Bailey's Story

Hello,

My name is Bailey, and if it looks like I'm smiling, its because I am! I wasn't always named "Bailey," and my story wasn't always so joyful. My past life is such a blur nowadays that I'll start with the time a few months before my adoption. I was brought by my previous family to the Utah Humane Society because they hoped that I could find a home with a new family to love and to care for me. It seemed like an "OK" place; all the other dogs were barking and excited, some stood up on their hinds legs and wagged their tails as people walked by as if to say, "pick me, pick me! I'm a fun dog!" I was anxious to see the people come in to visit too, and at first I'd greet them with a smile and a wagging tail - I have a beautiful thick, furry tail! Folks would stop to look at me and would walk by, as they often did. I noticed that lots of dogs were being adopted and getting to ride home in their new families' cars, but not me. I started to wonder what I did wrong. After a few months in the shelter, I realized that the people coming in wanted younger dogs and I was already six years old. "I'm a border collie, I have lots of years and lots of energy left in me!", I thought to myself, but no one seemed to care.

Months went by and I started losing faith. I had my own pen to sleep in, but it was lonely, too. Night after night I spent alone on a hard concrete floor. The staff at the Humane Society were really nice, but I could tell they were losing faith, too. One day, a cute Mom and her daughter came in and stopped to look at me. I was really not in the mood, and I thought for sure they would not want me. I was dirty, my coat was matted - it was embarrassing. I didn't even stand up to greet them. They walked away and I thought, "Oh well," but to my surprise, they returned with a staff member and leash. They wanted to walk with me! I put on my best face and tried to walk with a spring in my step like the younger dogs did. It was really tough because although no one knew it, my feet hurt so bad from being on the concrete for so long. I did the best I could but I still had a slight limp. I figured I'd show them my great personality, so I wagged my tail, and I walked wherever they wanted to go, even with sore feet. It was so nice to be outside! At the end of the visit, they put me back in my pen. What happened?! I thought I was so good! I put my head down and went to sleep. I guess they didn't want me either.

The next day, they came back with Dad. I wasn't too excited. They left me behind the last time, yet, they had a leash and wanted to take me for a walk again. I again tried to hide my limp, but it was tough. I heard the dad mention my limp, but he didn't seem to mind. We played in the yard for awhile and this time they didn't put me back in my pen! Could I finally be going "home?" Well, I was eventually put back in my pen, but it was only because I had to be checked out by the veterinarian before I could go home.

The day finally came! Everyone was so happy, most of all, me! The staff were so excited that the Glasmacher family wanted to adopt me that they even gave them a discount on the adoption fees. On the way home, I wondered what kind of home will I live in? Will I be in indoor dog or an outdoor dog? Will I be chained up in the yard or will I have a nice dog bed to sleep on? It didn't matter, I was going home! We arrived at the house and I was taken inside. They gave me a bath right away and boy, did that feel good! I was dried off and brushed, and then they let me stay inside. I found a place to lie down on the carpet and went to sleep. Its been almost two years and my life is so wonderful now - I sleep in the bedroom with one of the boys and I sometimes sneak onto the parents' bed after they get up. I get to hide under the bed when the scary thunder comes. I have food and water in my bowls all day long (but I don't overeat). I go on walks several times a day with the kids. I did get in trouble once when I nipped at the heels of a passing bicyclist (hey, I'm a border collie, I herd things!), but I haven't done that since. I share my home with a little Yorkie named Ratchet, who I think is crazy, but I love him anyway. Oh, and my limp went away.

Thank you, Utah Humane Society, for not giving up on me.

-Bailey the Border Collie