Bailey

Our precious Jack Russell Bailey crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Memorial Day 2017. He was 12 years old. We recently found out he had kidney disease and went fairly quickly and hopefully not in much pain.
He came to us at year and half old when a neighbor had two Jack Russells and decided it was too much trying to raise two as they were very hyper dogs and constantly playing, never seemed to rest! Asked us if we would like another dog; he knew we were looking for another dog as playmate for our beagle Daisy. We immediately said yes!
Within a year we realized he was going blind in one eye. The vet said it was lens luxation; very common to older Jack Russells. Unusual in very young ones. He believed that both parents had the gene was why Bailey got it so early. We decided to have the one eye removed and no glass eye implanted. Bailey bounced back and acted like nothing happened. He would occasionally bump into a chair or table leg but otherwise a very happy normal dog. Always wanting to play with his ball. Within a year we noticed his other eye was getting cloudy and he was running into things more frequently. The vet said the remaining eye also had lens luxation and it was time to remove it. We did and he again bounced back quickly.
Over the years, being blind meant nothing to Bailey. He was the same happy go lucky playful dog he always was. He learned how to find and fetch the ball, how to play tug of war with his stuffies, how to chase his ‘brother’ Tanner, a dachshund, around the house, and how to take his toys outside and bring them back into the house. He used to argue with his ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ to get his ball back. He even learned code words. I used words like ‘step’ whenever he he had to go up/down a step or over a lip of the glass door or into his crate. Words like ‘Hot’, ‘cold’, ‘yay’ so he would know whether he was close to his ball or stuffy. It even worked in our huge backyard, but most of the time he would find his ball or stuffy outside on his own and bring them in. He had quite the nose!
He always knew when I was cooking in the kitchen. Would come in and wait for any food I may drop. He loved watermelon and cantaloupe and vegetables! I would tap him on his nose to let him know I had something for him. He loved treats too! He knew how to do tricks to get them!
We would watch him maneuver around the house or yard and be amazed at how he would know when to ‘turn’ corners or go around furniture and not run into anything. We always wondered ‘sure he doesn’t have eyes?’ If he was excited and running chasing his ‘brother’ Tanner he would run into furniture but he was having so much fun! He would shake it off and continue playing.
He loved to snuggle and give kisses on his terms. Wouldn’t give it to us when we asked.
We have so many wonderful memories of our special Bailey! He’ll always hold a special place in our hearts. We knew when we said yes to our neighbor that day that we were bringing him to his forever home. He would never go anywhere else. We had 11 wonderful years with him. Even in death, he has returned to his forever home. We miss and love you forever Bailey!

A donation was made in Bailey's memory and the memorial was created on July 14, 2017.