Bailey spent the last 14 years of her life with Brenda Sexton and her husband Dwayne. Brenda describes the improbable path of how Bailey became a treasured member of the household:
Bailey is a case of dog adopting human. We decided some years back that since we had a large fenced yard, we would see about fostering some dogs until they found forever homes.
Bailey was our first try.
As a puppy, Bailey had been slated to be euthanized at a local shelter because she was very sick and vet funds were not available. Her first mother, charmed by her sweet nature, adopted her anyway and paid sizable vet bills to have her nursed back to health.
Then, her family had to move out of state and could not take her. They were not willing to abandon her to a shelter again and worked hard to find her a home.
But their clock ran out and we were considering being a foster home anyway, so we took her in.
She was so cute and well mannered that a taker was quickly found. However, Bailey had her own ideas. At first opportunity she ran out the door and into a nearby briar patch. The weather was horrid, yet Bailey would not come when her new family called her or tried to entice her with food or water.
Finally, they called me and I went over. She came immediately, drenched, matted, torn from thorns, stinking, and with the biggest dog grin you ever saw.
After a bath and food, I asked her new family if they still wanted her and they did. So back she went – only to escape again to the briar patch.
This time, their 7 year old daughter walked up and down the edge of the patch calling, “Bailey, its Brenda. Come out!”. Bailey would have none of it.
Once again I went over and once again a fetid, torn but ecstatic little dog came running out.
So this time, we all decided that if Bailey wanted to live with us this badly, we would let that be.
Bailey never made any attempt to leave our home and, I believe, lived a happy life in the home she chose.
We were not astute enough to know that she was supposed to be with us – but fortunately – she was.
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