Bailey is in Doggy Heaven.

Bailey

Age 8, ~1993 - December 30, 2001

Dogs leave paw prints on our heart.

Bailey's Story

We had our other dog Ross for about year and decided he needed a "buddy" to hang out with while we were at work. We started to look at various rescue groups in the area. My husband had always wanted a Golden or Yellow Lab. We stumbled upon "Golden Endings" and were surprised at the number of dogs that we could choose from. We were sent some photos and we fell in love with Bailey. He had come from a local dog shelter that found him wandering along side a country road. Who could have let this beautiful dog escape their lives? Bailey quickly integrated himself into the family. He came to us house broken, so it was a blessing not to have to train another dog. Still in the "puppy" phase, Ross learned quickly from Bailey what it would take to gain freedom from his cage that he stayed in while we were at work. Soon the two of them could be found laying in the living room looking out the front windows. Bailey would not hesitate to let his presence be known and we still have the scratch marks in the wall and window panes to prove it. His bark and growl were tough, but as soon as he knew who you were - the tail started wagging.
We quickly learned the one thing that Bailey needed from us.....obedience training. This was something that his brother Ross also lacked. Through the assistance of a local expert trainer, we were able to start enjoying walks off leash and allow him to roam freely in the yard with the aid of radio fence.

Bailey was a peaceful soul who loved to lay on your feet while watching tv, snug with you when it was hot or cold, back his rear end up to you to get "butt" scratches and let his ears flap in the breeze during car rides. He hated baths, but would not hesitate to jump into the lake when he saw ducks or geese.

One of Bailey's best know skills was the ability to retrieve food items off the counter when you weren't looking. One of his most memorable "sneak" attacks goes like this.....New Year's Eve...... shortly after going to bed, we heard rustling noises downstairs. Believing that someone was breaking into the house, Mike quietly went down the stairs to check things out. To his surprise he found Bailey staring him in the face with an empty bag of Dove chocolates at his feet. Mike yelled "Bailey" and he dropped to the ground as if a bomb had gone off. I think he knew he had been busted. The next morning, we also found the cookie plate on the kitchen floor completed cleaned off. No breakfast that day for Bailey. Let's say the yard had traces of foil wrappers for a few days.

Bailey fell victim to cancer during the summer/fall of 2001. Throughout his last few months, he still kept chasing bunnies, loved taking walks and snugging up to you at night. A few days after Christmas we lost our beloved Golden. The heartbreak was unbearable and our other dog helped keep our spirits up and remind us what a kind soul Bailey had been.

Bailey, we hope you have not forgotten us and look down on us daily to make sure we are still doing O.K. We loved you so much!