Bannan came into this world with a rip snorting roar. At birth,

he weighed more than twice the norm for a Miniature Pinscher...and 

mama Heidi was small. He had a twin who didn't make it, likely

because of their size.

He was always a happy dog. Each morning he awoke to the happiest

day of his life. Emerging from his cage where he slept, he waited

for an ear and body rub then bounded down the stairs to the back

door where he barked at the world outside. Immediately when the

door was opened, he ran outside at full steam to investigate things.

Barking and yipping he hardly took time to do his business. Of

course, Heidi was in tow; he'd look around to make sure she was in

his tracks. God help him if an obstacle had appeared over night.

He'd have creamed it for sure!



He was always (unless not feeling well...which was seldom) wagging

his tail. Even when we made one of our final visits to him at the

vet clinic, he was wagging it while hugging Lori. Curious, because

his usual attitude when not feeling well was to lay very still, 

looking very sad and pitiful.



Christmas time with Bannan was a real hoot. Think of the most 

excitement you've seen in a child and then double it...that would

be Bannan. When a gift was for him, he was absolutely wacko. He

could not wait to get into it. If the gift was a new collar (and

one always was) he was absolutely beside himself until it was

clipped around his neck.



Bannan was the epitomy of the alpha male and the epitomy of the

Miniature Pinscher breed. Early in life he showed Sidney (our male

Balinese cat) who was boss. As a min-pin, he thought he was the

baddest meanest animal around. In reality he was a wuss; he put

up a good front though, even facing bears.



Bannan could really be a pest where Heidi was concerned. She was

always wandering way back in the back area investigating things.

Bannan would get closer to the house and lie in wait in the grass.

When Heidi started toward the house, he would bound away running

circles around her; in general being a real pain. I guess mom's 

have a special place in their heart where their kids are concerned. 

That he aggravated her no end did not phase her at all.



Bannan was an extremely loving dog. He liked nothing better than to

lie on Lori's chest, hug her around the neck and kiss her ears and

face. He'd spend hours sitting on her lap as she worked around him

to get to her laptop.



Stephanie and Robert graduated high school in 2004 and 2005 repectively.

They then went away to college in the fall of those years.

Bannan was born in May of 2005. Lori always called him her "empty

nest baby". I think they both knew that was the case. A wonderful

"baby" he was, too.

On 30th July, it was apparent he was under the weather. He didn't

bound down the stairs; he barely stayed ahead of me as I walked down.

At the back door he did bark, but not with his usual gusto. He did

go on outside and came back in a few minutes waiting to be let in.

Lori made him some special food that evening as he appeared to not

be eating the regular dog food. The next morning, Saturday, he was

no better. 

On to the vet. After a few tests they determined that he was suffering

from kidney failure. He was put on an IV and anti-biotics and hand fed. 

On Sunday he appeared some better and ate a bit. We were hopeful, but 

it was down hill from there. On Tuesday the vet recommended he be taken

to a full fledged animal hospital; we arrived there Tuesday night. After

some quick tests, a failure in the urinary system was confirmed. Later 

that night the conclusion was he was indeed experiencin kidney 

failure. Treatment continued with some very little progress seemingly made. 

The vet early on Wednesday said Bannan was a "real trooper".

He was keeping his positive on life attitude along with his friendliness

to his helpers. I'm quite sure his tail was wagging quite a bit too.

However it was downhill from there. 

Wednesday's input from the vet was that he had noticeably degraded and 

was not responding as hoped. We decided Wednesday evening to continue 

treatment through the night but to not proceed unless there was positive 

improvement overnight. There was not.



We lost Bannan the morning of 5 August 2010. I guarantee you he

entered dog heaven wagging his tail.



jgm