...Is Another Man's Dog

See http://monixkap.wix.com/mkaplerphotography for my portrait website

This old ball of fur turned 12 on April 6th.

I was 12 when we got him, which means he's been around here for half of my entire life. It feels like I've had him for half my life, because I remember the years of childhood angst spent begging for a dog but since I've had him it's like it's always been that way.

 

He's an old dog now but he's just as cute as the day we got him.

 

The year Bandit turned 1 we were very excited kids so my mom baked an angel food cake to celebrate and we took pictures with the four of us holding Bandit at the table and then proceeded to eat cake in front of him. (He got a taste, of course)

 

This tradition has continued long past our childhoods.

(Probably because it's a great excuse to eat cake.)

 

And because how many dogs are well-behaved enough to pose in front of a piece of cake while wearing a party hat?

(The fact that the cake is on fire probably somewhat deters him.)

 

He's my buddy.

He's a great dog and he just gets more endearing with age.

The number 12 is a little punch in the gut though, knowing his natural life expectancy is about 15. Then last weekend during some spring cleaning we decided to throw out his old homemade agility equipment because he's really gotten too old to use it.

Ouch.

We've been enjoying agility together for half of my entire life now.

 

The truth is that when you've had a dog for 12 years he becomes a fixture in your home, in your life, a member of the family. 

Sometimes he smells like an old rug.

But he's my favorite old rug.

 

-Monica