In the book Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, Old Yeller dies after being shot by his owner, Travis Coates. The story is set in the late 1860s in Texas. Old Yeller, a loyal and brave dog, contracts rabies after fighting off a rabid wolf to protect Travis’s family. Despite the deep bond between Travis and Old Yeller, Travis is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to shoot the dog to prevent the spread of rabies and to spare Old Yeller from a painful and inevitable death.
This moment is one of the most emotional and pivotal scenes in the book, highlighting themes of love, loyalty, and the difficult choices that come with responsibility. Travis’s decision to shoot Old Yeller is a testament to his maturity and the harsh realities of frontier life.