Bailey
May: May 2002-January 2014
A
good ole’ farm dog
As a Vet’s kid I always had somebody’s
cast-off, sickly, or abandoned dog (though they usually turned out to be good
ones!). When my husband and I married I
really wanted to CHOOSE my dog! So, I decided I just had to have a registered
Chocolate Labrador. Bailey May was just perfect…for the first day. I could not have found a cuter, rounder
pup! We quickly found out that she was
brilliant, easily learning to fetch tirelessly, sit instantly, and shake with a
smile. However, we learned that Bailey May indeed eat jumper cables, dig up
plants, chew up digital cameras, destroy baby toys, devour tennis shoes/boots,
and get you VERY dirty, very fast. But
what we love about her is she May NEVER
bite when our babies stick their hands in her mouth, leave our side when
playing outdoors, 4-wheeling, working cows/goats, fixing fences, playing at the
creek, walking, crying, and never forgets to visit anyone in our community each
morning! One time a friend of ours dropped some pictures of our son outside in
the driveway and the next morning I went out to get in my car and you could see
where she had picked up the pictures with her teeth, but amazingly they were
not chewed up. Once she took my
husband’s work gloves and we could not find the other one. He took one glove to her and said
sternly—“now Bailey, go get my other glove”.
Within 10 minutes, the glove appeared in tact. The same thing has happened with missing
shoes. We estimate that she has now cost us over 1k. in damaged goods
including, $75 to re-adopt her when she spent a month at the pound, 2 Little
people Nativity scenes that my sister just kept re-shipping and UPS just kept
leaving on our steps (might I add that not one time did she chew up baby
Jesus---we have 3 of those while the rest was obliterated),...but the love of a
dog is surely PRICELESS. She is a repentant destroyer that we come to
love as part of our family. She is the
best dog because even though she is not perfect, she was just what we needed: a
fun-loving, kid-friendly, tireless companion who taught us that you must learn
to accept everyone and love them despite a few flaws. It was so nice to have her greeting us at the
top of the driveway each time we pull in and barking when strangers come (she
knows our family/friends cars). The
next morning, after many tears, when we had rescued her at the pound and bought
our dog back home, I got up to find that right in the middle of the yard were
some enormous rotten, stinky cow bones, and I just grinned because I knew that
rotten bones and chewed shoes will always be just part of our normal décor here
on this farm. Like most families we were
just perfectly dysfunctional in our love for each other. Next time you come to see us you won’t get
dirty and slobbered and clobbered with love and affection from a brown bear of
a dog. It just won’t be the same around
here.
I am so thankful to have raised 3
babies with her by the stroller-side and that all 4 of our kids knew Bailey May
for a year or two of their lives. She has walked the driveway by my side for
almost 12 years. My walks will be so
lonely this next month. I will certainly
never look at a tennis ball without thinking of her. I am thankful to report
that in her last week of life she got to go to the creek with the boys and
swim, and take a last 4-wheeling drive around the farm. I don’t think a
4-wheeler EVER cranked up around here that she was not running behind. She was so easy to love. Bailey May was loyal and happy up to her last
week. Each family only gets a few dogs in a lifetime to love well. She was
certainly a good friend to all of us.
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| Bailey Mushing one winter |
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| Bailey always present behind the kiddos doing silly things. |
| Bailey's Birthday one year |
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| Bailey letting Sarah snuggle on her in the winter. |
