For starters, we never called him Bambi. He had thousands of nicknames – some that lasted, such as Boot City and Snooter – and Bambi was only his official name.

He was our first child. We got him while we were still apartment dwellers in the Denver area, and Dana had the urge to get a puppy. We considered getting a Chihuahua because I said no to Yorkies or poodles or any other toy breed. But we knew it would have to be a small dog, and Chihuahuas always made me laugh. Thus began the search for a dog. Dana never would have seen Bambi at the pet store had he not poked his head up from the upper cage, just beyond Dana's sight. He was listed as a Chihuahua mix, but we think he was a Manchester terrier or miniature pinscher mix. Our budget was $100 maximum for a dog, and he was listed at $129. However, due to his missing toes on one paw, he was on sale for $79. Given that he was a discounted product of a puppy mill (we didn't know about such things then and would not have purchased a dog at a pet store knowing this), he lived a full life of 16 years! While Dana was paying for Bambi, other people were inquiring about him and holding him, so he would have sold quickly. She drove to my workplace to show me our new son, then drove to Grand Junction for a few days with family.

It was "all about him" from the moment we got him, not in an arrogant way, but in the manner of a small child. The world seemed to rotate around his needs. He was a sweet and gentle boy, yet he wasn't sensitive to those around him. He was naughty. Throughout his lifetime, yelling at him to stop eating something only made him eat faster. We couldn't leave trash cans or laundry within his range of exploration.

He had many traits that made him unique.

• • He was a very funny dog and really seemed to know his charm. When we were unpacking in our new house in Texas just weeks after we bought him, he came out of a bedroom with a candle in his mouth positioned like a cigar. It was one of those "take my wife ... please" moments.
• • He smiled, baring all his teeth, when he was excited to see you.
• • He developed a fear of flies but didn't seem to notice cattle right by him on a fishing trip.
• • Later in life, he would get the "sillies," which meant he would put his forehead on the floor between his front feet while his back legs were upright, then he would make snorting sounds and sometimes do a forward somersault.
• • If we left on a walk without him, he had a particularly loud, melodic howl that traveled for great distances.
• • He would scratch on our legs and breathe heavily to get some attention or food, but he never required that you pet him.
• • When he was young, he used to bark at shows on the TV, and on a few occasions managed to turn the TV off.

He wore many different sweaters and knew the order in which his legs went in, making it easier to dress him. I wrote "When the Wolf Pack Comes ..." based on this emasculation of a once-proud species.

When he was three he got a sister, Kati, and he loved playing with her, all while being gentle. His sister Kimi never bought into the whole alpha male thing, so there was tension there. He could be a bit aloof, and I figured it was just that he was deep in thought.

He loved to go on rides in the car, or even a wheelbarrow. His favorite place to sleep often involved being spooned by Dana. (As a rule, when Bambi and Dana would lie together on the couch, it would only be a matter of time before they were both asleep.) He loved cottage cheese, spaghetti, eggs, tuna, and fortunately, dog food. He enjoyed all people and had a general lack of interest in other dogs.

He was still very much in the game until December 2007. During the next few months he declined into a faint glimmer of the boy we had known. We were very sad to see him go, and we are very grateful for the many years he was in our lives.

Last updated 5/21/08.

Dana with Bambi, May 1, 2008

Don't be deceived! He's probably thinking of something naughty to do.

Autumn 2004

Brad's favorite boy, 2006, with his other smile.