Friday was a very sad day in our house. At 10:30 in the morning, we said good-bye to our beloved Bandit. It was just a few short weeks ago I made this post about him turning 12.His absence is profound. He was an immense force - both in physical stature and personality wise. He was quite a character and really had a great personality. He never let you forget he was in the room and was hard to overlook, weighing in at 130 pounds. His void is huge, both from an emotional standpoint and looking around seeing his (large) beds and feeding station gone. Those things leave open spaces that are a constant reminder he's gone.
I'm grateful for the life he had. It wasn't an easy one and I'm immensely glad the end was relatively quick - an ordeal lasting just about 12 hours.
Here's the brief summary. Late Thursday night he had a massive seizure. He had never seized before and this one was particularly fierce and long. Somehow John and I managed to lift all 130 lbs of him, still seizing, into the back of the car and rush him to the emergency vet clinic. But, about an hour had already passed. They were excellent and we left him in their care overnight.
He survived the night, continuing to have smaller seizures and then Friday morning they discharged him so we could take him to our regular vet. She is out on maternity leave, but she came in especially for us, newborn in tow, because Bandit was one of her favorite (most difficult) patients. I'm still in disbelief she did this.
After we cried our way through the options, which were few, we knew it was time to let him go.
We sat with him, petting him, talking to him and assuring him...and then he passed, with his most loved ones around him.
This is extremely difficult...if you read my post from a few weeks ago you will understand a bit better. I am most certainly missing a piece of my heart.
I'll be back next week. I need some time...I may try to scrapbook some pictures if I can muster through it.
As the song written for him says - His name is Bandit!
...and I loved him very, very much.
9 comments:
I am so sorry...I totally understand. Dogs are precious.
I am so sorry for your aching hearts. Please accept our deep condolences....Bandit sounds like quite a guy!
:( He will be very missed!!!! He was a very special pup and he was very lucky to have found you in his life! Lots of hugs to you my friend, I am SO sorry for your loss!!!!
my deepest condolences and sympathy go to you and your family. Animals become parts of our lives, hearts and families and I hope that you will remember the fond moments that Bandit brought to your home.
Oh, Kate, I am SO sorry to hear this sad news. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Oh Kate, I am so sorry, I feel just terrible. I know our pets are like are children. I love and miss you sweetie. xoxo
Kate, I'm so sorry about Bandit. I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. I'll be thinking of you.
I am so sorry Kate. I've been through this as well and I understnad how difficult it is. They are so precious to us.
Oh, Kate! I am behind on my reader, so I'm just seeing this now. I'm so sorry for your loss. :( (((hugs)))
Here is a copy of a poem that our vet gave us last March when we had to put our kitty down. We still miss him like crazy a year later, so I can definitely empathize with what you're going through.
http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
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