Tag Archives: angels for animals

Scrapbooks of You…

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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My Dearest Bailey,

I was looking at a big scrapbook I made for you and began crying the other day. This picture takes up one whole page. Do you remember it? It was taken by Photographer Rich Cancio at the Angels for Animals Doggy Days Reunion in 2009 when you were healthy and well, about one year after we adopted you from there.

I am not a huge fan of “portraits,” but I love this one because I look so happy holding you and you look so regal like you always did. Rich had donated his servces that day, which made me immediately like him. I love how you won’t look at the camera but posed like a pretty girl…. You were my photographic muse and I have at least a 1000 pictures of you if I have one! I know your den in Hyfryd is covered in pictures too.

Recently, Rich contacted me on Facebook about a benefit dance he was involved with to help with the needs of breast cancer patients, something that his wife, unfortunately had to deal with. So I was thinking about cancer and how I felt when they told me about your bladder. No one wants to hear that and we all deal with news like that differently.  We are always happy to support causes we believe in, so we bought tickets immediately. October is breast cancer awareness month. Pink things are everywhere – you know that is my color!

I remember when Cheetah was near the end of her wonderfully long life, I used to say she was my soul, Tarzan, my heart and Freedom my spirit. I always thought you were a lot like Cheetah because you loved everyone and you had a true love of life. I can understand why you chose Joy for us. She embodies all those characteristics that I love and don’t you find it so ironic that her name was Joy? I mean, you really went all out to make sure that we got our Joy back – literally and we are so grateful to you for that.

I miss you each and every day but you are always there in so many things that happen. Your Red Maple has grown so large in just a year and as the Fall slowly sets in, the tips of the leaves have recently started to turn red – your color!

But you knew that already. You are red and I am pink and pink is clearly a derivative of red. Of course that makes so much sense. We are of each other, mind and spirit -no matter where we are physically we will never be without each other. We love you, Bailey.

Write me Soon….xoxooxox, mommy

Scrapbooks of You….

23 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, Birthdays, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, trees, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

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A Sky That Bows….

22 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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A Rainbow is God’s Bow and Promise that there is a tomorrow …

Hi Mommy!

I heard you yesterday when you were in the car screaming, “Bailey is here,” when you saw the rainbow. I know you tried to get the picture with your phone. Did it come out? It was hard to see above those houses, wasn’t it? Yeah, it was me, of course saying hi. Sometimes I can do that for you at the most unexpected times to surprise you and make us happy. That was also my signal that things are progressing with my classes here in Hyfryd. Guess what? The Greys came to the meeting this past week! I was so happy to meet them. There are two boys, Valor and Shane and two girls, Sheena and Vawlie. I guess they likes the letters V & S, huh? They are all siblings who were forced to run at the racetracks and they could not stand it. They were always tired and treated poorly and not even fed any good food! I had Telewyn talk to them since as a racehorse he went through the same thing.

I was thinking about something.. It’s really sad that people feel that they can make certain animals do whatever they want them to do. I mean you cannot ask us. As your furkids, we depend on your to do the right thing for us, treat us kindly and simply love us. I think humans basically want the same thing in life – to be respected, loved, wanted and treated well. Oh! and we all like good food! haha! It just makes me so sick when that does not happen. I mean what gives anyone the right to make a horse tun, or a Greyhound race? The whole thing is disheartening to me.

Sadly, the siblings did not know any better until that Shauna Taft came and rescued them. She loved them so much – all of them! So half the story was good at least, but they came to the class because they had questions about why anyone who treat us that way to begin with. I mean, so many furkids wind up in terrible homes. I am sure just as many–hopefully many more– are in wonderful homes with wonderful people, it’s just so sad that so much animal cruelty is out there. I know you are sick of it too. I told them of my own story; about being dropped off at Angels for Animals and living there for a whole year before you came along and changed my world. It’s like you always say about the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life…you change one little thing and your whole life changes. I knew the minute I met you, we would be together; I only wish we would have had more time together, and I know you wish that too. I know you think about it everyday because I do too. I am hopeful that when you meet Joy she will feel the same about you as I did. How could she not? I told the class my story and they loved hearing it and it gave them hope for those they still know on earth who might be waiting in a shelter to get adopted. Adoption is so important; you have to continue to promote it like you do and I know you will of course!

My Loving 101 class  is going well too. I have expanded it to include how we can do things to help other folks here in Hyfryd. Do you think that is a good idea? We are organizing things like planting catnip plants for all the cats and dogs who love it, like me! I got Dayo and Prila on that in fact – they volunteered to be on the planting committee! I tell you mommy, I have been so busy working since I got here. Barkley has been busy too helping me with everything and running around like a crazy. She runs so fast that if you need  to get something on the other side of Hyfyd she is your girl because she is so fast! I love that little thing so much. Onwen too. He is always there ,offering a helping hand. It’s a good thing that there are so many wonderful nice people here in Hyfryd.  Several new humans have come to live here with their furkids as well. Even though the critters out number the humans, they really seem to like it. They like our little town. I guess their idea of heaven is being with furry ones. I know you think the same way! They only allow REALLY special people here. You had to be a pretty amazing man or woman in relation to furkids to even be considered for passage into Hyfryd. They have to be like you!

I love you mommy. I am so glad you saw the rainbow! I will always be there right next to show saying hello with a rainbow, sending you love from the sky. Hyryd is not so far, I don’t think because you and I always feel so close like we can reach out and touch each other. We do, through our hearts – always…..Write me soon!! I LOVE your letters like you love mine. I will have more news for you soon.

All my love from one working gal to another,

Your Sweet Bailey

PS: Sending you these pics. Don;t I look so cute looking up at you and of course I this one in the den hanging up! Tell kevin I miss him, and Zoe & Angel’s golf cart!

Looking Up…

08 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rainbow bridge, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, vacation, Vacation by car, Working Dogs

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Mommy! I am sorry that I take too long to write back. No classes today since it was Easter. Onwen, Barkley and I had fun running around all day and now I am really tired and I saw you swimming with Daddy, Beth & David and I bet you are tired too! However, I wanted to tell you about the new class, All Better 102.

I did not realize how much animal cruelty there is, and it’s not just physical but a lot of people who came to my class talked about how their supposed “people”would be emotionally mean to them. It is so very sad. Dogs that would be left alone all day, cats without sufficient food, Telwynn, a beautiful retired race horse in his day, was going to the glue factory until someone rescued him when he could not race anymore. I mean, can you imagine, just because he could not win those idiots money anymore, they would have the audacity to kill and torture this gorgeous boy. I almost broke down in tears when he started to share his story, but I figured I had to be a strong working dog leader for the rest of the class who was depending on me – I held it together but it was hard!

Telwynn was from Kentucky and he had raced in the Preakness and the Derby numerous times. He was a good horse, but not a great money horse, you know. He tried and did his best. He told us all how he hated the sport of racing and thought it should be abolished. I know you and I talked about that before. It’s just as disgusting as Greyhound racing! Someone told me about a pack of four greyhounds here in Hyfryd that were treated poorly in their early years. They are all siblings, but I have never met them and they did not show up at the meeting. Some of the students said they wanted them to come because they had been treated very badly in Florida until they were all taken in by a kind woman named Shauna Taft. She loved greyhounds as a breed and always had them as her companions.  The story goes that Shauna took them all in even though she had 3 others and they lived with her until they all came here. You know those greys, they can be shy. I think now that I had the first meeting they might show up at the second one to share their grief because they are said to miss her very much.

Prila, the calico cat, came with her brother Dayo, a beautiful black cat with little white paws and blue eyes – never saw anything like him. He is truly handsome! They were yelled at all the time by their “people” until someone next door finally called the ASPCA when she saw they were locked out of the house for a couple of days crying with no food or water. They took them and adopted them out together as seniors to the Smythe family, who had them until they arrived here.

One thing I can tell you, and I know you are very concerned about animals and their welfare, so I am sure that you will pass this on: No one ever forgets the bad that might have happened to them, but what they remember most is how they were rescued and how that truly changed their lives for the better with a second chance. Sometimes the emotional scars are there because they do not know why they were treated poorly. I can understand if someone dies, or has no money to provide money to take care of their animal companions and re-homes someone, but treating an innocent creature poorly – animal or human is despicable!!!

I agree with what you said, people who do not love animals are vapid and those who have the connections are purrfect! yes, we do not want everyone to keep companions because they would be worthless anyway and that would just result in more sad stories in my class. Rescuing is so important it is like this picture I am sending you. It is about looking up for a second chance. Like I have told you, I do not even recall where I was before the year I was at Angels for Animals. Thank GOODNESS you came along!!! You changed all of our lives, the four of us.

We will always be the best family and now Joy will be part of it as well. I am sure I will like her from what you have told me. You will know when you meet for the first time. She will let you know and so will I. Even though she is on the farm at ISBCR and having fun, it’s not like being part of a special family who you can call your own. people you can go on vacation with and see stuff and go for rides it the car (MY FAVORITE!!) or walk at Buhl Park. There is just nothing like it–like when you sprung me loose and I jumped int eh back of the CRV!  Thankfully there enough people like you and all of your friends, who love animals of all kinds. I want to hear less sad stories, but I have heard some wonderful ones as well.

So far it is very interesting and my work continues as does yours. We are a team and always will be – we are covering all the bases on and above the planet and mommy, you are a working dog. If you were a dog, you would be a Border Collie FOR SURE (!) because you love working and helping people, just like me. Your insides are that if a Tabby – simply sweet and loving toward everyone – that is my observation! Let’s keep looking up and doing good work – a lovely thought on a Sunday night.

Sent with HEAPS OF LOVE from your SWEET BAILEY GIRL who loves you with all of her heart…..Write soon – you better! xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxo

Happy Anniversary, Bailey

20 Saturday Jun 2009

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beautiful bailey 

Dear Bailey,

A year ago today, I saw your big brown eyes at Angels for Animals in Canfield, Ohio. You were so overjoyed that someone came to visit you.  I always thought that you thought, what am I doing in this shelter anyway? It was certainly apparent immediately that you did not belong there and that you deperately wanted to go for walks, be played with all the time and be with people who would love you forever. After meeting you I knew that we would be perfect for each other. It was a a Friday night and our new porch was being built, so Russell could not come with me to the shelter. After playing with you, walking you and having our first “kissing exchange,” I knew I had better call him to say that you were going to share our world. Like a commercial for poor cell phone service, Russell could not hear me well, for he was at the Home Depot getting some materials that the workers needed. I was yelling into the phone how cute you were and he kept saying, “what?” I figured I would take my chances and bring you with me that very night.  After driving the 35 plus miles back to our house, Russell was outside and his first comment was, “she’s big.” Weighing 35 pounds and were quite underweight for a border collie.

When we first discussed getting a dog we talked about a small dog. You were not small, but you certainly were not big, either. The first few weeks took Russell a lot of getting used to. He was doubting that he even wanted a dog, but he quickly saw that Safari and I were madly in love with you and your ebullient personality. You need us and and we needed you. Safari wanted his new pal to stay and I was not going to let that adjustment period be an issue. We got through all that and your many bouts of tummy trouble and visits to the vet. Here we are, we are both a year older. A lot wiser and much more in love. When I first thought of adopting an older dog, I had to deal with the fact that you never know how long you will have with each other. I soon realized that you never know how long you have with anything in life and you just have to be greatful to just “be” and enjoy all the happiness that comes your way. I think that is the gift we give each other every single day, don’t you?

It is my responsibility as your mommy to give you lots of my love and the very best care and in the world. I know that you are aware that I do that and you are deserving of such attention. You are a joy to be with each day, Bailey. We love you and we are glad that you feel the same about us.

After She Finished the Book

16 Monday Mar 2009

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me-my-mommy-feb-9Mommy finished The Art of Racing in the Rain By Garth Stein this morning. She was crying so hard she could not even breathe and it was scaring me. I decided to write again because she was just so worked up. She said it was one of the top five best books she has ever read–and she has read a lot of books!

Of course she was hugging and kissing me so much while crying because it was told by Enzo the dog, whom I think she became very fond of, even though it was simply a charachter. But I think she felt Enzo could have been anyone’s special dog companion.

I love that mommy loves me and Safari so much. We love her too. I kiss her on the lips all the time. I like her bright pink MAC lipstick best. She told me its name was maaaarvelous (spelled like that) which they do not make anymore, so I am getting in all the licks I can while she still has some. She really has become so enthralled with me. Safari gets mad sometimes, but he likes me in general cause I kiss him too. I am a big kisser just like mommy. She notices the funniest things about me like when I go outside to pee. She told me this morning while I was doing my business that I go into a pleae, just like a beautiful ballet dancer! I think she tells me how beautiful I am at least 100 times a day. She is always wanting to photograph me and I don’t really mind, so I let her even though the flash on the camera is too bright for my big brown eyes.

I know I could not have gotten rescued by anyone better. In the book she was reading, Enzo was Denny’s from the time he was a puppy. We did not have that luxury. Last night she was staring into my eyes (which look much like hers) and telling me that I must have been THE CUTEST puppy ever. And when were at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday (one of my favorite things to do!) everyone tells me what a cute puppy  I am! HA!  They think I am a puppy! I like that! I guess I look good for my age – which will be 8 on May 23rd. She takes excellent care of me and that will help keep me young!

Today we went to The Garden Corner so daddy could look for some supplies for the garden and then we went running and playing in the park which was a lot of fun. I smelled everything. A lot of dogs go there and when I walk my nose is like a vacuum, inhaling every scent on each  blade of grass and patch of sand. I have to say that the grass is much better in Western, PA where we live in the summertime. I LOVE the grass there. It is lush and so green and I want to eat it all the time, although she won’t let me because I tend to throw it up – so I do not blame her!

I just had to write today because she loved that book so much and I know she thought of me being an older dog. But I want her to know that I will be with her as long as I can because I love life with her and Russell and Safari, but most of all her. She said the book had a lot to do with destiny and I completely believe we were meant to be together. We both feel that everyday – especially when we are kissing.

 

It’s My Turn to Talk

08 Sunday Mar 2009

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just-preciousSherri is reading a great book called The Art of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein.  It’s about a very cool dog named Enzo, but it’s about a lot of different things like love and tolerence and creating your own destiny. The book is written from Enzo’s point of view, so I asked mommy if I could talk on our blog this week and she said, “of course!”

I believe that she was my destiny. I know she wonders how I wound up at Angels for Animals all the time. It drives her crazy that she doesn’t know where I came from. I wish I could tell her if I could talk with words. I wish Angels had more information about me for her. But, what I want her to know, is that it does not matter because everything in both of our lives was leading up to the evening of Friday,June 20th, 2008 when she came to see me after getting an email about me from www.petfinder.com.

I was irrisistable the minute she met me– I know that! And I fell in love with her. I kissed her right away so she would know I thought she was my special person as soon as we got into the “meeting room.” She wanted to see if I liked cats because they brought one in to see how I would react. I could have cared less, but that cat was not happy! I thought it was funny! I figured she must have been living with a cat and she did have a cat named Safari, who I like very much.

Then she asked if she could take me outside for a walk! How did she know I LOVED WALKS! So we went for a walk around the building and she asked me if I wanted to go home with her and live. I looked at her with my big brown eyes which told her that I did! Next, she took me back inside and told the people who worked there that she was taking me home. They said, “Really? ” She replied that she was! I was SO happy I could have cried!

I had to wait in the special room while all the paperwork was being readied. Mommy told me a funny story later that when she went to pay the adoption fee of $120, that the lady in the office said she had to call Maryann. Sherri did not know who she was, but I used to sit under her desk in the office they told her. “Oh, Maryann is not going to believe Bailey is getting adopted. She will be so upset that she is not here to say goodbye!” When the lady called Maryann on the phone, Sherri was writing out the check at the office window, listening to the lady talk to her and then she told Sherri that Maryann had said that she had better take very good care of me or she was going to come after her! Sherri became my mommy at that very instant. “If she knew me, she would love me and know that I will take the very best care of Bailey – she will have a fabulous life with us,” she replied with fervor!

She bought me a leash and said, “I am springing you loose!” She called her sister, April, immediately, who she knew would LOVE the fact she was finally getting a dog. April and her family share their home with THREE dogs.

I met Sherri’s special person right away because he knew we were on the way and was wiating outside for us to arrive. Russell’s first reaction was, “she big!”

When they first thought about getting a dog it was going to be a small, purebred dog. But Sherri was very intersted in Border Collies like me because I am so smart. I am mixed a little bit with something, but Dr. Tom Crago, my vet, says he only sees Collie in me and Sherri agrees.

When I first arrived, I had some problems like peeing in the house, pooping too much and throwing up, which made Russell not so tolerent. They had a big fight one night when he wanted to get rid of me! Sherri never told me that, but I knew I was the subject fo their big fight. She ran to her friend’s house, crying. Obviously, i got to stay, thankfully!

With a lot of work by Dr Tom and Sherri, I am on a special diet, which I have to follow very strictly. I have allergies and that is why I was throwing up and stuff.  The peeing in the house was only leaking due to the fact that I am a bit incontinent because I was spayed too early – I am on a ppe-pee pill for that now and I am good! I have a very sensitive system and it took a while to figure that out. I love to eat but Sherri does not let me overeat–even though I want to–Sherri knows what is best even though I want hamburgers! She gives me teeny bit of other stuff sometimes. Russell thinks it’s teasing me, but she does it so I do not get sick!

I am a very happy girl. I love that mommy and daddy both work at home and are with me and Safari all the time! A couple of weeks ago they took a cruise for one week but they had Beverly stay with me. I like Bev a lot. It was her house Sherri ran to that night Russell was having second thoughts. Bev saw Sherri through that terrible night and she is our true and special friend. We love her. She took great care of me but I know she missed her dog, Shelly while staying with me. I will see them when we go back to PA this summer.

I have a great life. I spend the winter in Florida and the summers in Western Pennsylvania. What could be better than that? Our neighbor, Johnny, back in PA told me that I was a dog that hit the lotto when she brought me home.

Sherri says we both did and that is why I love her. We might not be able to talk with exact words, but we communicate very well. I know a lot of words like food, ride in the car, gotta go pee? let’s go for a walk, kisses, time for a bath, let’s go to Dog Beach….there are a lot of words I know, but LOVE is my very favorite.