Scout is hurt, Bandit is confused

Bandit here. Something is wrong with my brother Scout.

After dinner tonight, Mommy saw that Scout was chewing on his paw. She noticed yesterday that he was limping and she checked his paws to see if he stepped on something. But tonight she called Dr. Hawkins right away and took Scout to see her.

They were gone for a while, and when they got home, something was very wrong with Scout. His front paw was all wrapped up in something and he couldn't stand up. And he couldn't stay awake. He just fell down and was asleep, and so I sniffed him all over, really gentle. He smelled funny, like medicine or something.

Something is not right! Mommy, what's wrong with Scout?

Mommy said that I am not to bother Scout, but when she went to make tea, I snuck over to him and nudged him. He didn't move, so I barked. And he still didn't move!

Mommy! Come quick! Something is wrong with Scout!

Mommy came running and checked Scout. She said that Scout had something called a sedative and it made him very sleepy. And that his toenail was split bad and had to get cut to a very painful part of his paw and that it bled a lot and hurts a whole lot.

Then she pet Scout and she started crying. She said his bandage reminds her of when he broke his leg when he was just a puppy and he's lying so quiet just like Natasha did before she died.

I don't want Scout to die! I don't want Mommy to cry! I don't know what to do!

Mommy hugged me and said Scout will be fine when his medicine wears off, but for the next day or so I cannot play with him. She said she is just sad because she hates to see her puppies in pain.

If there's one thing I know, if you are sick you definitely want Mommy to take care of you. She will stay up all night to make sure you're breathing and she'll clean up if you get sick and she'll pet you and love you.

When it was time for bed, Daddy tucked me in and said that Scout would seem more like normal in the morning. I think Mommy is sleeping with Scout downstairs, but Daddy wouldn't tell me because he thinks I will bark all night.

But I want Scout to get better really fast, so I went to bed like a good puppy. I got right in my crate and went to sleep and said a prayer and asked God to make Scout better really fast. It's scary when someone you love gets hurt!

Love, Bandit

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Scout and Bandit: IT'S SNOWING!!

Bandit: Bandit here! So we woke up this morning and there was all of this cold white stuff on the ground. So I ate it. Is that like the stuff Mommy read about in the Bible? Manna? It tastes like something God would send.

Scout: No, silly. It's snow!!

Bandit: Oh, snow! What's snow? A new treat?

Scout: No, stupid. Snow is something fun to play with!

Bandit: And it tastes good, too!

Scout: Well, don't eat too much. It's really to play in. Just wait till there is so much snow in the backyard that when you go out to potty, the snow is over your head. That's really fun!

Bandit: Over my head? Will I disappear?

Scout: For a minute. Then you pop out and snow flies everywhere! It's the greatest. Mommy doesn't even like being out in the cold, but when there is that much snow, she'll come outside a lot and play with us.

Bandit: I can't wait!

Scout: And do you know what else happens when it snows? SANTA COMES!!

Bandit: YEAH!! Wait, what happens when Santa comes?

Scout: He brings presents to all of the good puppies!

Bandit: Sigh. I haven't been a very good puppy.

Scout: It's OK. Since you are still a puppy, he still brings presents. Once, I drank a bottle of wine and he still brought me presents.

Bandit: YOU drank a bottle of wine? I thought you were always good!

Scout: HAHAHAHA!! That's funny! I used to be a bad dog, too! I ate shoes and books and oven mitts and movies and lots of other stuff. Even a Christmas ornament. Then I barfed all over the house. One time, I was at Nana's and I threw up a big giant leaf and a piece of wood. I don't even remember eating them!

Bandit: Hey, I eat that stuff too! We really are brothers!

Scout: But listen. Someday you have to stop doing that and become a big dog. But until then, Santa still brings presents!

Bandit: YEAH! Santa's coming! Snow! Snow! Snow!

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Scout's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

As you know, I got a new puppy brother this year. I have tried to be a good big brother but we fight a lot. Mommy has to yell a lot more than she used to.

But we've had a lot of fun, too, and I am very glad that I have a puppy brother. So I hope you can just forget the times when we've knocked stuff over in the living room or chased Murphy or knocked Mommy over in the backyard or crawled into bed with our muddy paws. We're just having fun.

I did a really good thing this year: I finally passed my therapy dog test! Mommy was so happy she cried. Now I go to school once a week to read books with Tyler. Maybe you could bring him a new book? Something about dogs?

I hope Bandit's not on your naughty list. He didn't mean to eat all of Mommy's books. Or drink Mommy's tea. Or chew her quilt or shoes or cell phone or ... well, you probably already have a list. He was just a puppy. Remember when I drank that bottle of wine? Sometimes we do bad things while we learn how to be good.

Bandit doesn't hardly poop in the house at all anymore! See, he's learning!

So if you and your helpers aren't too busy, maybe you could bring us some new glow balls? We have a lot of fun with them and Mommy loses them a lot. And we could always use some biscuits!

Thanks, Santa!! Say hi to the elves for us!! See you on Christmas eve!!

Love,
Scout

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Bandit's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a very, very good boy this year.

I've been a pretty good boy this year.

I tried.

Love,
Bandit

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Scout and Bandit's Guide to Life: Be thankful

Scout here - and Bandit, too!!

Scout: Mommy says that today is the day set aside for us to give thanks to God for the blessings we have.

Bandit: She says we're supposed to be thankful every day because God is so good to us. But on this day we are supposed be extra thankful, in case we have forgotten the rest of the time.

Scout: Right! So me and Bandit decided we would tell you what we're thankful for!

Bandit: You go first.

Scout: OK. Well, I'm thankful for Mommy and Daddy, because they love us and take good care of us. I'm thankful that we have a warm house and good food. I'm thankful for all of my family, including Cassie, my cousin Dali, and Grandma. And our friends. We have a lot of friends, like Kona, Killian, Hera, and Bandit's girlfriend, Abby.

Bandit: Oh, me too! Me too! I'm thankful for all of that, too!

Scout: I'm thankful that we got to go to school this year, and that I passed my therapy dog test!

Bandit: Me too. You worked really hard to pass that test.

Scout: I know. And you worked hard in school, too!

Bandit: Thanks! I'm thankful for Mommy and Daddy, too. And for our house and our food and my toys and that Mommy and Daddy let me stay, even though I'm such a bad dog sometimes.

Scout: I'm thankful for you and Murphy, too.

Bandit: Really? You're thankful for me? Even though I'm a pest?

Scout: Actually, yup. You are a pest, but it's also a lot more fun to have a brother than I thought it would be. And we both know that God wanted you here, so I'm thankful Mommy and Daddy obeyed.

Bandit: Isn't that great? We have a such a great family. I wonder what the chickens are thankful for? I'll go ask!

Scout: While you do that, Murphy wants to tell what he's thankful for. If you readers have never met him, Murphy is our cat brother.

Murphy: I used to live on the streets and Mommy came and got me at the shelter. So I'm thankful for a warm bed and food and a family.

Scout: That's so awesome. And you're such a great cat. You're almost like a dog!

Murphy: Err ... thanks?

Bandit: I'm back! The girls said they are thankful they're not Thanksgiving dinner! Hahahaha! Isn't that funny?

Scout: That's hilarious! Anyway, we just wanted to say that we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. And we're also thankful for you! Thanks for reading about our adventures, and for supporting Mommy!

Bandit: Our Mommy is so grateful for you. And when you write to her, she gets really happy. So leave comments!

Scout: Have a great thanksgiving! And on Friday, it'll be time to start getting ready for Santa to come! Make sure you're not on his naughty list!

Bandit: What's a Santa? Why does he have a naughty list??

Scout: I'll tell you all about it later. After we have Thanksgiving dinner.

Love, Scout and Bandit (& Mommy & Murphy & the chickens)

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Therapy Dog update: today's session 11/25/09

Scout here! I had reading today with Tyler! Mommy has been calling him Timmy but she's confusing me. So I think it's OK to say his real name.

Last week, my friend Noel had to fill in for me because Mommy was coughing so much. I think Tyler missed me.

Today, we played more than we read, which Mommy thought was OK. She called it "bonding time," and said I needed that so I would understand why I'm at school.

Oh, I know why I'm at school. I'm there to play! To say hello to all of the kids! And then to go to Tim Horton's on the way home!

I like going to school for a couple of reasons.

First, I like Tyler a lot. He plays fun games with me. And he really likes dogs.

Second, I like that I'm the only dog there. Because when Bandit is around, everyone ignores me. But today a lot of people told me I was a good dog.

When we were walking to our car, one lady even rolled down her window and asked why I was at school. When Mommy said we go to read with one of the students, she said I was so beautiful and that it was so fantastic that I got to go to school and do such a good thing.

Another lady ran right into the library when she saw me and Tyler because she has a Border collie, too! When she asked why I was in school, Mommy told her that I was working, but the lady was so excited she just kept hugging me. I don't think Tyler minded.

It's very nice to feel special sometimes. I think that's how Tyler feels when I go to school. He's the only one who's allowed to play with me, and today he asked if I come for other kids, too. "Nope," Mommy said. "Scout only comes to school for you." I know he felt super special when he heard that.

So I did my job really well today!

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Scout and Bandit's Guide To Life: Your Mommy is your Mommy because that's how God wanted it

Scout here! Bandit it way too excited to write (stop jumping on the keyboard, Bandit! I can't type!) so I'll tell you the exciting news myself!

Mommy got something in the mail today called a pedigree. It's a paper that lists all of Bandit's parents and their parents and their parents. When Mommy read it she got really excited! Then she went and found my pedigree and guess what?

Me and Bandit are related!! Isn't that exciting?

Both of our dog mommies have the same great grandparents, Joyful Prince and Shaloam Joy. What are the chances of that? We have different parents and came from different farms and everything.

And do you know what? Bandit wasn't even supposed to come to live with us!

Mommy said that some other Daddy was supposed to take Bandit after he was born. The man put down money and everything for Kim to hold the dog. But then the man's job changed and he couldn't have a dog. So when Mommy called Kim to see about getting a baby girl puppy, Kim told Mommy about Bandit. And Mommy decided to take Bandit instead! Even though he was not a baby and he was a boy. She said she saw his picture and fell in love right away.

And you know what else? That's sorta how I came to live here! Mommy and Daddy were looking for a baby girl puppy, and they found one. But Mommy said she wasn't sure she was supposed to bring that puppy home. She said she just felt like she needed to come and check me out at the Miller's house. I was older and a boy and not at all what they were looking for, and besides, someone else was already planning to come and probably get me.

But Mommy said she just knew. So she bought my dog bed and my food and a leash - before she even saw what I looked like! - and sure enough, those people called the Millers and cancelled their appointment to see me. So Mommy came instead. I remember she cried. I kissed her. We loved each other right away.

So here me and Bandit are, two dogs who were supposed to go home with other families but instead we're here with Mommy and Daddy and Murphy and the chickens and Cassie and Dali and Grandma. The best doggone family in the whole world. And we're almost like real brothers!

Mommy said it's exactly like God wanted it. Which means that the Mommy you have is exactly the Mommy God wanted you to have.

Isn't it great how that works out? God is so smart. He must be a Border collie.

Love, Scout

PS: Bandit here! Scout forgot to tell you something else about our pedigrees. His dog daddy and my dog mommy are both related to a dog named O'Brae's Coach! And do you know who owned O'Brae's Coach? My breeder mom, Kim, who I lived with for 15 weeks before Mommy came and got me! Isn't that so cool?

And you know what else I found out? Most of my dog daddy's relatives are from Texas! No wonder I'm such a conservative Republican dog!

Love, Bandit

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