by Douglas DeBono, 2006

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED AT StandingOrders.BlogSpot.Com, August 29, 2005

The Ripper and I office together. Perhaps, office is too strong a word. I work and the Ripper alternately drools, sleeps and begs cookies. Did I mention, the Ripper is a 75 pound Black Labrador Retriever.

UPS usually delivers one or two packages every week. The truck has a distinctive sound, and the back gate goes up with a rattly-roll.

When the Ripper hears the UPS truck drive by, his ears perk up and he growls tentatively.

The UPS man doesn't even have to stop, he just has to drive down the street.

Should we actually have a delivery, the Ripper is hopping up and down. All four paws levitating above the floor, and his ears flapping in the air. The hair on his back is straight up and a full, throaty bark fills the air.

It's not the UPS Man's fault that the Ripper wants to eat his truck.

Once the package is delivered and the truck is gone, it is time to let the Ripper out the office door. He bounds in a full gallop--the kind where his front paws are behind his back paws. He bolts to the edge of the invisible fence line.

After carrying on for a few minutes, the Ripper trots back to the office door. A satisfied I-showed-him grin plastered on his muzzle.