Runi was affectionately called Blackie also. He started life as a tiny black lab pup brought home in Kevin's pocket to grandmother Mary's house. Mary would rock Blackie on her lap in the rocking chair. In later years, Blackie hitchhiked in Florida with Kevin and ran for miles on the beaches with him, both catching the eye of newspaper photographers more than once and appearing in the next edition together. Sixteen years of adventure finally slowed the pace of Runi's life down to leisurely naps and an insatiable appetite for "boonies" - large dog biscuits. One cloudy August morning when sleep was no longer restful and the wobbly legs were so stiff getting up and around, Runi took one last ride in the truck to the office of a kind veterinarian, then lay his head quietly in Kevin's hand and quickly passed on to peace.