<P> Later, Arliss tries to capture a black bear cub by feeding it cornbread and grabbing it . Its angry mother hears her cub wailing and attacks, but Old Yeller appears and drives her off, earning the affection of the family . Travis grows to love and respect Old Yeller, who comes to have a profound effect on the boy's life . </P> <P> Old Yeller's owner, Burn Sanderson, shows up looking for his dog, but comes to realize that they need him more than he does, and agrees to trade him to Arliss in exchange for a horny toad and a home - cooked meal . Sanderson takes Travis aside and warns him of the growing plague, hydrophobia . </P> <P> One day, Travis sets out to trap feral hogs . On the advice of Bud Searcy, he sits in a tree, trying to rope them from above as Old Yeller keeps them from escaping . Travis falls into the group of hogs, one of which injures him . Old Yeller attacks it and rescues Travis, who escapes with a badly hurt leg . Old Yeller is seriously wounded as well . Searcy warns them of hydrophobia in the area and is chastised by Mama for trying to scare Travis . The boars did not have hydrophobia, and both Travis and Old Yeller fully recover . </P> <P> However, the family soon realize that their cow, Rose, has not been allowing her calf to feed and may have rabies . Watching her stumble about, Travis confirms it and shoots her . While Katie and Lisbeth Searcy burn the body that night, a rabid wolf attacks . Old Yeller defends the family, but he is bitten in the struggle before Travis can shoot and kill the wolf with the rifle . They pen Old Yeller in the corn crib for several weeks to watch him . Soon when Travis goes to feed him, he growls and snarls at him . After he nearly attacks Arliss, who, not understanding the danger, had attempted to open the corn crib, a grieving Travis is forced to shoot him . In doing so, he takes his first step toward adulthood . </P>

Who takes travis aside and tells him to shoot any animal that contracts hydrophobia