Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
Roly Poly Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 713 | TRs | Pics
|
Dear Forum members:
I am reaching out to you for any memories or photos you might have of Banjo in his hiking years. Sadly, he passed away yesterday after a prolonged battle with degenerative disk disease and it's crippling side effects. My memories of him are primarily of the last two years caring for him, worrying about him and watching him decline. I am reaching out to all of you who knew me as Bad Dog, for any happy memories and photos of Banjo. He was an amazing dog that welcomed the 50+ rescue dogs into our home and helped many of them rehabilitate emotionally and physically until they could be adopted. His calm and happy temperament is greatly missed.
|
Back to top |
|
|
fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2629 | TRs | Pics
|
So sorry to hear about the loss of your pet. It's a terribly sad thing to endure.
|
Back to top |
|
|
grannyhiker Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 3519 | TRs | Pics Location: Gateway to the Columbia Gorge |
I went through this a year ago (although it was lymphoma), and I feel your pain.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
|
Back to top |
|
|
wolffie Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2693 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
|
wolffie
Member
|
Fri May 23, 2014 3:42 pm
|
|
|
wait for us at the bridge, Banjo.
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
|
Back to top |
|
|
the Zachster Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 4776 | TRs | Pics Location: dog training |
I am so sorry to hear about Banjo's passing and the struggles at the end. It's never an easy decision and you make your best call. And know that he's at peace and free from pain. I think we only met Banjo once (at Tiger) and everyone got along just great! I hope your memories of the good times and the company of your current 4 pawed buddies will ease the pain of your loss.
Nancy
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ingunn Hiking Viking
Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
|
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
|
Fri May 23, 2014 4:06 pm
|
|
|
So sorry to hear this, Bad Dog.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
|
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
|
Fri May 23, 2014 4:53 pm
|
|
|
Sorry to hear about Banjo.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dogpatch Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2003 Posts: 1588 | TRs | Pics Location: the dryside |
|
Dogpatch
Member
|
Fri May 23, 2014 5:35 pm
|
|
|
Terrible news, Bad Dog--so sorry to hear about Banjo. Our canine friends leave this world way too soon.
My dog, Magpie, and I really enjoyed spending time with you and Banjo during the monumental Explorer Falls cleanup. Here's a link to that trip report: Explorer Falls cleanup If you go to page 5, there are lots of great pictures of Banjo.
Best wishes to you,
Cathy
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." – Groucho Marx
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." – Groucho Marx
|
Back to top |
|
|
GeoHiker Rocky Walker
Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 6033 | TRs | Pics Location: Off the Deep End |
|
GeoHiker
Rocky Walker
|
Fri May 23, 2014 9:10 pm
|
|
|
So very sorry to hear about your loss. I know how special your dogs are. I'm sure I have pics from the Explorer cleanup and maybe Evergreen? I'm still out on the road, so might be another 3-4 weeks till I'm home. Rocky gives a 2 paws down. Hang in there and all the best.
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye......Eagles
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye......Eagles
|
Back to top |
|
|
harrymalamute Member
Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 852 | TRs | Pics Location: Spokane |
Joanna, I'm sorry to read that you needed to let Banjo pass to the other side in order to release him of his pain. So difficult to let our best friends go.
I'll try to cheer you up with a story from one of your old TR's. (we miss your baddog trips )
Anyways, A few years ago you did some really great trips along the PCT south of Glacier Peak (White Pass area) with some really nice pics of flowers and your white shepherds frolicking with Glacier Peak in the pics.
I remember that trip because it put a smile on my face for bringing back memories of me and a Thunder dog malamute 10 yrs earlier with the same images in my mind. being pre digital I've lost those pictures and you helped bring back some great memories of 4 trips to the region back in the day.
I have no doubts that Thunder dog (and many others) were on the other side waiting to take Banjo to those flower filled meadows south of Glacier peak.
God Bless.
hikes and climbs with malamute
hikes and climbs with malamute
|
Back to top |
|
|
TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
|
That is so sad. Banjo was such a friendly, gentle giant. Here are a couple of photos of him with our Lupe when she was just 4 months old and weighed about 3 pounds! She would walk right underneath him on the trail.
Banjo and Lupe Banjo and Lupe
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
|
Back to top |
|
|
GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
|
GeoTom
Member
|
Wed May 28, 2014 9:37 pm
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
FootHiker Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 57 | TRs | Pics
|
This news reminds me of a favorite Bread song from the early 70s:
Who draws the crowd and plays so loud, baby, it's the banjo man
Who's gonna steal the show, you know, baby, it's the banjo man
He can make you love, he can make you cry
He will bring you down and he'll get you high
Somethin' keeps him goin' miles and miles a day
To find another place to play
Night after night, who treats you right, baby, it's the banjo man
Who's on the radio, you go and listen to the banjo man
Then he comes to town and you see his face
And you think you might like to take his place
Somethin' keeps him driftin' miles and miles away
Searching for the songs to play
Then you listen to the music and you like to sing along
You want to get the meaning out of each and every song
Then you find yourself a message and some words to call your own and take 'em home
He can make you love, he can get you high
He will bring you down, then he'll make, make you cry
Somethin' keeps him movin', but no one seems to know
What it is that makes him go
Then the lights begin to flicker and the sound is getting dim
The voice begins to falter and the crowds are getting thin
But he never seems to notice, he's just got to find another place to play
|
Back to top |
|
|
Roly Poly Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 713 | TRs | Pics
|
Thank you, everyone, for your kind replies. I've only had the "courage" to look at this thread for the first time today. It still feels really fresh even though almost two weeks has passed. The NWHikers dogs are truly the luckiest dogs on the planet, to be able to go with their humans to these beautiful places, to exercise their minds and bodies with us. Sometimes we forget what an incredible journey we are on with these dogs until it is over and then we look back and say "wow, that really was an amazing journey". Thank you for reminding me of that.
|
Back to top |
|
|
joker seeker
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 7953 | TRs | Pics Location: state of confusion |
|
joker
seeker
|
Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:25 pm
|
|
|
I'm sorry to hear about this, particularly the fact that he (and of course you) had to deal with an unfortunate struggle at the end. Good luck working through your grief. I have no pics to share, but he indeed looks like he was a great companion who had the chance to share many great adventures. I love the shot of him with Lupe both sitting beneath a pass. I love those shepherds and shepherd mixes, but they do seem to have some tendency toward some genetic issues (e.g. our current shepherd mix has slowly degenerating hips and surrounding area - he can still get out for decent distance well-graded hikes, with clearance from a great vet as long as he still seems into it which he does, but we can see him having a harder time getting up from lying down as the months go by...).
When one of my best quadruped pals died, someone shared this quote, which very much struck me at the time:
Quote: | “We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan.”
― Irving Townsend |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|