Day 17: Celebrating my best friend, Brandon.

[Stephanie]

Hiya everyone,

As you’ve probably realised by now, I’m a big animal lover with a special connection with dogs. Today I wanted to celebrate the life of my beautiful dog who sadly passed away this summer and the incredible age of 18 (and a bit!)

We rescued him from the shelter when I was in my teens. The pun was not lost on us that we brought him home from the Dogs Trust in Kenilworth! He was only 6 months old, all legs and very happy to see everyone and everything - especially food. He was dubbed Hobo which we promptly changed to Brandon as he was homeless, no more!

Don’t bite that wasp Brandon! Uh oh...

We were never too sure what his breed was but by his appearance and behaviour we believe he is part hound, part collie and part labrador. Anyone that has owned any or all of those breeds know just what that means… obsessed with food, loves to roll in some obscene discoveries and you can never pet and cuddle them enough. This is why my dad always called him “Teddy bear.”

Coming from a family with 5 children, Brandon did have to put up with some less than flattering games but did it with a gentle grace. He never so much as showed a tooth to anyone, and only growled if you looked like your were about to swipe something he was planning on eating!

After my parents separated, Brandon lived with my father alone - a proper man's best friend! Until he was 15, the two were inseparable. As the house my dad moved to wouldn’t allow pets and I had just bought my first home, we happily welcome the old man to live with us! The cat didn’t mind him at all, and he had never really been too bothered by other animals (except foxes which he loved to chase.)

Within one week he had discovered the local kids kicking a ball about - it may look like he has destroyed this one but the kids actually had this old thing which they let him have. His mouth is short so he always let his brother, Freddie, pop balls with his sharp German Shepherd teeth so that he could carry the deflated prize.

They were a complete odd couple but were best mates. We would play with the pair of them for hours. Freddie was a rescue from the same center and we got him 1 year after Brandon. We didn’t expect him to get as large as he did - was like walking a small horse!

As with all old dogs, he started to slow down and had trouble with his hips. He learnt to love his physio and hydrotherapy sessions as they always resulted in lovely treats. I won’t go into detail on how he was at the end as it is too painful.

I just wanted to share something important and beautiful to me. Especially to celebrate my lovely pup in this Month of Celebration! 

As always, I would love to hear about any animals that have been/are important in your life!

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Heather133]

@Stephanie what a beautiful tribute! How lucky you were to have Brandon the teddy bear!

[Stephanie]

Thanks @Heather133 , it's the tradeoff we have to make. Years of happiness for that painful end.

[Yadira22]

@Stephanie 

I am so sorry for your loss. 

I too love animals- I still very much get excited and jump up and down on the spot, clapping when I see any dog. I am in my late 20s and still react this way, but not changing for anyone. I suppose it’s become a part of my charm 😂

I often look after a friend’s pets (he refers to them as the Wolfpack or crazies- three dogs and a cat), 2x frenchies, 1x Boston terrier and 1x Burmese. I call them my foster furbabies. 

The oldest frenchie is 14 years old and though she is still the alpha dog when it comes to defending her food (I have had the cuts to proof this) she is too getting on. Slowly she is losing her sight and her hearing is gone...

I approach by placing my hand on her nose so she knows it’s me and pet her. Once she calms down I hug and kiss her. To say she is a love bug is an understatement- she is the definition of love and one of these days her time on this planet will be up. It’s sad but also so beautiful... she had an amazing love. She is spoilt endlessly by everyone (even strangers from the street), lived in three continents, had countless toys and fur bro’s and only ever knew love. 

I am not sure if I am ready to let her go but I can’t be selfish and as any typical stubborn frenchie girl, she’ll leave when she is ready and not when I am! Until then I get to love, kiss and thank her simply for being her. ❤️

[Giuliana142]

@Yadira22  Sooo cute!!

[Stephanie]

I have found I love senior dogs so much now @Yadira22 . I think if I adopt again, I'll pick the old boy of the shelter.

Thanks

[Giuliana142]

@Stephanie @Yadira22 @Heather133  This must be my favourite topic. Sharing our pet’s photos and stories, they are always filled with love. Stephanie, Brandon was so lucky to have you guys. The photos are so beautiful. Like my father said “People who like animals are good people”. I believe in that. We learn a lot about love, respect, trust and so much more when we care for animals. And they return loads of love. In all our time of existence, humans still didn’t learn how to show such values towards one another.

There could be an Airbnb for animals only.  I think that would help people to house their pet if they need to go on a travel. ... just a thought ...

Great story!

[Stephanie]

Your father sounds like a wise man @Giuliana142 ! 

Thanks for sharing the lovely paws.

[Giuliana142]

@Stephanie  He was, thanks.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

Oh Stephany :))) ❤️

[Helen427]

OMG this truly is a month of celebration, @Stephanie @Branka-and-Silvia0 @Giuliana142 @Yadira22  and  @everyone else, so beautiful to see all the animals.

They are simply the best as they provide unconditional love

.

They are also the best for one's health, mental and physical they sure know how to break down barriers.

So sorry Brandon is no longer physically with you @Stephanie however he will always be there in spirit and probably left hairs in pages of books that you have yet to find!!

[Stephanie]

Ah @Helen427 , there's hair still hidden in the nooks and crannies, behind skirting and on clothes. Reckon I'll be finding it for a long time after!

[Cathie19]

Sorry @Stephanie that Brandon has passed. It’s very hard when a pet that has been there for all the important years in our lives, slips from sight.

Our passed Boof was a similar old boy, but he never got to see a fox 🦊. He does however get to sit in his box in the cupboard, waiting for everyone to be home so we can scatter his ashes. However, he gets to watch miss Tilly have more freedom than he was allowed. As happens with the generation change.   I was thinking of both Boof and Brandon whilst I wrote this:

“Brandon the teddy bear oh my how he lived..

Through sorrow as a pup to a grand ol’ statesman......

He grew from what no one knew, as his breeds was unknown;

but a gentleman he was, till food was shown.

For he ate like a horse

But little did we know, that when he came to our lives, a pedal bin was homed.

He cuddled and snuggled and played till he dropped. We won’t mention farts for they came with aplomb.

Thank God he had no human talk to give up our stories to others.

He knew every secret each of us had, cause on bad days he was our most loved confidante.

For the whole family when sad, would tell him what’s wrong. A break up, a feud, or some other human thing. He listened and sighed and all awhile, never judged or took sides, unless you had food as an ally....

When the lights did go out, he’d sleep at your feet,to ensure you’re okay and could handle life’s beat.

When we were teens he played harder to meet our needs, including those busy days when he was less interested in us or the other way round.

He played till he wore out as an old boy. Who would only give up the fight - when over the rainbow bridge he could see a fox in sight!

[Stephanie]

Genuinely @Cathie19 , you have me in tears. I'm going to print this out and read it to my nieces and nephews at Christmas as they are also missing him terribly.

Thank you from the bottom, top and entirety of my heart,

Steph

PS Reckon Brandon and Boof are causing trouble upstairs as we speak!

[Cathie19]

💝