He's also a living, breathing lesson in patience, as he soils the carpet and gets stuck under chairs. But even addled and voiceless (as opposed to the old days, when he barked all the time) Copper is still Copper: loyal, loving and feisty.
It's hard to look at him and not see the future that awaits us all, but it's also hard to look at him and not see the fun he has always brought our family, from his chaotic arrival giving us a merry chase down the street to his victory laps now when he makes it in from outside and celebrates with a run around the house.
When I look at Copper, I see life, with all its messiness and all its joy.
(Photos: Claire Capehart)