A tribute to Bailey MacDonald 2/1997 to 4/5/2010

Bailey was the sweetest and most well behaved puppy we've ever had!

It was Nov of 1997 and John and I had purchased our first home and had plans to move in Feb 1998, when it was completed.  We already had 2 dogs, Harley (our Bassett) and Barney (our Beagle).  Mom and Dad had a friend who bought 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers and couldn't keep them, so had asked my parents to keep them for awhile and then eventually gave them to my parents.

We had met you a few months early when we came to visit and were taken back by your sweet position and beautiful sad eyes!  Not to mention your perfect little pajama feet!  We knew that you needed to be part of our family and we drove down, picked you up and brought you home.  You became good buds with Barney and Harley and the 3 of you were always cuddled up together in a little ball. Barney was just as adventurous as you were and the two of you got in a lot of trouble together.  A few months went by and we all moved into our first home, you thought it was great to have a yard filled with dirt that you and Barney could roll around in.  But your favorite part was the daily walks, you loved to grab your own leash and walk yourself down the walking trails, chasing ducks, geese, rabbits and anything else that got in your way.  You loved water and mom and dad had a hard time trying to keep you from getting muddy.  We would often walk to the nearby reservoir where you would co-hearse Barney into jumping in and chasing the ducks and geese to assume full ownership of Bailey's reservoir.  After finally getting your attention you would come running sopping wet, shaking and so proud of your accomplishment. 

When we finally got grass you loved to roll in it, sticking your legs straight up in the air and swaying from side to side, I swear there was always a big huge smile on your face when you were doing this, you also loved running and jumping in the deep snow, and when you would come inside your feet would be filled with snowballs.  Mom would warm them up and melt the snow making sure to fluff up your pajama feet.

In the mornings you would greet us by nudging us with your cold nose and whenever I would take my morning baths you would come to the side of the tub and lay down next to me, waiting for me to drop water on your fur and then rub your face with warm water.

Mom loved that you liked to dance with her.  You learned to jump up with your front paws on her shoulders and mom would wrap her arms around you and we while you would wag ecstatically we would sway back and forth and dance together.

What an amazing friend you were, so gentle and loving with all the kids and other pets we have had.  You would never think of pottying anywhere other than outside and there were many times when mom and Dad had drove to California for the entire day and you would hold your bladder for the entire day until we got home.

You loved having morning loves and being cuddled and would make this funny groaning noise telling us how  happy and content you were.

You gave us quite a few scares, one time while we were gone shopping, you had decided to chew on a sippy cup, you loved chewing on things and your favorite game was chasing after empty water bottles, this had worked in your detriment and you managed to ruin your teeth and the front eventually became nubs.  But on this particular day you had cut your gum and you were bleeding like crazy, there was blood all over mom and dad's room and at first we did not know where it was coming from, so we began to put you in the tub to wash you off and the blood would not stop dripping, we finally figured out to our relief that it was your gum and we poured that horrible cayenne (that you hated so much) on it and it stopped the bleeding.  This happened one more time a few weeks later and we took you to your doctor and was told that you had gum disease and began antibiotics, this healed your gums and you did much better after that.

On your last days with us, you stopped using your left hind leg altogether and became a true 3 legged dog, but this didn't stop you and you managed to one day climb under the fence to meet our new neighbors.  A few weeks later your leg swelled up to almost double in size. We took you to your doctor and an xray was done, you had broken your leg just below the hip area, it was a very severe break.  We had no idea, you had broken your leg because through all of this you were still as happy and energetic as you had always been.  But that morning when your leg had swollen up so bad you just could not get enough love from us, you followed us around the house, nudging and needing more love than you ever had before.  We spent all morning loving on you and now I am so glad we did.  When we found out the bad news our hearts sank and we felt so drained and so sad to see our best friend go, we miss you so much, but we are so glad you are no longer in pain and know that we will see you soon.  Bailey, we love you and miss you!  We look forward to the day when we can all be together again and mom can dance with you once more.