We all have a story. Here is Bailey’s.
This past week, my boys and I said goodbye to our beloved Bailey. His passing has been a profound reminder of the resilience, love, and enduring strength that this remarkable dog brought into our lives.
When faced with adversity and difficulties, we can power through and overcome.
As many of you know, or maybe you don’t .. we (my neighbors and I) rescued Bailey from a home on our street. Here is a little of Bailey’s story:
As a puppy, our neighbor’s dog, Bailey, would chase my youngest son down the street. I remember Christian, aged 4 or so, running into the house, afraid of Bailey. “He won’t leave me alone, mom!” I saw it as normal rambunctious puppy love, falling in love with a young neighbor boy. But as time went on and our kids grew up, we rarely, if at all, saw Bailey.
Fast forward 6-7 years, to January 2020, a dog was found sitting on a curb, barking in fear and mistrust at anyone who came close by. His hair was overgrown and his body was unkempt, it took us a little while to realize this was Bailey. This was the same puppy that used to chase my son down the street!
The family had been — unbeknownst to any of us — holding him in the garage, with neglect and abuse for most of his life.
What tore me up more than anything was seeing the overgrown cyst on Bailey’s right back leg. It grew into his thigh and caused him to drag his leg when he walked.
It was one of the most sad sights on an animal that I had ever seen.
We (neighbor friends and myself) worked our way to save Bailey. And somehow, our neighbors agreed to hand him over to our care. When my boys and I brought him into our home, he was defensive, untrusting, and mad ((rightfully so!)). He carried the scars of mistreatment. Yet, through patience, love, and unwavering dedication, Bailey transformed into the embodiment of sweetness and unconditional love.
Bailey lost his leg because of the cyst. But that didn’t matter to Bailey, because he could now walk and run free from his past.
Bailey became the most loving pup and friend we could have asked for.
In the four years we shared together, Bailey taught us invaluable lessons — ones that echo far beyond the 4 walls of our home. His journey reminds us of the power of resilience in the face of adversity and betrayal, the transformative nature of compassion, and the capacity for forgiveness even after enduring such horrible treatment and pain.
Bailey changed our lives, as much as we changed his life.
Bailey slept his last night, Friday night, December 29th, in bed with me tucked under my arm. We snuggled up head to head, and it was the most rest-filled, deep sleep I’ve had in several weeks. The kind of sleep that when you wake, you wish that you could hold time in that moment forever.
On Saturday, before his passing, we went to the beach so he could smell the fresh ocean breeze, and hear the sounds of the waves. Then we took him to the park where he smelled the grass and the flowers. This was the place where he had taken his first steps as a three-legged dog.
He said goodbye to my sons, to our neighbors who helped rescue him, and to Jasper, our cat whom he somehow accepted into his space.
Bailey’s final moments were a testament to the love and care we wished to bestow upon him. A day to cherish his presence and bid him a loving and peaceful farewell.
The pain of losing a cherished companion is immense, but witnessing their suffering is far more heart-wrenching.
Bailey’s legacy lives on in two important lessons that equate to everything in life – both personal and professional.
- Treat others as we wish to be treated.
- We all experience pain and anguish in life, which affects our mental health. At times, we have emotional or physical pain. But it’s through our fortitude of boldly rebuilding trust, kindness, and respect that we find unwavering loyalty on the other side.
The world needs these lessons.
Many of you have followed Bailey’s story and offered support. Your kindness has touched us deeply, and for that, we are forever grateful.
In honoring Bailey’s memory, let us carry forward the essence of his spirit — a reminder to cherish every moment, embrace resilience, and spread compassion wherever we go.
Thank you all for being part of Bailey’s journey, for your love, and for your support.
Have a beautiful day! And ALWAYS .. always remember to treat others as you wish to be treated. And should someone treat you wrong, you CAN learn to trust and love again, like our Bailey.
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