June 20, 2008, is the day I walked into Angels for Animals looking for you after searching around on their site. There you were in your cage, so happy someone would come visit you and take you for a walk outside. You were 7 years old and had been returned twice. Why that was, I can never imagine. I took you for a short walk outside, and I think it took only 1 second to fall in love with you, my first dog with the biggest brown eyes in the world. Happy eyes. I walked back in and said that I wanted to adopt you. They literally said, “You want to adopt Bailey?” They were seemingly in shock and went and got some papers for me to fill out, and they said they would have to make a phone call to someone to let them know. They called Maryann, whose desk you used to sit under, and as I was writing the check for your adoption fee, they told me that Maryann said that I had better be good to you or she was going to come after me. I remember telling them to assure her that you would have the most amazing life with us! And you did. I miss you every single day, my darling daughter. Your leash is always in the car, so you are always with me. Your pictures are everywhere, and we have our book, Letters To Each Other, which we wrote together and published. I know you were there for Joy when she came over the Bridge on April 2nd. Thank you for being there, I knew you would. I got the sign you sent, and I guess you both decided awfully quick that Shadow would be the next one to rescue.
I just wanted to tell you that I was thinking about you and wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday up in Hyfryd. Yes, I know you are still the friendly Mayor and watch over everyone. I chose these pictures of you to illustrate your beautiful transformation. I have thousands of pics, but the first one is the day I adopted you. The second is when your fur started to grow back in, and the last one is simply you in all your beautifulness. We never had enough time together, but your years with me were your best, you said. I am glad I could make them shine for you and even though we are not on planet Earth together right now, I will be with you and Joy, Tarzie, Cheetah, Jane, Safari, Freedom, Sabie, Shauna and all the rest some day and again, thanks for taking care of everything up there for me. I hope that you got to eat a lot of sweet treats today. I am thinking of you today on your Birthday as I do every single day. Love, your mama.
Joy always stands beneath your tree, the second we arrive at your special place in the park. There, she rolls in the grass each time with such glee, Part of you is part of her. I just know it.
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Bailey's Journal 