Eleven and one half years ago we flew up to Massachusetts to meet a breeder of Golden Retrievers. We did not plan to bring a dog home with us that day.  The breeder began to show our family her dogs and some of the puppies. There was a litter that was eight weeks old and ready to leave their mama to go home with new families. There were two male dogs that were not really spoken for, and my dad held each one. He really loved one of them and asked the breeder if we could buy him. My mom wanted to wait for a girl and was not ready to start puppyville just then. But of course ~ my dad talked her into it! So the little puppy slept on my lap the whole plane ride home. When we arrived home my sister Brooke was taking a nap and my mom went in and surprised her with a puppy running on her bed. We were all thinking of names for him and Bookie came up with Bancroft. My Dad started calling him Mr. Bancroft. We also called him Banks.

At that time we had a two-year-old Golden name Tally Angel. Banks kind of thought she was like his mama. Tally was a little put off that we brought another doggie home. Eventually, they not only got along, but also loved each other very much. Banks used to take his toys and put it in her face. He ALWAYS wanted to play. He would bug Tally until she finally gave in and played, tumbled and ran with him. The two of them would wait on our front lawn in the afternoons for my bus to come home from school. I loved being greeted by them. I had a playroom in my house and the two of them would always sit under my desk. When my friend Helen visited, we would do crafts. One day we made a gum drop tree and Tally and Banks were sitting with their heads on the table waiting for a gumdrop to fall! Bancroft’s favorite thing to do was eat!

In 2011 we moved to a new home and Tally died 2 weeks before the move. Bancroft was very sad and depressed for several months. He would not even play with his toys. After a while he started to become himself again ~ only sweeter than ever.  Sometimes he would watch TV – especially when doggies were on.  

Whenever we walked in the house Bancroft would always pick up a shoe or one of his stuffed animals and bring it to us. It was his way of letting us know he was happy to see us. He also wagged his big fluffy tail. In fact my mother says he never stopped wagging his tail for 11½ years. He loved going for car rides and when my dad would go in a store, he would sit behind the steering wheel and it looked like he was driving!

He started slowing down a bit last year. We were giving him extra attention & love & caring, to comfort him.  My sister’s resue dog Montana  has been staying with us since November, so Bancroft got to know him and liked playing with him.  They were very cute together.

On Friday January 8^th, we learned that Banks had a cancerous tumor on the right side of his heart. It could not be fixed. His heart was failing. The doctor told us he was in distress and it would get worse. My parents made a decision to let him go peacefully and with dignity. We had to say goodbye. My sister & I were not there so we faced timed and told him how much we loved him. Later that night when my parents picked me up I was so upset. My mom called the Vet Center and asked if we could go back to see him. They had a comfort room and they brought him to us. His body was covered except for head. So I spent some time with him and said my good-byes. He looked very peaceful. I was happy to see him one last time. Tally and Banks were best friends and they were both my best friends. I miss both of them but hope they are back together again.