Tag Archives: border collies

A Month of Missed Kisses…

28 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in border collies, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, nature, rescue dogs

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Dearest Bailey,

Today is one month since we said goodbye to our physical relationship. I carry your lock of hair and a treat of yours with me in my purse. Today I pulled out the treat to smell it like you did, with a sense of vigor and interest.

I am glad you were going to have a nice Thanksgiving. We did too and whenever I eat turkey I think of you. When don’t I thtink of you? If I see something you would like, I think of you. You never are out of my mind and I know I am not out of yours either.

It poured rain late in the day and we are supposed to experience some cooler weather. Ralston was here – he misses you, as does Mai, working on some landscaping in the front of the house. You would really like this cat Gracie that hangs around. I named her that. She is very loving and sweet and VERY social like you…sometimes I wonder if you sent her here? I keep thinking that I could never meet another dog like you. There is sometimes a bond so joyous and special – like what Russell and I have. People always tell us that they wish they had a relationship/and or marriage like we have. Sometimes you just know something is right for you and you and I were just like that. Safari is that way too. I can never imagine him having anyone else to care of him but me. Since you crossed over the Rainbow Bridge he has been extra close and loving. He misses you too.

I just wanted to tell you that I love you so much. All those pictures I took of you now are hanging up here. They look so great because you are just so gorgeous! Write me soon of your adventures. I do not have anything too exciting to report and I am sad today without you. I cannot believe I have lived without you for a whole month. I can’t stand it. I hear your woof and bark and see your smile in everything that perfect. I miss your kisses.

Nose to Nose with all my love,

Mommy

My Side of Thanksgiving….

24 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs, Thanksgiving, The Rainbow Bridge

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Dear Mommy,

That last letter you sent was so beautiful and it made me cry thinking about how much you miss me. I feel exactly the same you know but I don’t want you to be sad. You have to celebrate the love we shared everyday from now on, okay? I mean, it’s okay to msis me and cry too, but I rather you be smiling like in this picture, which I love of us. You are holding me so sweetly, like you always did – like a mom who loves their furry child the VERY MOST!!! – YES! That would be be ME!

Let me tell you why I am thankful, since this is my favorite holidaytoo especially cause it involves my favorite food- Turkey!

I am thankful for you finding me and giving me the BEST home in the whole universe.

 I am thankful that you helped me get rid of a lot of different health problems from the very start.

 I am thankful that our cat, Safari liked me so much and let me herd him around.

I am thankful that you worked at home and got to be with me 24/7!

I am VERY thankful for getting to have two big houses with lots of room.

I am thankful for everytime you brought hom new food, you were thoughtful and brought me some new veggie bones and a new toy.

Can you imagine how thankful I am for all the turkey you gave me – not the deli stuff either – you only gave me the real cooked stuff – so delicious!

I am thankful that you never got mad at me when I gobbled down Safari’s food when I first came to love with you and daddy. I LOVE cat food!

You mentioned all the zillions of miles we logged on foot and by car; SO TRUE! I am so thankful for that – not to mention the doggie parks in PA and Florida AND OUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WALK – BUHL PARK!!!!

I am thankful you always took me shopping in FL – Those gals at Bath and Body Works and Dillards really loved me!

I am thankful for my very special Red Maple tree in Buhl Park and the beautiful dedication that honors me – I am sure I am the ONLY dog in the 400 plus acres that has their own tree!!!

Mommy, I could go on and on and on and my list would probably never end because our family was the BEST family. You could be a dog because you are such a loyal person. I see how you treat daddy too and how much you love and care for him and of course Safari too! That is just who you are, as your friend Jennifer likes to say. Loyality is very important to us dogs and it’s nice to see that some people have that too – it’s just that you go above and beyond – And, by the way, I KNOW this is true, cause I read all the cards you got after I crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and EVERYONE said that in their cards about you and how well you took care of me! You never put yourself first and you are a very thoughtful person and I love that about you. I knew it the minute we met and THAT is why I kissed you immediately so you would take me home and see, you did! I knew right then you loved kisses too!

Today Mommy, I want you to think of all the things you and I have to be thankful for. I’m thankful for www.Petfinder.com  who helped you find me! Had you never been searching for Border Collies on there, we would have never met, so I have to say I AM VERY thankful for that. Remember that we have much MORE to be thankful for than not and most of all I am simply thankful for US!

Barkley, Bingo and I are having Thanksgiving with Caru and Onwen. I am so excited. There is PLENTY of turkey up here for everyone. We are having it at my doggie den. I am making a beautiful table like you enjoy making- you taught me everything! 

I love you so much. Write me back soon because I love your letters and I know you love mine. What’s not to love because they are from each other!!!

Your Loving, Smiling, Sweet, Bailey Girl (kisses! nose to nose!)

 

 

 

 

The Two Sides of Thankfulness…

21 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, New Year's Eve, parks, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, talking dogs, Thanksgiving

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My Sweet Girl,

Oh, how I miss you. With Thanksgiving coming up I am conjuring up images of you and the pleasure you derived from Turkey. Of course you ate your turkey everyday, but you always knew it was my favorite holiday and for the first time in many years, and perhaps in protest, I am not making my favorite dinner this year.  Instead we having it with friends at their club. Perhaps it was fortuitous that Ronna asked us this year to join them; I am not feeling in the holiday spirit by any means. It just does not seem like the holiday season without you and I am thinking of skipping the tree as well because without you here to search under it for a new ball, bone or toy, what fun would it be?

I know I should go through it all for Safari, he loves the Christmas tree and knocking off the ornaments, so maybe I will, but I am not feeling the seasonal glow, let’s say. Then there is New Year’s Eve and I will be thinking about how I really hate 2011 because of losing you and then it will be 2012 – a new year without you in it. I am not sure this will ever get any easier for me, Bailey. We were just so joined at the hip and so perfect for each other – I cannot imagine another doggie bearing your greatness. My friend Jeff told me not to think of it that way and I know he is right. he said, just like people, doggies are all different and no two will ever be the same. I understand that logically, but mentally I am not there. He just went through it with Marlowe and now he has Harper and they are very different and he loves her very much, but I still think he has an extra soft spot for Marlowe that will always be there. I never even met Marlowe and I can just feel it from talking to him about it. I think Marlowe was much like you – tenacious and feisty, smart and beautiful and attached at the hip.

So the question is to give thanks or not? I cannot give thanks for you getting cancer. I cannot thank God or whomever is in charge of taking you from me at your young, senior age of only 10. I guess I can think of some things to be thankful for. I am thankful that you still ate like a horse to the very end! I am thankful you NEVER looked sick- EVER! You are the most beautiful dog on or above the planet.  I am thankful that I got more than a year of fun with you after your diagnosis. I am thankful for your Red Maple Tree we have dedicated to you in Buhl Park. I am thankful for the thousands of miles we logged on foot and by car. I am thankful for all the doggie friends we made and the people that we met along the way. I am thankful for all the fun we had going shopping together at our many stores in Coconut Point. Most of all I am thankful that we found each other through Petfinder, kissed each other literally thousands of times and shared a love that most people never feel as strongly. We were lucky for sure, just not for long enough, but as you said, Bailey, we had a lot of quality time together and that is more important that quantity.

I still cannot help but miss you so don’t ask me to. I do love hearing about all of your adventures and I am VERY thankful for your letters and I am thankful you are having a blast in Hyfryd and have met good dog friends and that you are taking care of little Barkley – who I miss as well as Bingo. So keep those letters coming my sweet girl. Know that you are are very much missed in so many ways, but I carry you with me in the Ruby heart necklace and earrings Russell had made for me in honor of you. Your leash stays with us always in the car so you travel with us in spirit and we celebrate you everyday in our thoughts, pictures, magnets on the car – you name it – we are still attached maybe not within physical reach, but in the most spiritual way, in our hearts and especially mine.

Thankful for your love always – Mommy

Hello From Hyfryd!

17 Thursday Nov 2011

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

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Dear Mommy,

Did you know that Hyfryd means lovely in Welsh? I think you probably looked that up by now, knowing you. Turns out that I met some of my ancestors here from Wales.

 I know you know that us Border Collies originated from the borders of Wales and Scotland, so it seems, that as I was exploring Hyfryd a lot more I was meeting a lot of Border Collies, including a couple of my cousins,  Caru (pronounced like kayroo) and Anwen (like Onwhen). I asked them why they had such unusual names and they said because they are Welsh names. Caru means love and Anwen means “very beautiful,” not JUST beautiful but VERY beautiful! Let me just say that Caru is a boy and Anwen is a girly girl like me, so we get along great! I am so happy to have met my cousins from Wales. Anwen is so gorgeous – like you always told me I was and Caru is a great , handsome guy.

Caru really thinks Barkley is so much fun. I think that little Jack Russell must have some collie in her, because she just loves to be with me. It’s like she is my little side kick. She never leaves my side, just like I never left you. Barkley is always making me laugh, zipping around in her bullet-like manner. She has met of  named Tobie and Cyria that she likes, but she prefers to hang with me and my crowd.

Turns out that when you cross the Rainbow Bridge, you wind up living where you are most “related to,” so that is why there are a lot of Border Collies here in Hyfryd. Since we descend from Wales, there are many of us here. I think they do that to make it easier to find your relatives because it’s so vast and it’s beautiful everywhere, but I have to say I am happy with my neighborhood and I think Barkley wound up with me because we knew each other and lived as neighbors in New Bedford and I am happy to have her with me – always loved how she smelled!

I have not found that dog Bagels. Like I said, it’s pretty vast up here and he was from Chicago, so I do not know if I will, but I have the word out. They group like 3 neighboring states together, so I think Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin animal people  all live in the same vicinity and I have not met a lot of people from there yet. We might need to do a tour over there on Air Floatie.

I bet you just said, what is Air Floatie? It’s like a oblong shaped thing that flys around and takes you to other areas if it’s too far to walk. It’s always busy! Sort of like those airplanes you are not so fond of.  Since us animal folk are smart enough not to care about possessions, we have no baggage and can just pick up and go, so that is why The Floaties, as they call them, are always packed. I have not taken it yet, but I hear they give you very cold (yum) water and ask you if want liver or beef treats that part I LIKE!  You know me, I rather be on the ground like you – who liked to go in the car MORE THAN ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, Caru and Anwen loved cars too. There are no cars here which I miss, but then there is no pollution either! The air floatie thing runs on wind power only…

Speaking of Anwen and Caru, don’t you have a good friend who is part  Welsh named Emlyn? I bring it up because A) I never got to meet him and you like him a lot I know because I could tell when you talked to him on the phone all the time and B) Caru has a friend named Emlyn – that name is from an ancient city!

So I am learning all about names, but guess what? There is one name that is my VERY favorite: MOMMY!!! That is what I told everyone. MY MOMMY has the best name: Sherri! I know you said several times that I probably never knew what your name was, but I would hear daddy calling you by that, so I knew!

I love you mommy and I cannot wait till you write your next letter. I love letters and I know you love real letters too. It’s a lost art, but we will keep it alive.

My Love is With You Always,

Your Gorgeous Bailey Girl!

 

Bailey Wins! Bailey Wins!

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

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Mommy! You know how when we would run down the path in our forest and I would run past you, you would always yell,  Bailey Wins! Bailey Wins! I really won this time, cause I know how when I was not able to run as fast you would go slow and let me win – I KNEW you were doing that you know! The contest was fun we had these small hurdles to jump over and I did all of them in the fastest time. I wasn;t even tired! It was so great! You should have heard Barkley barking her head off, encouraging me! She is too funny.

I see you were having bad day with those stupid people at Comcast. They ARE ineffcient! Do you think it was coincidence that after you hung with them all discouraged that Garrison Keillor came on reading Aaron Kramer’s beautiful poems called Dogs? I TOLD Garrison to do that. I know you love his voice so I knew it would be a good choice for today’s Writer’s Almanac on NPR. Yet, you cried your eyes out missing me – I heard you. I know you are struggling with us being apart, but I do not want you to be sad that is not who you are and it certianly is not me! I am miss cheerful you know that! So, I thought I would write you real quick before your internet service gets put on vacation too (even though you did not want it to go on today!) I want you to stay away from the computer today and do other things, okay. You can write me when you get to Florida- you have a lot to do. I am sorry I won’t be riding with you down there in the car, but I am with you in your heart no matter where you go. I am not EVER leaving you – you should know that since we were attached at the hip. If you counted the hours we were ever apart in would not be very many that is for sure. I love you mommy, we make the best team even in spirit….I will save up all my adventures for a big letter when you get to FL, okay? I love you so very much….Big Wet Kisses, Your Bailey Girl

Loving Every Day you Have….

04 Sunday Sep 2011

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

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  September has not started out very well. I know bladder cancer in dogs is an insidious illness and the average age for a good quality of life is a year at very best.  When Bailey’s surgery was done last November 19th, she was lucky it was not found at the neck of the bladder where this is most commonly discovered. She has been taking Peroxicam, a human NSAID drug which we might take for a backache. Vets do not know why this staves off bladder cancer in dogs, but it seems to do the trick –at least for a while.

This week, she went in for her 6 month ultrasound checkup and it showed that the cancer has returned to the third of her bladder which had been operated on. After a long talk with her two wonderful doctors, I was feeling better when I found out that at least bladder cancer masses do not cause pain. As she loses her ability to urinate, then I will know it is time and I also know there will never be another dog like her- ever, unless she herself sends me a sign.

It was hard enough to be thinking about all of this just this week when today I found out that my next door neighbor’s dog, Barkley had died on our road, when she went after a squirrel and someone ran her over. This little white and black Jack Russell Terrier and Bailey loved each other. She bowled Bailey over with kisses every time they played together. She was found as a little pup inside of their daughter’s mailbox this past winter. Her parent’s wanted to keep her – they have two other adorable dogs, Molly and Dozer and Barkley fit right into the mix with exceptional energy and sweetness. I was thinking today about how lucky it was Barkley got a  second chance at life away from the morons who put her into the mailbox. It was not fair that she died yesterday; not fair at all.

As I have been thinking about how I am pretty sure Bailey will make it to Florida this winter, I also know she probably won’t be coming back unless we both receive some miracle from the animal spirits. I do not want any of the choices. Whether you prepare yourself mentally for an animal companion’s death or not, such as in the case of little Barkley; it all is horrible. I have admitted many times in this blog how hyper-attached Bailey and I are. I cannot help it. I have been told by total strangers that we look-alike, we are both feisty and sweet. She brings out the best in me and vice versa. Barkley was like that. She was a little joy to be around and I know she will be sadly missed by her human companions and Bailey and I as well.

We spend a lot of time with Bailey and Safari, our cat. I always want to be around them. When my mother died she was only 48, I think that had a profound effect on me in regard to losing people and maybe that is why I hold on so tight. However, I am always joyful and hopeful for another day and more time to love because in my book it’s never enough time. I guess what I am thinking about today is enjoying each and every day with our little sweeties. I have always liked animals more than people beause of their unconditional love, because that is how people should be and that is how I like to live my life but I think they do a much better job at it then us.

It’s never enough

18 Tuesday Jan 2011

Posted by in border collies, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Florida, loving dogs, nature, rescue dogs, Uncategorized, vacation

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I will be the first to admit I am a needy dog. I cannot help it. Before Sherri found me, I was in the shelter for a year. I made myself the “favorite” shelter dog so I could be in the office everyday under Mary Ann’s desk, but I knew she would never take me home because she already had five dogs. I don’t think I would have liked it there with all those dogs.

I know Sherri wonders why I bark commands at her. I like when she pets me for a long time and rubs my spinal column because it feels so good.  I think I eat 9 times a day, I am worse than a little baby, but since my surgery I feel better. I don’t know if the cancer is gone but I want to play constantly and I love attention-constant attention – like just now when Sherri went to write this for me I made her stop and play ball, right in the middle of a sentence – I don’t care.

I have reached that time in my life where I want what I want and now, not 10 minutes from now, just right now. I know that drives people up a wall, but somehow I cannot help myself. I feel especially hyper today because of the full moon. My ancestors were grand wolves and they did the same thing during the full moon glow.

We went to dog park today and I herded all the little dogs around. Everyone there loves me and thinks I am beautiful. I love all that praise, in fact nothing makes me happier than constant praise and Sherri is the perfect one to give it to me but perfect strangers? That is simply a bonus! I think the reason I act like this is because I want to take it all in. Sleeping is a waste of time really. I mean, I don’t know how this stupid cancer thing is going to work out so I don’t feel like sitting here waiting around and doing nothing. Sherri says I am her “go-dog.” I think that is accurate! I love to ride in the car and go. I could care less where we go it’s just fun to go! I LOVE when we go shopping! Here in Florida, us nice dogs can go into stores and shop for purses and clothes! The ladies at the stores all love me and always offer me treats. Life is good.

That is the point. Life. I love life. I love my life with my parents and my cat, Safari. Sherri prays for me everyday and kisses my bladder area where my scar was – you cannot even see it anymore since my hair is all grown back!! I am so happy about that. I have a great life. In July I will be 10 and I am determined to have my 10th birthday because I know Sherri will get me a lot of cool stuff and I will get to eat stuff that I love – like fresh turkey. I never want to leave their side. I am guess I’m needy that way.

A Vet Just Has to Know…

17 Sunday May 2009

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IMG_3901On a recent Sunday morning, earlier in the month, Bailey woke up and would not eat. Of course, this is not normal dog behavior, especially for Bailey, who likes to get up and eat as soon as possible. She had also been panting hard in the middle of the night and that too, was not right.

We went to see Dr Hakim Hamaci at 24/7 Emergency Vet Clinic, who decided to do bloodwork to see what was going on. The results showed that Bailey’s liver enzymes were elevated and diagnostically speaking, it could point to various problems. He wanted to get an ultrasound done but would have to wait to call his specialist to set up the appointment.

On Monday, I was told his guy could not come until Thursday which for me was unacceptable as we were leaving to go back up North for the summer on Sunday and I did not want to wait.

I found Dr. Larry Scrabis at Estero Animal Hospital and luckily he had a cancellation for Tuesday to do the ultrasound. We went in at 9am on Tuesday and instead he wanted to do a STIMM test, thinking Bailey has Cushings Disease. It’s a simple blood test done in two part, which ultimately cam eout nortmal. The next day we did an ultrasound to rule out a mass or other such horrible things.

We could clearly see her liver was slightly enlarged and even though he thinks she has what is known as Cushing’s Syndrome, it is now two and  a half weeks later, we are back in Pennsylvania for the summer and I still do not know if she has Cushing’s. Last week a sample of her blood and urine went off to Michigan State and I will find out sometime this week what the Cortisol test shows. It can only rule out Cushing’s, not rule it in. It is a very tough illness to diagnose, even though Bailey has all the  symptoms. It is a very treatable disease,  but it has to be diagnosed because you cannot give the drugs to a non-Cushing’s dog.

Dr. Thomas Crago, our vet here, has been very patient is helping and listening to all my woes about Bailey. Although he is not an endocrinologist, he is willing to talk to one at Michigan State to see what to do for Bailey next. So all this has got me thinking about vets and how they just have to know what is ailing a furry child. I too, just have to know when something is wrong. There is a sixth sense that is extremely hightened when you have furry kids.  Human kids can say, ouch. I hurt.  My Bailey & Safari do not have that option. I must be keenly attuned to their needs at all times, which makes me exceptional, I think. And what is most amazing about vets is that they have to be so many things – a general practioner who has to heal all sorts of body parts which is most admirable.

The other aspect which makes all this so mystifying is that she was a rescue. I do not know her medical history. I do not know anything about her past. Maybe I don’t need to because we can only start from June 20, 2008 when we cme into each other’s lives. I feel like love helps heal everything and if there was ever a dog who was well loved, it is my Bailey girl. I could not adore her more and I will continue to provide her with all the love I have and all the best medical care there is because she deserves it. Together, the vets and I will figure this thing out for her and she will be grateful as she already is, gracing me with as many kisses she has in that big heart of hers.

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.