10/01/19 - 03/03/22
Human family: Danielle Photo(s) of Bailey (1)
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Bailey
Bailey wasnt just a dog. She was family. My partner..my lifeline. Bailey was a task trained service dog. A German shepherd x Great Pyrenees mix.
Bailey saved my life. In so many ways. She came from a program called PAWS at Angola penitentiary. There were many things that had to fall into place for me to receive her. I believe things happened for a reason, and they ultimately let me have Bailey. I was blessed to have 2 years with her.
Bailey and I developed a bond like no other. We were together 24/7. She came everywhere I went and loved her job. She was task trained in mobility, medical alerts and PTSD response . Her favorite task was to pick things up and hand it o me when I asked her. She would get so excited and at times, throw the item to me rather than hand it to me. How could you get mad at that? It made me laugh every time she did it.
She was a very goofy dog. She didn’t just throw the items I asked her to pick up. She would throw her toys for her self, it always made me laugh, no matter how down I was or how bad I felt.
When I received Bailey, I was In A very dark place. I felt no will to live. I was mentally and physically exhausted and wanted it to end. I felt like I had nothing to live for. No one that cared. No purpose. Bailey gave me something to live for. She gave me a purpose. She would help break a panic attack. Wake me up from a nightmare. Gave me a sense of security. Helped on days where i was in so much pain to move. She could always be counted on. She didn’t judge. Was so very loyal.
I’ll never forget the day she passed. Rushing her to the vet in complete panic. I’m a vet tech and I knew immediately she was dying. She did survive the hour long drive, which was closest vet that was open. That drive seemed like an eternity. The vet ran multiple test, that gave no answers as to what was going on. Ultimately, she did not survive. 5 vets. Had no clue what happened. She was fine that morning, feeling s little sick around lunch, she however was on antibiotics at time, so we chalked it to be from that. And dead that night.
It happened so fast. So unexpected. Not knowing what happened makes it so much harder. I will never know what happened. 5 vets are baffled and have no idea themselves. There only guess was possibly cancer. It’s a hard pill to swallow, knowing the fact that I will never know what stole her away from me. Was there anything I could have done differently? Could I have saved her? She was only 4-5 years old (she was a rescue, so we don’t know the exact date she was born) she had so much longer to live for.
I didn’t just loose a pet. I lost my lifeline, my partner, my service dog. It isn’t so simple to get s service dog. They require a lot of training in both obedience and task training. I felt like it was the end. I’ve had trauma after trauma throughout my entire life. Bailey was the first outlet I had to get through hard days.
I know I will never get another Bailey. Valor has some big paws to step in. I am struggling with not comparing them. It will be s huge adjustment, however I know over time that we are together, Valor will work his way into my heart in his own way.
Bailey will always hold that special place in my heart. No other dog I have during my lifetime will take over that spot. Bailey will always and forever, be my number #1 girl.
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