Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Bailey, My Wild Child

She was the fifth puppy, born at 2:17AM and weighed 8 ounces. She was all black with a few white hairs on her chest and a milk chin. It didn't take long for me to realize that she was different from the others.
When she was seven days old, her eyes weren't open yet, she decided to leave the whelping box and go exploring. She managed to get both front legs up on the rail of the box but wasn't strong enough to push herself over the top. When her eyes opened on day ten, she did it. I found her crawling around the room exploring the big world. After putting her back in the box three times that day, we built the walls up higher.
When the pups were four weeks old we moved them to a pen in the kitchen. There was a three foot wire enclosure to contain them. Bailey could climb out of that pen before I could cross the room. When she was six months old I caught her half way up a ladder leaning against the fence in the yard. She was going to check out the world outside the yard.
She never liked water. When we turned on the hose the others came running but Bailey disappeared. We took her to the lake a few times but she preferred to stay on the boat and explore.

She caught a bird on the wing and brought me a live angry squirrel. She dug enormous holes. She loved her pack.

  She was smaller than her sisters and got beaten up a few times. One day they ran her into the fence, face first. We took her to the vet with the skin scraped off one side of her face and she spent a couple days there as they treated her scrapes and watched for infection. The sisterly abuse didn't change her sweet gentle temperament.
  
 
 





The girls slept in crates. Each had a couple blankets but Bailey's crate was stuffed full of her 'babies'. She loved her stuffed animals. Monkey was her first and her favorite, but she had dozens of others and loved them all.

Each morning I opened her crate first because she has to sort thru her babies to choose which one to bring with her and carry around all day. At bedtime if one was missing, she'd bark until I found it and it was safely back with her.
Bailey was tough and independent but sweet and loving. She was a hugger.
 She was special and I miss her terribly.

9 comments:

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

She was a sweet one, wasn't she? If she had been an only pup, we bet she would have made a great mother with all that love she had for her stuffies. Thank you for sharing all those wonderful photos of Bailey throughout her life. We too know the heartache of losing those special ones. Many hugs to you from all of us.

Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber and Mom

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

A beautiful tribute to a very special pup. She will live on in your heart forever.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

What a character...right from Go! A sweet tribute to your girl. We know she'll be missed for a long time!

Ruby said...

OMD, what a super duper tribute to Bailey. I love hearing all abouts her wonderful life. It sounds like she loved her babies! That is so cute! She really was special fursure, and I knows your pack is missing your gurl terribly. Sendin' lots and lots of {{{hugs}}}} and AireZens and slobbery kisses ♥
Kisses,
Ruby ♥

Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3 said...

What a wonderful life you two shared together.

Molly the Airedale said...

What a wonderful tribute to your sweet, beautiful and stuffy-loving girl. Hugs to your entire pack, Miss Sue♥

Anonymous said...

sending gentle hugs as you remember the love you shared .....

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Oh Sue, in the midst of being caught up in my life, I missed your post about your beloved Bailey. I am so very sorry. What a wonderful and full life she had. And, what a gift to have had her from the minute she came into this world, until your sad good-bye is one that I know you see, as I do, is something to truly treasure. Bailey knew love her entire life, and she left this life for the next feeling that from you. What a blessing. Thank-you for sharing her with all of us. From my corner in Virginia, I'm sending a virtual hug, and lots of prayers for you to find comfort in your memories and peace in knowing that you will see beautiful Bailey again one day.

Marjie said...

A beautiful and moving tribute. I know Bailey loved you as much as you love her. I hope that the memories bring smiles to help relieve the pain. xoxo Marjie