Eva Rickles:
My beloved friend and “canine sibling” in Berlin was my dog “Wippi” ~ the name a shortened version of the German word for “tail wagger.” The tilt of his head in the photo below is typical of his intelligent and inquisitive mind.
The greatest tragedy for me in leaving Germany (at almost 10 yrs. old) was learning, on the boat to England, that I would never see Wippi again and had not gotten to kiss him good-bye. My parents had waited to tell me this for fear that my loud wailing might attract attention to our family as we were escaping.
They bought me this toy dog in England to help me feel better. The toy dog and photo still live in my living room today.