Farewell Old Friend: RolyTheDog (1995? - 2009)

Readers of the EcoRover blog are familiar with "RTD" (RolyTheDog). She died this week--nearly 14 years old, she led a happy happy existence and enriched the lives of all who knew her.

My wife Jan (Mrs ER), daughter Emily, and I were having pizza and beer at Mike Calucchia's Ippity Bop Cafe in Butte America. Spring of 1997. Mike was active with animal rescue, and knew that our dog had died recently. We walked out to the car, Mike followed us, and we found a "nearly 2-year old," big-nosed hound in the backseat. "Just take her home for a few days, and bring her back if she doesn't work out." RolyTheDog (Roly rhymes with Poly) fit right in to our active lifestyle:

Roly became fast friends with Emily, swimming in the river:

Catching frogs:

Hiking:

Backpacking:

Climbing peaks:

Floating:

Nordic skiing:

Cutting the family Christmas tree:

Helping with Science Fair research/fieldwork:

Testing out the boyfriend:

Or just hanging out:

Around the house, she was eager to fetch the morning newspaper:

Sun bathe in the yard:

Be friendly with the cats:

Or mother a visiting puppy:

And yes, she did love to roll (almost never in anything smelly!):


Roly loved every trip in the Land Rover (and any road trip, anywhere):

Rafting on the Big Hole River:

Fishing with Jan (Mrs ER) and friends:

And inspecting (and kissing) trout:

A few days before she died, RTD came along on one last fishing trip, and had one last swim in a swift, cold creek:

Farewell, old friend and good member of the family:

We will all follow in your tracks someday: