elicit. The joy and brightness she brought to the lives of her family, friends, and fellow pack members will be remembered with the same smiles she gifted to us each and every day of knowing her.