Rest in Peace, my Bambi boy

I was 12 years old with $50 in my hands walking towards an apartment in downtown Merced. Prior to this visit, my mom and I found a newspaper ad saying the following, 'Cocker Spaniel Puppies for Sale!' and I saved up all the money I had and prayed on the drive there that the owner accepts my offer. I knock on the door and this lady who was probably 30, but looked like she was 50 opened the door and I remember her apartment being so smoky inside. I stayed outside because well...stranger danger. I asked her, "are you selling Cocker Spaniel puppies? I only have $50, will this do?" She looked me and then she grabbed the money off of my hands, handed me a puppy (roughly, my poor Bambi), and slammed the door. I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I didn't even care that she didn't let me pick. I just knew from the start that he was the one. On the car ride home, my family and I are shouting random names and I believe it was my sister or maybe brother that said 'Bambi' and it stuck. Of course, my poor Bambi was always called a 'her' for his entire life. I wonder what his thoughts were when his name was chosen for him, I'm surprised he didn't hate me for it. Since that day, our journey together has been full of love and laughter. His ears were so floppy that he would have trouble eating as a pup because he would accidently start chewing on one of his ears, but I was always there to help until the very end. He was my shadow, always beside me. Our other furbabies have learned from him and they do the same. They also learned from him to scare cats, with the exception of Dexter. Bambi loved Dexter, probably the only cat that was worthy of his affection (his thought not mine, I'm sure of it). They learned to beg for food, unfortunately and they learned what it meant to be loyal and caring. I'm so happy that I still have Lucky and Koopa because it feels like I still have Bambi with me. He was incredible and I'm going to miss him so much. I'm going to miss those ears and my shadow. Knowing that he is in doggy heaven, most likely with Sugar (my first furbaby) and back in full health with his tennis ball in his mouth makes my heart feel full. I hope he left this world knowing how much he was loved and how great of a companion he will always be. I love you Bambi. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. 

With love,

Ale