Banjo sleeping as I left the house this morning.
Banjo will have surgery this morning. For those of you who don’t know who Banjo is, he’s my 14-year-old diabetic Border Terrier. And I can say he is the best dog I’ve ever had. I don’t say that lightly, either. Molly, our other Border Terrier had a heart of gold and loved my wife so much. And then there was Sadie. Sadie was my wife’s mixed-breed terrier who “found” my wife when she was in college. She was an amazing, street-smart dog who my wife loved more than me (and for good reason). Sadie died a tragic death the night we moved into our house. It’s still so upsetting I don’t like talking about it 14 years later. And I had an amazing Dalamation, Beagle and Welsh Corgi when I was growing up. I’ve never had a dog who didn’t manage to steal my heart.
But Banjo has been my buddy. Particularly in the past couple of years. When I was made part-time, I took it hard. Two days earlier, Molly had died and Banjo took that hard. He clung to me and I clung to him. I raged for a couple of months and Banjo, as only a dog would, listened. He never said much — in fact, he said nothing at all. He just listened.
I wish more people would do that.
Banjo’s dad was a Border Terrier named Courageous. It seems fitting that he’d come from such genetic stock. But the last three years have been tough on Banjo. He was diagnosed with diabetes and that started a struggle that has defined his life. Diabetes is the devil — especially for a little dog.
Some people would have put Banjo to sleep. They wouldn’t have wanted the hassle of giving him insulin shots twice a day or dealing when his sugar crashes or spikes. Or the extra vet costs. Banjo has nearly died a couple of times and has bad days. Last Sunday, he tore his ACL. Now he can barely walk.
Once again, we’re faced with a choice. We can put him to sleep. We can put him in a crate for two weeks and see if scar tissue will partially heal the ACL. We can put a brace on his leg (which he’d be miserable in — he’s a stubborn dog). Or we can have the ACL repaired. It’s not a cheap surgery. And it’s as logical as putting new tires on a car with 400,000 miles.
But logic does not come into play here. First of all, we’re also having his teeth cleaned. Tooth infections have caused his blood sugar to be erratic over the past couple of years. So if he’s being put under, we might as well fix that, too. But mainly, I want my sons to understand the importance of pet responsibility. You own a pet, you love them and take care of them.
Banjo could die today. Or tomorrow. But come to think of it, so could I. As his human, it’s my responsibility to give him the best life possible.
I pray he comes through surgery. You want to hang onto a special dog for as long as you can. But it’s crazy the things you put yourself through sometimes.
All for the love of a dog.
May God bless you both. Your’s is the right attitude.
So sweet!
My best dog is 11 years old right now. I will do anything to keep her around as long as the Good Lord sees fit. Love this post!
What a touching post. Good luck to Banjo on his surgery. I agree that money is no object when it comes to the all encompassing, unselfish love of a pet.
You made me cry. I hope that Banjo does great and you do to. Get Banjo a big hug for me.
My prayers are with Banjo and you. We have done the same and would do it again.
Know exactly how you feel. I lost my Boo Bear, a lab/Rotweiller mix, 9 yrs. ago. I was blessed to have had him in my life for 14 years. He was totally MY companion. He was born to us from a first litter of pups my daughter’s German Rotweiller managed to have on our living room couch! German Rot’s naturally don’t have tails & because this litter was a mix of Lab & Rott, some had tails & some didn’t. I fell in love with this little one the minute I saw him. He had the cutest little no-tail butt you ever saw. He was with me through thick & thin. He was my best friend & companion. He understood everyword I said & knew my moods & wishes better than any human could. I miss him so much still. I pray your Banjo will live through this set-back & the two of you will have many more good times together.
Hold on as long as you can. I still remember the day I finally had to put down my 15 1/2 yr old Golden Retriever, Angel. It was one of the worst days of my life. Still miss her.
Only someone who’s had the unconditional love of and for a pet could understand this. My prayers for you and Banjo that surgery will go well and he’ll be recovering soon.
Prayers for Banjo & for you too! This made me tear up. I totally agree. I have a magnet on the frig that says, “May I always be the person my dog thinks I am.” If only…..
Marshall, we have come to love Banjo too! Praying for a successful surgery and more years of love for both of you!
I totally understand Marshall and I am commend you for teaching your sons such an important lesson with regards to animals & pets. I share your love & pray that Banjo is doing well. They get our hearts and souls. My Lexi has pet insurance that has not always been in the budget however I know that if she needs surgery she will be covered. When I got her I assumed the responsibility to care for her needs and I do as if she were my child and for that I feel I am a better person than before I knew her.
Sending healing prayers for Banjo and yes I am typing as tears are rolling down my face, I am so happy you have Banjo and he has all of you, I know you will be thankful for everyday you have him in your life and I only hope that is for many more days filled with the kind of love an animal deserves unconditional love, I only wish more people loved their animals as much as you all do. God Bless and a speady recovery Banjo
Marshall this is a tough time for you, Banjo and your family. I am asking God to place a hand on all of you and bring peace and wellness to each of you!
Prayers for Banjo.
Thanks for being Banjo’s friend and recognizing that he is a family member not a piece of property. I hope he heals fast and that ya’ll have many more happy days together.
10 years ago my 13 yr. old Maine Coon Cat, Blanche was hit in the head by someone. We found her right after it happened and scooped her up and rushed her to the vet. By the time we got there her head was the size of a melon. They were about to close but assured me they would help her. I didn’t find out until later that they left her like that all night and didn’t do surgery until morning. She stayed at the vet for a week and I brought her home. She was blind and could not even lick herself so I bathed her and fed her with a syringe. She kept getting sinus infections and finally I asked the vet if she was ever going to get any better. He told me she wouldn’t and I made the decision to have her misery ended. It was so hard. They brought her to me one last time and I told her how sorry I was and she licked my hand as if she knew. Blanche was in excellent health and on her last checkup the vet told me she could easily live to be 20….so her life was not nearly over when this happened. I got Blanche at a time when all my friends were having children. I never had any children of my own so Blanche was my baby. One of my neighbors said to me, “Oh that’s so expensive! Why didn’t you just have her put down in the first place?” I said nothing (I was shocked that she would say that) My father, on the other hand said, “Because she’s family!” Lots of people don’t understand that it’s not just a dog, or just a cat….it is family. I have loved all your little reports on Banjo and am praying for the surgery to be successful. I KNOW what he means to you.
that is a tough call I know all too well…my dad’s peekapoo had diabetes and cushings disease and was dying at his vet when my dad died…both of them diabetic..I had to be the one to make the tough choice of putting Pepper down…I knew he was not going to make it this time…then I had to put my own dog down about 3 months after that…Chance..I had her for 14 years…I had rescued her as a pup…found her eating old peeled shrimp carcasses off the hot asphalt where she had been abandoned…I loved her…best of luck to Banjo….I can feel that you love him.
“you’re a good man charlie brown. ” were the words running through my head whilst reading your blog today. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and loving post. I know your heart is tender right now, but you need to go through today knowing that you are one of the best dog humans Banjo could ever hope to have. I will think of y’all throughout today and pray for Banjo to come through the surgery with flying colors, I will pray for the hands of the vet tending Banjo and I will pray for strength for you.
My heart hurts for you and your family right now. I hope and pray that Banjo will pull through and be okay. The love of a pet is unconditional. Now matter how bad of a day I have, I know when I walk through the door in the evening my dog will be the first one to greet me with a smile on her face and her tail wagging.
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I have had to put my best pal to sleep just last year, my spotted English pointer, Darlin’ Houdini. Her’s was an unexpected, sudden loss of health. One morning she just couldn’t move anymore. I took her straight to the vets. They did the usual tests and determined she had cancer. It broke my heart. I had rescued her from a parking lot in Selma where some farmer had dumped her. I had my speckled best bud for 12 years. But when the day came that I had to say goodbye, I held her and stroked her head as the vet gave her the shot, all the time telling her what a good dog she was. Losing a pet is like losing a child. Some people just don’t understand the deep grief pet owners go through, but I do.
I had a pug for 16 years her name was Rosie. She was the light of my life. She developed Pancreatitis and went down quickly. We had to make the decision to put her to sleep so we put all our selfish feelings aside. She was suffering. It was about her not us. I waited a year 1/2 before I could even think of getting another one. My daughter called me about adopting a rescue and I made the decision to give him a wonderful, loving home, I knew my Rosie would have wanted that. His name is Chumley and he is a French Bulldog. He lights up my life everyday and he fills me with laughter because he is so silly! I pray Banjo pulls through the surgery and heals quickly. I pray you two have more wonderful years together.
Loved reading your story about Banjo. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We have a 9 year old Westie and he is our child. I never had children of my own so he is my baby. I would do everything for him. I have had a dog put to sleep and it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but he was not having a quality life anymore. So Gizmo was put to sleep two weeks short of his 16th Birthday. I cried for weeks. My husband and I missed him terribly. Then we found Scooby. He amazes us everyday. So my prayer for you is that Banjo comes through the surgery and will be fine. God Bless You for all you are doing for him and for teaching your children how important pets are in our lives.
*sniff* It is said that when Adam was naming the animals and he came to the dog he realized that this animal loved unconditionally just like God. No matter how much you ignore him or try not to pay attention, he still loves you. He knew there was only one God, so he named the animal as near to God has he could. Dog is God spelled backward.
Dear Lord Jesus, you said you mark the place where a sparrow falls, so we know for sure that you surely take notice when a dog hurts. Today please give the surgeon complete wisdom and bring Marshall’s dear four legged companion back to him. Love them all through this. We love YOU. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
My prayers for all of you. I, too, had a diabetic dog that took insulin twice a day. We went through torn ACL’s with casts and a MAJOR surgery that required a daily visit back to the vet for weeks to get the incision to heal. I will always have a special place in my heart for Dr. Rodney Walker for seeing us through that crisis. The love of our four legged fur babies just doesn’t get any better – so unconditional and faithful. We are all wishing for the very best for Banjo, his family and his doctors.
Bless you for trying to save Banjo. So many people would call you crazy – he’s just a dog. People who love their pets know, though, that they aren’t “just dogs”; they are members of our family and we should do whatever we can to make their lives better. They certainly make ours better. “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then I want to go somewhere else.” (Can’t remember whose quote that is)
I in the past have had to bring my cas and dogs to vet to be put to sleep because they were ill. Sometimes I know I should have done it sooner, but hard as animals always part of growing up! Bless this family for what they have done to help this baby! Animals, no matter what, show unconditional love! Humans seem to forget that!
Marshall, this is the sweetest story and all the while I was reading, I was crying..all of us who follow you and your updates on your family, including Banjo have come to love all of you. I pray he makes it and is better when he gets everything fixed today. I have a 13 yr.old Yorkie who is losing his eyesight..but I will just lead him around..he is with me to the end. Keep up your good work and God Bless!
I hope banjo go through surgery great.
I pray that God guides the Vet’s hands during these surgeries and that he give Banjo a blanket of protection, grace and mercy both during and after surgery. May your entire family find peace with the outcome.
Prayers for Banjo and for you, Marshall. “Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened”. ( anony.)
Just spoke to the vet. Banjo made it through surgery and now has a new knee and clean teeth. He’s being monitored and will be home tomorrow.
So thankful Banjo is doing well and pray that he continues to do so. What WOULD we do without the love and devotion of our four~legged children.
Prayers for Banjo. We have a 14 year old toy fox terrier. We understand perfectly. We just went through expensive surgery for Bitsi, and it is worth every bit of it. Banjo is your great pal!
Awesome ! Our pets love us unconditionally and deserve the best .
Dear Banjo, I hope he does well. We have a 14 year old Toy Fox Terrier. She sleeps more and more. She had expensive surgery which helped her so much. I am saying a prayer for Banjo, and I know how our pets are just like people.
Your cousin in Texas
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