"There's no hope for him now, Travis. He's suffering. You know we've got to do it."
"Yes, Mama. But he was my dog. I'll do it.”
When Old Yeller contracts rabies, it becomes the chance for Travis to finally become a man. He knows he must ease the dog’s suffering and he must be the one to do it – this not only brings closure but also shows his transition from the unruly boy who once hated the dog, to a fully-grown mature man with an unbreakable bond with his friend.
“I remember like yesterday how he strayed in out of nowhere to our log cabin on Birdsong Creek. He made me so mad at first that I wanted to kill him. Then, later, when I had to kill him, it was like having to shoot some of my own folks.”
This bond highlights the strength of the relationship between Travis and the dog. Initially, he despised the dog and wanted nothing to do with him. But after a series of adventures, he became attached and could not bear the thought of losing him. Old Yeller is comparable to a family figure as he was much-loved and his death was irreplaceable.
“I don't guess it's a thing you ought to forget. What I mean is, things like that happen. They may seem mighty cruel and unfair, but that's how life is part of the time. But that isn't the only way life is. A part of the time, it's mighty good. And a man can't afford to waste all the good part, worrying about the bad parts. That makes it all bad.”
Old Yeller’s death serves as a memory and a guide to Travis that life is still worth continuing even when loved ones die. There is meaning to all deaths and for Travis it is about valuing things before it is too late. Hence, he adopts the new puppy and goes about rebuilding memories and the “good parts” of life with a new companion.
