Bailey

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Sometimes people aren't the only family members that make a lifelong impact on you.

Bailey had a huge effect on my life.  He was a rescued dog--a German shepherd mix who was in the most desperate need of rescuing.  Lacking any kind of socialization as a puppy, he shook from head to toe and would urinate if any stranger came near him.  He was deathly afraid of our family the first time we met him.  He wanted nothing more than to run away from everyone.

My daughter Amanda changed all that for Bailey and he changed her world too.  Bailey learned there was someone he could trust to take the best care of him, to love him and to provide him with a safe place to live and a "grandma" (me) who loved him too.

Bailey had his ups and downs on his life's journey.  At first, he tried to run away--several times.  After nearly 13 years, he still shook during thunderstorms and would hide in the bathroom when it rained hard.  But he also made remarkable, astonishing progress. 

With Amanda, Bailey's confidence grew immensely.  He went from being guarded to being "on guard."  I was never worried a single day about my daughter's safety because Bailey was her constant companion.  I would watch Bailey when he was with Amanda.  He kept an eye on everything that was going on near her.  NOBODY would have been able to harm her with him on duty.

Amanda took Bailey to obedience and agility training.  Except for one of the earliest training sessions when he jumped out of the window at Golrusk during class, he loved learning and ultimately earned his Canine Good Citizen ribbon.  Not only did Bailey learn how to behave, he taught Amanda how to train him and every other dog she will ever own--in need of rescue or not.

Being with Bailey made me happy.  He was lovable and he was always so eager to see me.  When I came home I would open the door to Bailey coming at me with a great big toothy grin and his tail wagging so hard that his entire back end was swaying.  He loved me, his grandma! 

Bailey and I had an an unwritten agreement.  I would let him be a dog on our walks.  He could sniff every tree, post, and spot he wanted on our way out on a walk but he would "Fuß" (German for "stay at my foot"--directly at my side) on the way back.  He usually kept his end of the bargain.

Our backyard was Bailey's heaven.  He loved to run, chase his bumper, watch for squirrels and rabbits, and graze. 

Bailey dealt with some tough physical challenges near the end.  In pain, he often preferred to suffer in silence and hid out in quiet places.  He spent long periods of time away from everyone in the house.  Except when he wanted to visit the treat cupboard for his favorite chicken snack or needed a neck scratch from Grandma, he pretty much disappeared in the house when he came to visit.  He had a hard time lying down and would sometimes get "stuck."  But, he would still try to overdo it when he went outside to play in the backyard and would end up limping.  To help him, he was medicated but that would cause him to walk around very unsteadily, almost in a glassy-eyed stupor.

It's hard to let go when something you love is at the end of his days.  I am very proud of Amanda for loving Bailey, for saving him, for giving him the best life a dog could have, and for not letting him suffer.

Bailey will always hold a very special place in my heart.