by Emily Huntington
When one does a Google search of the word ‘bandit,’ several things come up. Bandit was a play, and bandit was a fat raccoon who was adopted by dogs and ultimately put in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the fattest raccoon ever.
Bandit was a British band, and, bandits are people who steal things and are often members of a gang.
Okay, so my Bandit wasn’t any of those things…he was a cat, and although I didn’t name him, the name sure fits. He stole my heart from the first day we met…cheesy as that sounds, it’s true.
Anyone who knows me knows that… his owners before me told me that they named him that because he would steal their socks when he was a kitten and hide them under the couch.
June 1, 2010 is a day that I will never forget. It’s the day I found Bandit after he had gotten hit by a car.
He wasn’t supposed to be outside, but he snuck out…he’d usually come home later in the evening, but this time, he had been gone longer than usual.
Long story short, he suffered unfixable damages. He was paralyzed from his hips down, so he ultimately had to crawl around, and he lost feeling in his lower body.
Simply put, he wasn’t the same cat. He tried and tried to get better, but never would he return to 100 percent.
October 6, 2010 is also a day I will never forget. It’s the day that we said our goodbyes to the beloved member of our small family. People say it’s for the best, and I know they’re right, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
Knowing what I know now, would I still take Bandit in, knowing I’d have to go through this? Absolutely. I didn’t choose Bandit. Everything happens for a reason, and I know that Bandit chose me.
Bandit was an incredible feline – the best I’ve ever known. Stubborn as he was, he knew just what to do to brighten my day. I wouldn’t trade the memories we made for anything.
Rest in peace, Bandit. I love you so much…you filled a void that cannot be replaced. Thank you for choosing me to spend your life with.
