Bandit, 1992-2007

My best friend in the whole world passed away today. Bandit was the first dog I ever met after I was adopted. Grandma e-mailed us today to tell us that Bandit went to the vet this morning (Dr. Hague... he was my first vet too... he was awesome). The vet helped her die peacefully.

Bandit was always so nice to me. I've been missing her a lot for the past year, since I moved away with my people. But I miss her even more today.

Bandit taught me lots of great things... how to sneak around without my people noticing, how to whine to get what I want, how to eat food that might have been left out on Grandma's coffee table, how to effectively walk on people's feet to let them know who's in charge, and lots of other useful tips like that. She also taught me that I should always have breath that smells like I just ate fish, and that I should dig up the grass with my paws after I pee or poop.

I don't know why, but she was the only dog I ever really got along with. The only dog you could leave me alone with and not worry about either one of us trying to eat the other one. We never ever had a fight. I knew she was boss because she was older and she knew I could have eaten her if I wanted to. I was much bigger than she was I'm sure.

I know Grandma will miss her a lot. I hope Grandma will come to visit me and give me some of her soon-to-be excess dog love. I think Grandpa will even miss Bandit. He pretended he didn't like her sometimes, but I know he really did. He took good care of her and she was very loyal to him and to Grandma. I hope Grandpa comes to visit soon too. He may now be officially out of excuses. I can even arrange to have his ticket paid for through Aeroplan miles.

Bandit was an annoying dog to her people, that's for sure. She was never what one would call an obedient dog, but she was a good companion for Grandma, Grandpa and even for Michael, one of my people. I'm told that before my time, Michael and Bandit lived together for a few years. In her later years, Bandit had severe weakness in her back legs, some skin and fur problems, and she also became hard of hearing. The hearing problem didn't change much because she never listened much anyway. She was an independent dog. Outwardly, she was mostly an unaffectionate dog. She wasn't much for licking her people or anything. But often, she would privately tell me how much she appreciated them. They regularly took her to the vet; they took her to the groomer (even though she never liked the pink bow or the fact that they made her smell like a girl); her people got her a ramp to help her in the van; and even up to her last few days, they took her for walks. Bandit also taught me how to really appreciate a walk.

So there you have it, she was the best friend I have ever had, or ever will have. I will always remember her. Whenever anyone says her name, I promise I will always perk up my oversized ears.

I miss you Bandit.

Now... Please enjoy a few photos of Bandit's life.

This first one is of me and her frolicking at Christmas one year at Grandma's.

This is Bandit walking among the rocks at the lake. The lake was always one of her favourite places to be. Saying the word "lake" to her was the equivalent of saying the word "cheese" to me. (I like cheese.)

This one's a little embarrassing for both of us. I was just a puppy. Hee hee, it looks like I'm walking her!

Here's another one of me as a puppy... I kept going after her paws and she kept pulling them away. Good times...

This is Bandit teaching me a little patience when there's a cookie involved. Lesson 1: If you do whatever the person with the cookie says you should do, eventually you'll get the cookie.

Here's another one of Bandit at the lake, lying in the grass. Because she was a bit of a wild spirit, and a well-known poor listener, she always was tied up at the lake; hence the rope.

Again, waiting (hoping) for a cookie...

This was at Auntie Cathy's milestone birthday party. I know well enough not to say what number of birthday it was.

You can see from this one just how well we got along. Can you see the motion in my tail?

Look out! Snout attack!

Here's one we call the three amigos... me in the front, Bandit in the middle and Patty in the back. It's too bad I'm so crazy, or maybe the three of us could have been let loose together to play!

Grandma and Grandpa have a picture frame in their living room that has photos of all four dogs that have been in their lives the past few years. There's one of me, one of Patty, one of Cleo and this one of Bandit. It's my favourite picture of Bandit because it's a nice angle so that you know just what she looked like (although she wasn't so grey when I first met her!). This one is great because it also reminds me of how strong she was.

Goodbye Bandit.