| Bailey was a rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback. Her story is a typical story
of a dog that is abandoned by it's original owners. They no longer wanted
her, their reason, they were moving from the country to the city and the
breed was too big to be a city dog...
Bailey was born in 1998. She was purchased from a well known breeder of this
breed. Her owners searched for a breed that would be good with children,
good to jog with, & a general protector of the home. So they answered
an ad in the newspaper for a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. They had great plans
for Bailey. She was to be everything they looked for in a dog PLUS they would
breed her and make some money...
Within the 2 years they had her, they soon discovered that because of her
temperament, she didn't like other dogs, and was becoming fearful of everyone.
They took Bailey to obedience classes, which increased her fears. They thought
that spaying her might help her calm down. She became worse...
At almost 2 years of age, they didn't want her any more. So instead of doing the right
thing of "putting her to sleep" because of her temperament, they took her
to the local animal shelter. They made up a false reason in needing to get
rid of her, and eased their mind of her problems.
I was contacted right away & 2 days later I had her as my foster dog.
I work with the local shelter for the sighthound breeds. Bailey greeted me
right away as her rescuer and jump straight into the cage in my van &
we headed home.
It didn't take long for me to see that Bailey had numerous problems and would
be hard to place in a good home. So the decision was made that she would
live out her life with us. I didn't have a easy task ahead of me. Bailey
had a fear of being left alone, fear of dogs, fear of her collar being touched,
fear of her tail or rear being touched, fear of being crated, fear of her
feet being touched, fear of being on a leash, barking non-stop, and just
didn' know how to deal with life. Bailey did have a few good points- she
bonded instantly to my husband, she was house trained, and always wanted
to be near us.
In the weeks that passed, Bailey developed a bond with me also. She soon
realize I was the one with food, the one who will see to all of her needs
and wants & a pretty good person also, most of the time.
Months had passed and soon Bailey was starting to be a semi-normal dog. Touching
her collar wasn't a big deal, other dogs were fine, as long as they weren't
in "her circle". Food here was really good & there was lots of room to
run & act like a puppy if she felt like it. There was lots of setbacks
along the way, but each correct response was a major breakthrough, no matter
how small it seem. Being left loose in a room, with a baby gate to block
her in was fine, when we had to leave our home. Cages were for traveling
only, once parked, she must be left out, otherwise she would pass out from
stress. A leash was for walking. Feeding time meant sitting up on her hind
legs, then handing me each paw, and waiting until being told it was all right
to start eating. Getting petted & brushed on any part of her body was
a good thing, not something to fear.
After 7 months, Bailey seem to finally understand what being a normal dog
was. I had bonded deeply with her. She had learned to trust me. I often received
licks & nose nudges. She was always next to me, laying at my feet or
standing at my side. Playing with me was special times. She still didn't
like to play with the other dogs, but accepted them as her pack.
Then one Sunday afternoon, it happened. Her brain had a short circuit, just
for a moment. But it was enough to change the rest of both of our lives.
I had just finished clipping the nails of the rest of our pack of dogs &
I was taking a break before doing Bailey's nails, since she still was a
challenge. Either I could do a few nails before she warned me to stop, or
none at all & had to be muzzled. It would depend on her mood. Which as
you remember, originally there wasn't any touching at all of her feet &
instant biting would result, sometimes breaking the skin... But she was getting
better. It still took both my husband & I to convince her that she
wasn't going to be abused, just to have her nails done. I even had a few
weeks that I was able to do all 4 feet without much more then a sigh!
My husband entered the room. Bailey was laying at my feet & I was sitting
on the couch waiting for him. Bailey suddenly turned & looked at her
rear, as if she was bit. I looked at Bailey and asked what was wrong. I reached
down to settle her by petting her side, but she insisted there was something
wrong with her, near her tail. I again started to pet her side and told her
she was fine. I reached towards her tail & she warned me not to with
a warning bite to my hand. I told her not to bite & Bailey bit my thumb,
severely, and I was rushed to the emergency room...
As I was being questioned by the emergency nurse, it turns out she was
Bailey's original owner. The chances of that happening was at least a million
to one. I don't live in a small town, so this was hard to believe. As I was
attempting not to pass out from the loss of of blood, I started to hear the
"true story" of Bailey's life. Hence how I am able to fill in the beginning
of "Bailey's Story". What was left out was the real reason she was surrendered
to the local shelter. She had bitten her son, and it was severe, and it
wasn't the first time. They couldn't put her down since they "loved" Bailey
so much! They figured if they lied and said she was a perfect Rhodesian
Ridgeback, she would be fine when she went to rescue, which is what the shelter
told her husband (who took her there) happens with the purebred dogs they
have surrendered. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING OF PUTTING
BAILEY DOWN FOR BEING A BITER AND HAVING NUMEROUS FEAR PROBLEMS ! And of
course, she denied and was quite upset, when I told her that Bailey was abused
which added to her temperament problems. "How dare I say such a thing about
Bailey", I was told! I told her that I was not the only one that evaluated
Bailey. Numerous others, those also involved with rescuing dogs, breeders
of the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and I sought advice from the internet from many
sources to help me with Bailey's problems, since I was running out of ideas
to help her...
After 3 hours, I finally was able to return home. Bailey & the rest of
the pack were their old selves, yet they sensed something was wrong with
me. The rest of the night, I had all 9 dogs (4 Ibizans, 2 RR boys, my Bailey
& 2 visiting RR guests) either laying on the bed or next to it, as I
rested. The next morning, I saw my regular doctor since my hand was getting
red & was still swollen. He marked off my hand where it was red, &
told me to come back the next morning. Tuesday morning, he saw my hand, seen
an infection spreading & sends me to the hospital for a IV antibiotic.
His nurse found an specialist who deals with hands and I seen him on Wednesday.
Now the infection is 2 inches past my wrist. He takes one look & tells
me my thumb joint is infected and emergency surgery is needed on Thursday
morning. I go in, and my thumb is cleaned up. Friday, I didn't get out of
bed. Saturday, I start to make phone calls & send emails (using just
one hand, not a fun way to type) to find out if there is anything else I
can do to help Bailey!
The results quickly came back, all with the same answers. Bailey must be
put down. After 7 months of working with her, it must come to a end. I have
tried all that could be done for her & her temperament. It's not her
fault she came from bad breeding & had bad original owners. She had turned
on me more then once over the past 7 months, but not to this degree. I cannot
take the chance of Bailey biting me or another person ever again. And the
fear of her turning on one of the dogs here is just as great. She cannot
be trusted.
I had to make the phone call to the vet. It was one of the hardest things
I have to do. She will be put down in 10 days, after the legal time frame
for bite cases is over. I instantly forgave Bailey for biting me after she
did it, since she did give me warning, but I persisted in finding out what
was wrong with her. There is still a chance I can lose my thumb, I will find
out on Tuesday. The next few days were very hard on me. Bailey doesn't understand
why I am crying all the time & spending every moment I can touching her
& holding her. She is enjoying all this attention & I am being truly
loved back by her. Tuesday comes quickly. The doctor tells me the thumb is
looking good, but I'm "not out of the woods" yet. The soft cast is now off
& a bandage is all that covers my thumb.
Which brings me to today. It's Thursday, August 9th, 2001. In a few hours
Bailey will be gone. With her goes a part of my heart. What stays are the
memories we shared the short time I was in her life. Knowing that in the
end, Bailey had learned to trust and love is the greatest thing she could
have given to me. And by putting her fears, she may still have, to rest,
ridding her of the demons of her mind, is the final thing I can do, to show
her my love.
Sleep well my Bailey. There will be a candle lit for you tonight to guide
your way across Rainbow Bridge. Go join the other parts of my heart. My other
dogs are there, waiting for you & will keep you company, until I can
join all of you.
I love you!
Mama |