I just got back from four days in Ohio spent visiting my mother who will be enjoying her 92nd Thanksgiving Day on Thursday. While focused on spending as much time as possible with her I didn't go online much during the trip. When I did turn on the laptop for a quick email check before heading to the airport for the trip home Monday morning a saddening message was waiting for me. 

My wife sent a note to let me know that our friends Michael and Judi Berkens had lost their beloved 13-year-old Yorkie Bandit who passed away over the weekend. Knowing how Michael and Judi felt about their personable pup I knew their hearts were broken. 

Bandit was their constant companion - just about anywhere you saw Michael and Judi, even if it was thousands of miles from their South Florida home, you almost certainly saw Bandit too. 

At T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conferences, Bandit became as familiar to veteran attendees as anyone on two legs (and a lot more popular than many of them)! That fact is evidenced by the condolence messages (numbering in triple digits) 

Michael and Judi Berkens with their beloved Yorkie 
Bandit who passed away over the weekend

that have been left on Michael's blog post about Bandit's passing and on his Facebook page. 

Everyone stopped to say hi to Bandit and he always responded to the attention with affection. It is appropriate that his loving nature will live on in a new Bandit Berkens Goodwill Ambassador Award that will be presented at future T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conferences. Acting on a suggestion by industry veteran and life long animal lover Donna Mahony, T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Co-Founder Rick Schwartz announced the award on his blog Monday.

Michael and Judi will have a memorial service for Bandit on Wednesday, November 30 at the Broward Pet Cemetery (11455 BW 8th Street in Plantation, Florida) where Bandit will be laid to rest. The service will begin at 12:30pm and will be open to anyone who would like to attend.

It will obviously take Michael and Judi some time to adjust to life without Bandit at their side and unfortunately no words can erase their current grief. The closest I can come is to repeat an observation my wife, Diana, made to me. She recalled that as Bandit got older and suffered more of the illnesses that come with age, Michael and Judi spared no effort or expense to ease his pain. As much as they loved him, Bandit gave that love back and there is no doubt he would not want Michael or Judi to be in pain now. As time begins to heal the wound, nothing would make Bandit happier than to know they are happy and enjoying life again. 

(Posted Nov. 22, 2011)