I don't know what to think.

This morning Bandit heard my DH get up early, & got up on his own to follow him to the kitchen. He wanted to walk, but only made it half way to his "goal" (a neighbor's driveway) before he was too short of breath & paused, panting. I stood waiting with him, patted his back & told him it was fine to stop because that gave me time to see what a beautiful sunrise it was. A neighbor paused in her walk to ask if he was OK. I wondered where her dog was because I never see her walk alone. She always walks a smaller, shaggy brown dog with a stiff leg that I thought must be elderly as well. When I told her about Bandit she wished us well, then told me she & her husband had to put their dog to sleep on Friday! She was nearly 15, & had liver disease. They had had her since she was about 12 weeks old.

Listening to her my tears began to fall. The only time I had talked with this lady before was when my dogs had slipped away from me as I was getting them from their pen to the house, and they had rushed at her while she was walking her smaller dog. She is a petite, elderly asian lady who always carried a cane with her just for this type of thing, as some of our neighbors DON"T restrain their dogs. Of all things, I never let ours run loose, & I raced to the road to see this little lady raise her cane to ward off my 2 80+ pound dogs who are barking at her dog in the roadway. She gave my Bandit a little whack with the cane & he seemed truly offended, really amazed that she wasn't praising him for chasing off HER dog! I got my boys in the house quickly all the while apologizing to her for her scare (she didn't know my boy was only putting on a show) but of course, this isn't a good way to get to know someone. Now I feel so bad for her & her husband as they are in a sad place now just as we are.

Our situation has made me appreciate the goodness in dog lovers at times like this. Yesterday afternoon I called a local pharmacy, with optimism that Bandit will make it thru this first week & need the Sporanox refilled. The Mail-order pharmacy in Canada said shipping would take possibly 10-14 days so tho they have a much better price of "only" $105 for 30 capsules we can't get it in time. The pharmacist I am aquainted with was off yesterday, "John" was there & apparently the owner. I had never talked to John before, & was embarrassed to ask for help but I did. He told me his cost for 30 capsules was $193.68. When I asked him what he would need to charge me, he said $193.68! He even asked for Bandits name & said he was leaving a note for his staff so that they would know he had agreed to this !

After breakfast we drove to Farm & Fleet & took both our boys along. Bandit seemed very happy to have a ride. It was still nice & cool with a breeze & we were only in the store a short while, to get an e-collar to fashion an oxygen hood. When we came out, Bandit was curled up in the driver's seat, looking very pleased with himself. I was laughing at him and saying, "No, you DON'T get to drive!" & a man at the next space over laughed & said "He must be a little spoiled". I said "He is sick, & knows he's getting away with things, but this is going too far!"

They had no e-collars, but Stan found a very simple loose fitting velcro muzzle with mesh under the chin & just a small flap that fastens over the top. It's label said it wouldn't interfere with breathing, eating or drinking (how would it stop biting?). As we only needed a strap to hold the oxygen tubing under his chin we thought it was worth a try. At home I was so pleased when he let me strap it on; it held the tubing perfectly in place just beyond his nose. When he gently put his head down between his paws as if to go to sleep I was thrilled at how clever we were...until he immediately hooked each side with a claw & slipped it off in an instant. So, back to trying to slide the tube near his nose then repeat, repeat, repeat the rest of the day.

With Bandit's stubborn streak he made it clear today that he would not settle for being told to "rest" . He has been drinking water & peed & even pooped OK. After refusing the same lunch meat he accepted yesterday, he did let us feed him some Oscar Meyer Deli Select Honey Ham...this is better than Dad usually gets to eat! I bought liversausage which we NEVER buy, just because long ago we had a dog that loved it...no way. I bought half & half to give him instead of water to boost his calories, but he just turns his head to the side..his sign language for "you haven't got it right yet". He seems to get thinner right before my eyes. With his rapid respirations, he is burning energy like a hummingbird.

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