Like all of our animals, Bailey came into our life by chance. He was the dog of a co-worker of Jenn’s. He asked if we could watch Bailey for a while, so Bailey came to stay with us for a month that ended up turning into nine years. For as big as he was (almost 105 pounds when we got him, but we slimmed him down), he was one of the gentlest dogs I’ve ever known. He never had an abundance of energy, but a good stick or a squirrel would always get him going. If he could talk, I think he would tell you that his happiest days were lazing in the lawn at our old house in Houston, TX. His favorite hobby was drinking out of a bowl outside (we never could figure out why he loved doing that so much).
When we moved to New York in 2005, he was crossing the threshold to 10 years. He started to slow down a bit, but he was always perky when he saw food. Eventually time caught up with him like it eventually does with all of us. Tonight we said good-bye.
Bailey was a good dog with a big, silly grin. He never once got angry. He did manage to catch a squirrel once, but other than that, he never hurt a fly. For some inexplicable reason, driving down highway off-ramps made him belch. He hated thunder and would jam himself into any closet he could in order to escape it. When we moved here, he took to squeezing himself between the refrigerator and the wall during thunderstorms and fireworks at Dutchess Stadium. He loved ice cream and, really, just about anything he could get into his mouth. I believe he once ate a nail. He had a good, long life.
For nine years he was our friend.
We’ll miss the big galoot.
Rest in Peace, Bailey boy. (1995-2009)
