Bandit
Around this time of the year 7 years ago my dog died. I was thinking about her today. She lived to be 13 years old. I had her for 12 of those 13. Bandit was a chow mix and I never knew what exactly she was mixed with. She had blonde colored fur and the color of a chow's tongue. She had a long busy tail and dark brown eyes. She was very friendly but also very protective.
I got Bandit when I first moved out of my parent's house. I was living at that time on the South side of the city about a ten minute car ride from my parent's house. I was living alone for the first time at 25. The two bedroom house was bright yellow on a quiet street not far from a park and a bus stop. Two things I needed. I also needed a dog. I had always grown up with dogs and I did miss the little dog that my mom had. Poochie was his name. He was about ten pounds if that, was black and white and the smartest little dog I have ever met.
So, after many nights alone leaving the bathroom light on while I got used to the house and used to being alone for the first time in my life I decided it was time. Time to get a new member of the family. I called my sister and told her to bring the kids, her kids and come with me to help pick out my new dog. The animal shelter at that time was just a few blocks away from my house so we walked there with no problem. Once we got there were a lot of dogs too choose from. I decided that I wanted a medium size dog since the house was not huge but had a big back yard which was just the right size for a medium dog. We looked and looked and then finally Bandit caught my attention. She came right when I called her and was so affectionate and she liked kids which was a big plus since my nephews spent lots of time at my house.
In a few short minutes after we met Bandit she was on the leash walking home with us. I don't know who was more excited me or her. She loved the backyard and everyday when I would take her out there she would run around the whole yard once and then come back to me so I could pet her and then she run around the yard one more time and come and sit near me and never leave my side until it was time to go back inside. We spent the whole summer outside practically that year. When I wasn't at work we were outside in the backyard or walking around the neighborhood. She was friendly to everyone we met except the mailman. For some reason she didn't like the mailman or mailwoman. No matter who it was. And she could always hear them coming it seemed like a block away. When she heard them put the mail in the box, at that time I had a box where the mail would come inside the house and go into this little cabinet and you had to open the doors of the cabinet to get the mail out, so when she heard the mail being delivered she would bark up a storm at the cabinet. She would bark until they left then she would turn and look at me and give me a look like ok now it is safe to get the mail. That used to be so funny to me.
Bandit and I lived in that house together, just us, for the next 5 years. She truly was like my best friend. Then due to circumstances beyond my control at the time we had to leave. I think that move was the worst thing or almost the worst thing at the time that ever happened to either of us. I couldn't take her to where I was going. Which turned out in the end to be a good thing on that note. So, my mom had to take her at her house. My mom lived in a duplex with only a side yard and the back yard, such as it was, belonged to the people who rented out the back unit, mom lived in the front. So, that was a big change for Bandit right there no yard to roam in. She got daily walks from my sister but her life and my life changed for the next 9 years.
After 9 years, long years, we were reunited again. I came back to live with my mom and she was more then happy to have me back permanently. When I had my son she never left my side until I went to the hospital. We had each other for the next few years afterwards and then she passed away quietly in her sleep at the foot of my bed. I will never forget that day.
My son was lucky enough to have her for 2 years, almost 3 and then she was gone. She is gone but will never be forgotten.
I haven't gotten another dog since Bandit passed away. I think that after we move from here and if we have a backyard again I will then consider it. I miss her though and there is not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think of her.
RIP BANDIT
I got Bandit when I first moved out of my parent's house. I was living at that time on the South side of the city about a ten minute car ride from my parent's house. I was living alone for the first time at 25. The two bedroom house was bright yellow on a quiet street not far from a park and a bus stop. Two things I needed. I also needed a dog. I had always grown up with dogs and I did miss the little dog that my mom had. Poochie was his name. He was about ten pounds if that, was black and white and the smartest little dog I have ever met.
So, after many nights alone leaving the bathroom light on while I got used to the house and used to being alone for the first time in my life I decided it was time. Time to get a new member of the family. I called my sister and told her to bring the kids, her kids and come with me to help pick out my new dog. The animal shelter at that time was just a few blocks away from my house so we walked there with no problem. Once we got there were a lot of dogs too choose from. I decided that I wanted a medium size dog since the house was not huge but had a big back yard which was just the right size for a medium dog. We looked and looked and then finally Bandit caught my attention. She came right when I called her and was so affectionate and she liked kids which was a big plus since my nephews spent lots of time at my house.
In a few short minutes after we met Bandit she was on the leash walking home with us. I don't know who was more excited me or her. She loved the backyard and everyday when I would take her out there she would run around the whole yard once and then come back to me so I could pet her and then she run around the yard one more time and come and sit near me and never leave my side until it was time to go back inside. We spent the whole summer outside practically that year. When I wasn't at work we were outside in the backyard or walking around the neighborhood. She was friendly to everyone we met except the mailman. For some reason she didn't like the mailman or mailwoman. No matter who it was. And she could always hear them coming it seemed like a block away. When she heard them put the mail in the box, at that time I had a box where the mail would come inside the house and go into this little cabinet and you had to open the doors of the cabinet to get the mail out, so when she heard the mail being delivered she would bark up a storm at the cabinet. She would bark until they left then she would turn and look at me and give me a look like ok now it is safe to get the mail. That used to be so funny to me.
Bandit and I lived in that house together, just us, for the next 5 years. She truly was like my best friend. Then due to circumstances beyond my control at the time we had to leave. I think that move was the worst thing or almost the worst thing at the time that ever happened to either of us. I couldn't take her to where I was going. Which turned out in the end to be a good thing on that note. So, my mom had to take her at her house. My mom lived in a duplex with only a side yard and the back yard, such as it was, belonged to the people who rented out the back unit, mom lived in the front. So, that was a big change for Bandit right there no yard to roam in. She got daily walks from my sister but her life and my life changed for the next 9 years.
After 9 years, long years, we were reunited again. I came back to live with my mom and she was more then happy to have me back permanently. When I had my son she never left my side until I went to the hospital. We had each other for the next few years afterwards and then she passed away quietly in her sleep at the foot of my bed. I will never forget that day.
My son was lucky enough to have her for 2 years, almost 3 and then she was gone. She is gone but will never be forgotten.
I haven't gotten another dog since Bandit passed away. I think that after we move from here and if we have a backyard again I will then consider it. I miss her though and there is not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think of her.
RIP BANDIT
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