Bandit was a mix of Dachshund, Beagle, and Basset Hound. I vividly recall the day we adopted him from the animal shelter. Initially, Bandit was not particularly fond of us; however, once he recognized that he was in a loving environment, he began to warm up. Although Bandit was not an overtly affectionate dog, I remember one occasion when I returned home from school. He wagged his tail and settled in my lap, which was the only display of affection we ever received from him. Bandit was quite protective of our home; on one occasion, we returned to find the front door slightly ajar. My mother approached with caution, and there lay Bandit on the edge of the couch next to the door. We surmised that someone had attempted to break in but was deterred by Bandit. Whenever he managed to escape, Bandit would always elude animal control. One day, after a trip to the lake, we inadvertently left him in the van. It took us seven minutes to realize he was still inside, and in retaliation, he chose to hide for an entire hour, leaving us anxious that he had escaped. I was startled when Bandit suddenly appeared in front of me. Whenever a June bug entered the house, it turned into a wrestling match between the insect and Bandit, lasting about ten minutes before he would triumph by stomping on it with his paw. Bandit remained with us until he was seven years old. One day, he escaped, and I chased after him. We reached the street in front of my school, and as he was walking towards me, a car struck him, and the driver did not stop. I called out his name in horror and rushed to pick him up, disregarding my own safety. As I carried him home, I was in tears. My mother and sister turned the corner and saw me; I explained what had happened, and we hurried him to the veterinarian. Unfortunately, the vet informed us that he had detected one final heartbeat. The atmosphere in our home shifted as we began to adjust to the absence of Bandit. The entire family mourned his loss deeply, but I felt it the most acutely; I was only nine at the time, and I still experience nightmares about that day. I have been affected by that incident ever since. I often think of Bandit, but I find solace in the belief that when my mother arrived in heaven, Bandit ran to her.