Trapper
(The Wonder Dog)
The last six years of Trapper's life were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For the 2 years prior to coming to Indiana Trapper only left my side when I went to Las Vegas for a week and when I went into restaurants or stores. He went to both my jobs with me (for that I would like to thank my dad, Frank Moore and Jim McKnight at WSAI/WWNK Cincinnati for allowing him at my work). Even after we came to Fort Wayne he was able to accompany me to work (for a short time) and became a part of my radio show on WQHK AM 1380 (I even taught him to "speak" with hand signals so he would bark on silent command).
About a month or two prior to his death, Trapper amazed me again. Trapper had gotten into a routine where he never left the front of the house. One day Juliet (my wife) let him out and he wondered off (very unusual). He led a quiet existence now so nobody really noticed him missing. I came home from work and we all decided to go to dinner. We also decided to include our friend Mike. After calling and inviting Mike to join us at the restaurant, I noticed that Trappy was missing. After a quick but frantic search, I decided not to keep Mike waiting and we left.
Looking back, I really wonder what the hell I was thinking. All I could think about was Trapper being lost or hit by a car. After we ate, Juliet and the kids went to her mother's house and Mike brought me home to look for Trapper.
I quickly drove to the busier roads nearby. Trapper was nowhere to be found on those roads, that alone was a relief. I reentered our sub-division and decided to begin a methodical search of the neighborhood. Taking the first road and rounding the corner, quite a distance from our house, I spotted him. He was walking at a brisk pace seemingly in search of home. I stopped and exited the car and approached him, talking loudly to help ease any concerns he might have. It was not until I was only inches from him that he recognized me. That was when I first realized that his sight and hearing were almost gone. His tail started wagging and he looked at me in total relief (yes after 16 years I could see many expressions in his face). This event, to me, showed a will and determination that would not quit. Sometime soon after we think he may have had a stroke.
Trapper the wonder dog was an unexpected addition to my life, which I would not trade for anything. He enhanced my existence. Some of his nicknames: Trapus; Trappy; Happy Trappy (he always seemed to be smiling); Trapezoid; Zoid (short for trapezoid and inspired by my then sister-in-law Bobbi's nickname for her dog Pepper, "Zeb"); nummers (short for numb nuts) and the final nickname I used for him was "Old Man" (inspired by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine a nickname of affection and respect from Cisco to Dax).