Category Archives: talking dogs

Another Year to Say I Love You, Bailey…

31 Friday Dec 2010

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, New Year's Eve, rescue dogs, talking dogs, Uncategorized, vacation, Vacation by car

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Dear Bailey,

I thought for the new year, I would just write you a letter for your blog. July marked our second year together, although I feel as though you have always been a part of my life, that is just the kind of girl that you are. You fill up each day with endless amounts of energy and love for me, Russell and Safari.

You consistently remind me of a man I once did public relations for.  He always said “leave a little piece of you wherever you go.” What he meant by that is that something as simple a grocery store clerk should be acknowledged by her badge name. “Hello Susan, how are you today? My name is Max and I hope that you are having a great day!” That was the kind of guy he was.

You remind me of him because you do that. There is so much Bailey all over Western, PA, Northern OH, and Southwest FL, everyone remembers you! Your personality alone makes people stop and talk to us – every single day. Your kind, gentle manner as well as your stunning beauty –which everyone compliments you on daily–is contagious. It worked on me the very first day I met you. One kiss – much like Russell–and I was hooked. One true kiss. So very enchanting…

This was a tough year for me with you because of the discovery of a bladder  mass in November, but you sailed through your surgery here in Florida. Remember how I slept on the floor next to you the whole night and  to the amazement of Dr. Larry, you are feeling terrific!  Our new friend Carrie gave me the idea to sleep on the floor with you, because that is what she did with her dog after its surgery. I am glad she told me that story because I know you appreciated beging snuggled up together when you felt like crap after the surgery. You and I live everyday to it’s fullest and most enjoyable capacity. I kiss your bladder everyday and we tell  it to go away now, don’t we? 

You know deep in your heart that you could never have found a better partner than me, for you. Russell thinks we are so much alike and it’s true. The two social gals…you are my assistant in all we do and they even love you at Dillards Dept. store! Kids beg to feel your soft silky coat, men and women compliment you on your perfect disposition and aside from your begging for food at the dinner table you are simply perfect.  We love you so much Bailey. You bring us laughs and joy every day and I know that we do the same for you.

Today we had fun at Doggie Park with all the big dogs, wishing them all a happy and healthy new year! Then we got home and you ate your special turkey and had a great bath. Now you will be clean and fluffy for the new year!  We will have many more fun days! We are two, middle-aged girls in love with life and I feel so blessed that we can share that life side by side, together. My wish for you is a HEALTHY 2011. I already know it will be happy because we give that to each other daily!

We get older everyday, that is true, but we can take each day to it’s splendid limits, wrap it in your boundless energy and take joy in that as we welcome in a new year with more laughs and more smiles and always, another day to say I love you Bailey…

Some Girls Simply Have Tenacity

05 Sunday Dec 2010

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs, talking dogs

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Many people have told me that Bailey is just like me. She is strong willed and ahe has endless amounts of tenacity, my sister observes. She is right. She is kind and loving, affectionate and playful. She is so social that she will never understand why another dog would even bother to bark – that is not her style. She has beauty and grace and now she has cancer. But she doesn’t know she has it nor does she act like she does. There is a chance that her operation- which she came through beautifully–could have saved her, along with the pill I give her daily, and maybe all the mass was removed but it is hard to know. We will wait three months for the next ultrasound and x-ray tests. She acts like she always does. She barks whenever we eat, her appetite is fantastic and she loves us and Safari like no one else. She is the most grateful person I have ever known. I know few people as loving and grateful as Bailey. She continues to go wherever we go and wherever that is, the story is basically the same. “She has the sweetest disposition,” She is just the most beautiful girl.” “What a sweetheart.”  I do not think that a day has gone by in more than 2 years since we adopted her, that some stranger has not talked about her in some positive manner.

She is easy to talk about that way. Her easy going manner and loyal, loving ways continue to amaze us daily. How many people do that in your life? Maybe your sibling  or parent (mine does) or maybe a husband (mine does), maybe your cat (mine does), and maybe a few great friends ( you know who you are)  but that list does not extend too far beyond that. It really does not have to. Quality is much better than quantity, although I would take 20 Bailey’s into my home if I could because she is simply that special.

I told her that she will be fine. I told her not to break our hearts because she makes me, at least, a better person everyday. We learn from each other and the one thing I have always said since I was a young kid, is that the two most important things in life are good health and love and I think they need to go hand in hand to work well.

We celebrate all the seasons here so we can soak up all good blessings, with a little luck and all the love we have to give, we put our faith into the gift of good health – for that is only present we need.

Bailey’s Prayer

19 Friday Nov 2010

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs, talking dogs, Uncategorized, vacation

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My Dearest Bailey,

I am taking you in for surgery tomorrow for a mass on your bladder wall. I am praying that it is not cancer and simply a cyst.  Dr. Crago does not think it’s cancer since you are asymptomatic, but you have always been my mystery girl since I adopted you as a middle-aged lady. And such the Lady you are. All girl, my femme fatale, so full of love and kisses—  how you love to spoon and play catch. Today I saw this early Hannukah gift and thought the bone was a blessing for you. How excited you were when I took it out of the bog! You love a new toy so much and I love to provide you with them.

I would do anything to make you better, you know that. You are my girl, my Lady Bailey. So many people are sending you good thoughts for tomorrow, but no one more than me.

All the love I have to give you,

Mommy

My Turn to Write….

09 Saturday Oct 2010

Posted by in animal families, border collies, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs, talking dogs

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 I love to walk in Buhl Park and when we were walking the other day, mommy said I could finally have a turn to write on here. I mean, it’s called Bailey’s Journal, not Sherri’s Journal! I think I want to write from now on!

We get to the park about 3 times a week. I think she feels guilty if we can’t go for whatever reason. Mommy is a busy person, but thankfully she works at her desk at home, because I would go crazy if she didn’t. I am a Border Collie and I get bored quickly. She tells me that “I always want something” and that is the truth! Usually I want food, but I am taking it easy since I just had a very bad urinary tract infection. I have to take antibiotics for two weeks which gives me the loosey goosies….One more week to go. The infection is all gone because I went for my follow-up appointment yesterday and everything checked out perfectly. I cost my mommy & daddy so much money this week and I feel bad about that, but I am 9 years old now and I require extra TLC and heck, they don’t have to send me to college or buy me a car, so they don’t mind. Mommy works very hard to give me, Safari and daddy the best of everything. It’s not my fault I got this stupid infection! Who knows how you get these things? Dr. Wendy says they are the same when women get them and I am all woman!! A Femme Fatale! Yes I am! I love being a girly girl and that makes me exactly like my mommy.

Sometimes I wish I could tell her where I was before we met because she constantly wonders about it even though she will never know – that’s the reporter in her. I cannot even remember anymore because frankly I do not care. After a year at the shelter, I had enough of sleeping in a kennel. I was the special office dog, but offices get boring too. But where was I before that? I am sure it was nothing compared to the life I have now especially since I don’t remember. Maybe I wanted to forget!  Now I get to live in two places and always bask in the sunshine. Who knew when they came to adopt me that would be the case? Certainly not me! I am a very lucky dog girl. No one would have EVER taken better care of me, of that I am sure. My parents are so loving toward each other, it’s really nice to be around them. They kiss me all the time. He calls me “his little girl” and she sings me a song she made up about me and kisses and hugs me and Safari constantly. I try hard to bring joy to their lives and I must be succeeding. She says that everyone loves me – it’s true, I must say…Everywhere we go someone stops to say how sweet and cute I am and what a nice personality I have.  I am very polite in public because I think you should be gentile. They are both extremely polite individuals. I am not polite at home when it comes to food, I admit that. I love food and I can’t believe that mommy is a food publicist! She is always talking about food, cooking food and writing about food! I love food! even Dr. Wendy told me the other day, “You sure found the right home!” I sure did.

Soon we will be travelling to our winter home in the south. I love the trip in the car more than they do! I love to stop at all the gas stations and rest stops because there are so many other dogs travelling as well and I get to meet a lot of people! My bones won’t be achy from winter’s cold which is good because because my left back leg has been bothering me. I guess I am going to start taking some Cosequin as soon as I am done with the antibiotics.

Mommy did a lot of work this morning cleaning out the garden before we went for our walk. After we went for our walk she stopped at the grocery store to get some ingredients she needed to make another pot of chicken soup since daddy has a nasty cold. She made that, made a bread and the other day she tried making a pie for the very first time and it did look just like in Country Living magazine! She was amazed herself! I only had a little drop of crust, but it sure did taste good! Now she is on load four of her laundry. She emptied the dishwasher, cleaned up the kitchen and I think she is getting tired. Oh! And she made a card for their friend’s wedding tommorow! Makes me tired just thinking about everything!

Our walk today was so beautiful. All the colors are turning in the park now. We will go on Monday again. The roofers start the big job that day- that is going to be fun to see! I have to go have some dinner now. Mommy said I could have some chicken and carrots out of the soup, mixed in with my food. I LOVE food. What else does a girl dog need? Love, Kisses, Safari, Shelter, the Park, Rides in the car and the Wind in my face. I love my life and my family more than anything.