Unfortunately, their good friend 'didn't really like dogs by his own account, and he put her out in the yard and left her there.
Bailey spent the next 4 years digging under the shed and living under the porch to get away from the elements. The neighbors watched it year after year, yet did nothing.
She was fed a cup of crap food a day, and was basically a nuisance to her owner, always trying to get his attention.
One day he decided that he had enough of her, and he took her into the vet to be euthanized. Lucky for Bailey, the vet was expensive, and once the owner heard the price, he promptly drove her back home and deposited her back in the yard, where she sat against the glass doors and watched him in his nice warm house.
The day I went to get Bailey, I was horrified by what I saw.

There she was, all used up and crippled at only 8 years old. As she wobbled towards me, I couldn't help myself, I began to cry. A lot of dogs have come and gone through here,  but the first sight of Bailey broke my heart.

She was totally devoted to a owner that didn't care whether she lived or died. There was not a mean bone in her body, and she would take any affection you were willing to give her and she was so glad for it.
When I met her, she was in severe pain. She had hot spots all over her body, her nails were like spikes, and had grown around into the pads of her feet. She hadn't been brushed in as long as she hadn't been bathed. So years of shedding were stuck on her and she stunk to high heaven. She had never seen a vet, (other than to be euthanized) not had any shots, and he couldn't remember if he had ever taken her on a walk...

Once Bailey has was in our care, she was spayed and cysts were found on her ovaries. That explained the constant discharge. She came in with a 3+ ear infection (4 is as high as it goes). Her front teeth were nubs from chewing on the bars in her younger years and were removed. We started her on the cartrophen injections with glucosamine and that REALLY made a huge difference! Her joints were still twisted and always would be, but she got around ok.
Bailey stayed in our care for 8 months. She was my shadow and followed me everywhere. I was quite sure that Bailey would live out the rest of her life with us. Who would ever want an old twisted up senior with health issues?? Then one day, unbelievably, I got this email:
"We would like some background info on Bailey, i.e. what sort of family background she came from?"

And the ball started rolling.
As I told them Bailey's story via email, they sat miles away reading it, with the tears pouring down their faces. I think we all knew right then that Bailey was always meant to be theirs.

I took Bailey to her new home on the sunshine coast on Feb. 19th 2005. It broke my heart when I left her there, and I cried all the way back to Chilliwack feeling that I had just betrayed her one more time.

Then her new home emailed me story after heart warming story about their days together. The deep bond that was forming between  them, and what a beautifully wonderful girl Bailey was. They loved Bailey like no one in her life ever had. Over the last year and a half we have watched Bailey and her family become deeply devoted to each other. They valued her beyond all else and went the extra mile, every step of the way to make sure Bailey not only had everything she needed and the best medical care available, but also that every single little comfort was met.


Today (June 28th 2006) Bailey passed away in the arms of the person that meant the most to her in the world. She was surrounded by a love so strong, that I am sure she felt peace in her passing.

For all Bailey had been through, she was a survivor. Through it all, she has maintained her love of people, and in the end all the past hurts were made up to her. She knew kindness, she knew love and she knew what it meant to be loved.
When people ask me why there is a need for rescue, I tell them all about Bailey...

Godspeed Bailey-girl.