What would you do for you canine best friend?

[RGD.]

Yes - an amazing age for a simply amazing dog. As fate would have it - we acquired him as an abandoned dog at the time we were moving from Indiana to here in Virginia. On the day before the actual move he was in an accident and due to the move was seen by three different vets. They all stated he was at least 3 years old and possibly up to 5 years old. We always used the 3 years when stating his age - so he could have been 25 years old.

I have always had dogs since as early as I can remember with the exception of college and three years in the Army. And Bandit was simply a gift from heaven. He did suffer two major injuries - he once torn a saliva duct which caused a backup and choking of his artery in his neck. Surgery there. And was once mauled by two very large dogs - 9 months of surgery and skin grafts to repair - you don't even want to know the cost.

We love them, they love us and they are family. It's tough when we have to make these calls, as I had to do with Bandit and now with Rusty. But it's that same love which will help you decide the best course - and the hard part is - not what's best for you - but for them.


Ron