Am & Int'l CH Kalon's Moonlight Knight
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My 'Frito Bandito of Love'
November 24, 1988 - July 16, 1999
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Preface: Even with the passage of time, the hurt is there but regardless, Bandit's story is important and must be told. Therefore, below you will find my three posts to the Italian Greyhound list, in which I recount my heartache. I know this is rather long but it is important. Please take the time to read this.
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To my dearly beloved Bandit - I love you always. Wait for me my beautiful boy, someday I will see you again. But until then you will always be in my heart and my thoughts.
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I have seen the discussions on the IG list - a debate over allowing an IG off leash. Seems everytime someone new comes on the list - this along with a few other recurring topics always come up. Those quite adamant that they can confidentially leave their IG off leash and it isn't a problem. It's usually a confident pet owner vs us silly, overprotective breeders. I just don't join in that converstion because I know that it's all been said, so many times before and it's unlikely to change the mind of those SO sure they KNOW their dog. I have had IGs since 1977 and only shake my head in disgust. No use getting into this - those who believe they are right will not change their minds or position. I, however, KNOW that an IG off leash is playing with disaster. I don't care how well trained. IGs are IGs and all the training in the world can't change the nature of the dog. I KNOW my dog too - I bred him. It is now 3 a.m. Saturday morning and I can't sleep. Friday morning I took two of my IGs to the Veterinary. Alonzo (Int'l CH Kalon's Sea Hawk) is 4 yrs old and Bandit (Am & Int'l CH Kalon's Moonlight Knight) would have been 11 yrs old in November. He needed his teeth cleaned. They had really caked up much faster then before and he didn't want to eat. Being Bandit, he didn't want me to scale them and brushing them was always a battle. So why fight him. He was getting old, best let the Vet do it. He hated that too but he needed his teeth cleaned. Entering the Vet's office he slipped his lead and headed down the sidewalk - no he wasn't running - just trotted along - he didn't want to go into the Vet's office. It was a very busy street. I shoved Alonzo (leash and all) in the door, slammed it and went after Bandit. Calling him, I know he heard me but paid me no mind. He only went a few yards, stepped off the sidewalk, then turned to look at me. A sight I will now live the rest of my life with - in the next second he was hit by an 18 wheel truck. My sweet boy was gone. I stood there in the street, screaming for help. Someone finally came by and wanted me to get out of the street, I couldn't - I couldn't let another vehicle hit my baby. My Vet finally came running out. His assistant scooped up my boy. My mind told me he was gone but my heart prayed, to no avail. I now must live with all the regrets. What I should have done. It will not change anything. Right before I turned into the Vet's parking lot, there was this song on the radio. Not a song I particularly liked but now it's forever burned into my mind. I can't tell you all the words - the only ones that keep playing in my head is the chorus, 'in the arms of the angels'. Tonight I sit here and it just plays over and over. My boy is gone. He was the best anyone could have asked for. "Easy to live with" is an understatement. He gave so much and asked nothing. Everybody loved Bandit. Even if he didn't know you - he would rub against you and look at you with those big dark eyes - pet me, love me. Even my friend who doesn't like male dogs, loved Bandit. He was the "Frito Bandito of Love". He could melt the strongest resolve. Tonight he is in the arms of the angels and all my regrets and tears will not bring him back. He was the best. A show dog, a stud dog and my baby always. He loved everyone and LOVED to show - well, mostly show off. The biggest problem with showing was he was just so happy. I remember Tracy trying to show him - going around the ring saying "bad dog, bad dog" - thought that would get him to keep his tail down. No, it didn't work. He just went around the ring happy as a clam and you could almost hear him saying, "Yea, I'm bad! ha! ha! I'm the bad-est show dog here Ha! Ha!" None-the-less, he finished his titles quickly. But even retired and out of the ring for years made no difference. He was so very happy to show, twice winning the Veterans class at specialites. The one year he won Veterans and his grand-daughter was Best In Specialty Show. But tonight he's gone. The sweetest, most loving IG you could ask for. Gone much too soon.
And I sit here, knowing in a few weeks the off lead debate will come up again. New IG owners tellling us old timers that an IG can be off leash - no problem. You would have never convinced me of that before and now I really don't want to hear it. PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY - Bandit was a very well trained dog - repeat, Very well trained. He was never the dog you would ever expect to leave your side. Yet he didn't want to go into the Vet's office and managed to slip his lead. He didn't run down the street in a panic. But tonight he's gone and the ocean of tears I cry will not bring him back. His life was my responsibility and I will always regret. I know everyone tells me it was an accident, yadda, yadda, yadda. But his life was entrusted to me the day he was born and I still remember that moment he took his first breath. Today he took his last.
You think your IG can be off leash safely? Your only fooling yourself and betraying the trust he has in you to keep him safe. Do you care so little for this sweet trusting life? Can you live with the possible tragedy? Over and over and over. Tragedy after tragedy. And still someone comes along and disputes what many of us in this breed keep telling you. Never leave an IG off leash in an unenclosed area. It's not your life your playing with - it's the life of an innocence who doesn't know the dangers of the world. I will live the rest of my life with that split second in my mind, when Bandit stopped, turned and looked at me - then he was gone forever. I will always live with the feeling I betrayed his trust to keep him safe. All the things I could have done, should have done and now it's too late. It's 3 a.m. and Bandit isn't here anymore - he's in the arms of the angels and I cry.
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To all those who sent messages, THANK YOU. Your thoughts are appreciated. Bandit was a treasured pet - first and foremost. He was a wonderful show dog and more importantly, he was the kind of stud dog breeders dream about - he produced better than himself and mostly girls. Those who know me, know that I don't breed much and even in that light, Bandit shined! He was all anyone could have asked for and more. I don't know what I would have done without Jill Hopper. In the aftermath, she dropped everything, left work and rushed to the Vet's office to be with me.
Only a few weeks ago, Suzie (Kalon's Moonlight Lady) left this world at the hands of a sicko who poisoned her. Now Bandit joins his eldest daughter from his first litter - along with all those IGs who passed before him; Simon, Jareth, Lacey and Nicky. It is never easy, their time with us is so short but the lessons they teach us must not go unlearned. Unconditional love comes with a price tag - responsibility.
A special thank you to Jill, Judy Longhouse, Shannon and Amanda (who sent me the words fo the song). They, along with others have echoed what needs to be said. Please, before you take that lead off or don't bother to put it on - please remember Bandit. The "Frito Bandito of Love" - who quietly stole your heart with just one look. Please remember Bandit.
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To those who missed the point - I'm sorry you don't understand but it's your choice to make and your risk to take. I sincerely wish you never have to endure the kind of heartache I now feel. Be it a truck, car, motorcycle, bike, large dog, wild animal or stupid human - our treasured furbabies do not understand the dangers of the world - you DO! And it's your responsibility to do your best to keep them safe. Running free? Yes, I can tell you Bandit was run in his younger days - back when a lot of IG people 'poo poo'd' the idea of an IG having the stamia to run. Bandit LOVED to run and so do each of his kids, grand-kids, etc. The pure joy in their eyes as they 'fly' with the wind. BUT he, nor any of his kids were ever allowed to run in an unenclosed area - no matter how isolated. To me, it was never worth the risk. If you feel differently - again, that is your choice and I will not argue the point. Nor do I want to hear about it - especially not now. If this tragedy has not touched you - then unfortunately, I fear it will take your own tragedy before you truly understand. I can not, nor will not debate this.
Again, thank you to each and every one of you for your thoughts, prayers and kind words. To those who asked for permission to forward this or use this story in your 'puppy packets' - just just contact me for permission. If Bandit's story can help just one person understand, then yes. Somewhere I heard it said that there is an old Egyptain legend - you would live again each time your name was spoken. Then please, speak Bandit's name - let this heartache not be in vain.
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