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My Tribute to Bandit 1990-2007
I remember the day back in 1992 when I was visiting some friends and saw a “little black dog,” as I called him, wandering around in their yard. I inquired about who he was, and they said, “Oh just a stray, he won't leave.” Well, we had our visit and it was time for me to go and that “little black dog” followed me down the long road as fast as his little legs could take him ... following behind my car. I stopped at the stop sign, he ran up to the car door and I scooped him up, took him back, and he refused to get out of the car. I said to him, “Well, little black dog, I guess I will take you home with me then.” It was love at first site, he sat in the seat next to me as proud as he could be and licked my hand, so grateful for the kindess showed. It didn't take me long to work out why he was a stray dog. He loved to take off with lightening speed and roam the neighborhood. He would get “the look” in his eye and then off he went, like a bandit who had robbed a bank.
So “Bandit” was a fitting name for “my little black dog.” Bandit had many nick names, such as Bandy Boy, Ban Ban, Bandito, Bandit the Wonder Dog, Butter Boy, Little Black Dog and mostly in his latter years, “Mama's Little Angel.” He loved to dress up, always sporting a bandanna or a cute sweater or t-shirt. Bandit had an entire wardrobe and was very much the dress up doll. Bandit possessed handsomeness without the vanity, strength without the insolence, and so much courage without the ferocity. He had all the wonderful virtues of Man without the vices. Bandit was my angel. He was my quiet strength. He would be the reason I wanted to get up some days and the reason to go to bed each night. Night time was special with him, he loved to hop on the bed and play in the blankets and jump around before settling down for the night with us.
Having no children, Bandit was our baby. We were inseparable. He went along on vacations, rides in the car, walks through the woods. He slept with my husband and I at night and made sure he stood guard no matter where I was in the house. Bandit was believed to be a Tibetan Spaniel. He possessed all the characters of this wonderful breed of dog and all the gratefulness that a stray could give you for rescuing him from the streets. Bandit’s life revolved around me. He lived to make me happy, anxious to please and willing to do anything asked of him. He had so much courage. At the age of 10, he contracted heartworms. The prognosis was grim at his age, I had no options. I began to notice that Bandit was acting sluggish and began coughing a good bit, which turned to loss of appetite and what is known as the "typical heart cough" that a dog gets when she is infected with heartworms.
Because we take him to the Vet only for his yearly shots, I was reluctant, but decided it would be a good idea for him to be looked at by a D.V.M. The blood test revealed a moderate/severe case of heartworms and the vet gave me the sad news that my dog would have 6 months or so to live. She suggested I put him on steroids and make his life as comfortable as possible. It certainly was a low point in our lives. I refused to accept this sad outcome and made a call to a dear friend who has used herbs with her pets for many years, as I had. She and I spent a few days contemplating an herbal approach to hopefully rid my dog of this dreadful parasite. I did some research and we developed a program based on that research and from books written by holistic veterinarians and my herbal pet books that included Artemisia Combination and Black Walnut as the antiparasitic herbs and HSII and COQ10 to support the heart, lungs and circulatory system.
In the Spring of 2006 I noticed Bandit developed an ulcer on his right eye. Traditional treatment from the vet was unsuccessful and it resulted in a poor outcome when Bandit lost that eye in September of that year. Again, Bandit showed to me an almost human like valor and courage and even with the loss of his eye, didn’t slow down…he still played and enjoyed a happy life. I decided to see a specialist to determine the health of his left eye that began to show signs of a similar condition. http://www.atlantaveteyeclinic.com/
I miss my “wonder dog” who taught me so many wonderful lessons in life, some of which were:
In his older years, as his vision began to fade, I became Bandit's Seeing Eye Person. He felt safest in my presence and made it known with wags of his tail and a happy sigh when he’d get a bit lost and then realized his Mom was close by.
My life as Bandit's Seeing Eye Person was nothing but a pure blessing everyday to see his wagging tail and smiling face when I was there for his needs. He never asked for anything, except to go for a ride in the car, but to be close by me. He was one amazing dog.....our new name for him was "Bandit, the One Eyed Wonder Dog".......he was truly my hero. When people would ask my husband or I how old he was and we would tell them, the reaction was always the same, “You are kidding me, he looks so young!” I hope that someday I can trust someone as much as he trusted me. My husband often called him our “One Eyed Soldier” and would mention how he never let anything get him down, that life was just grand when he was with us. Our lives will never be the same because of how he touched ours.
TO BANDIT I couldn’t buy loyalty, or so they say; I bought it though, 16 years ago today; They say I couldn’t buy friendship, Well, I bought that too; 16 years ago today; I bought a single trusting heart, You gave me devotion from the start. If you think these things are not for sale, find yourself a” little black dog”. Bandit, my guardian and prince, my angel, my hero, a kindred spirit Bandit, as constant in his love and devotion as the sun is sure to shine. I will miss you forever, my special friend. ---Robin Sockness—
He is my other eyes that can see above He is just my dog. --- Gene Hill ---
Working with other pet owners is a dedication to my angel, my heart dog Bandit. I promised him when he was 10 and contracted heartworms, that I would do anything I could to save his life, I did just that and then I promised him that I would do everything I could in his honor to share his story and help as many people as I could. Bandit was an inspiration and lived before us a life that, when faced with an adversity, could find a way to keep going.
The content of this website is not intended to be a substitute for veterinary care, but is provided as an adjunct for those seeking to find natural approaches for health care for their beloved pets. May you find hope and promise and be inspired by the life of my precious heart dog, Bandit.
HIS JOURNEY'S JUST BEGUN
Don't think of him as gone away --E. Brennenman-- Thank you for the journey, Bandit, having you along for so many years of it, made it so much sweeter.
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The program worked
and after he received his negative heartworm test results, I wanted to
help others gain more time with their pets rather than for them to
accept the diagnosis as a death sentence. That’s when Bandits Buddies
was born. Bandit's story was written up in the August 2002 issue of
Whole Dog Journal. Bandit tested negative every year of his life until
his passing on May 23, 2007. 
Dr. Powell noted that
he had developed a corneal ulcer in his right eye due to KCS (keratoconjunctivitis
sicca) also known as “dry eye” which is a disease of the tear secreting
glands that results in reduction or lack of tear production. Dr.
Johnson put Bandit on a very aggressive program that included a collagen
contact lens. He had partial healing, but due to his age, complete
healing was unsuccessful. Bandit remained healthy, but the ulcer was
still there and unfortunately we were unable to save his eye and he
crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge on May 23, 2007. Bandit was treated
with collagen lenses, oral antibiotics, eye drops, antibiotic eye
ointment and an ointment to encourage tear production. He also was on a
regimen of supplements that included Eyebright, vitamin E and vitamin
C. 
Despite his eye
condition, Bandit was in perfect health for an old fella….he had a very
slight heart murmur, no liver or kidney dysfunction and was in great
overall health. I believe that the aggressive treatment both orally and
topically as well as the supplements he received prolonged the health of
his eye for as long as possible.
JUST
MY DOG
Without him, I am only another man. With him,
This website also
became a result of my promise to Bandit that I would share what I
learned along the way about natural approaches to pet health. That
knowledge and Bandit’s determination resulted in him living a long and
very happy 17.5 years of life.
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