The past few months have been difficult trying to decide which dog I was not going to take to Germany. Being a military spouse can be difficult. For someone who doesn't have children pets are your children. My dogs wear clothes, I buy them expensive treats, I buy them toys, and yes they even sleep with me and my husband. Pets are more than just cute little accessories. After a lot of debating, crying, and decision making I decided that I was not going to take Bailey, my Cocker spaniel. Now, just so you have an idea of the kinda of dog Bailey is I have to tell you how I came to get him and finish the story from there. When I was little my parents bought my brother and me a Cocker Spaniel and we ended up having to get rid of it because we weren't "ALLOWED" to have pets in the townhouse we were living in. It hurt us so bad my parents ended up buying us another Cocker Spaniel later and we again had to give up the dog because we were caught having a pet and we weren't allowed to have a dog. When I was growing up I decided I was going to have a Cocker Spaniel one day and I wasn't going to give this Cocker Spaniel away. I opened a valentines day box of cards one year and it had a picture of a Cocker Spaniel and a cat. I remember hanging that picture up in my room and I said I wanted a boy Cocker Spaniel and I was going to name him "Bailey." Years later I was at the beach on vacation with an ex-fiance and his family. I was drying my hair when my ex came in and said, "Hey, guess what, my brother has a Cocker Spaniel he's trying to get rid of and guess what his name is Bailey." I was in such shock. I asked him how much he wanted for him and he told me the price and I said, I want him! The reason they were wanting to get rid of him was because they lived in an apartment and he barked too much. At the time I was living with my parents out in the country on 108 acres of land... why couldn't I have a dog? When we came back I went by the apartment to get him and he ran straight up to me and licked me. I knew instantly he was meant to be my dog. I took him and put him in the cage in the back of my ex's parents' car on the ride home he growled and whined and was somewhat temperamental in the back of the car. I took him home and opened up the door and he ran up to my dad and licked my dad on the face and my dad- not believing animals should live inside told me, "Get that damn dog off me." I was hurt. The story was the dog came from the animal shelter(Which I have records for). He was supposedly found chained up outside and in a bunch of mud. His fur was matted and he wasn't being treated well. After getting Bailey and looking at him, I noticed for a Cocker Spaniel his tail hadn't been docked properly- it appeared as if some backwoods idiot chopped his tail off to make him appear to be a high quality breed. I also noticed he had been neutered but he had tattoo on his belly the tattoo was a N. Again this looked like some backwoods convict put the tattoo on him. I couldn't believe it. Who would treat an animal like that? I wasn't used to having a dog inside and the day I had Bailey I remember crying because he went outside to urinate and he came back in and had mud on my bed linens. I was so afraid I couldn't do it. I remember telling my mom and she said, "Lauren, it's a dog, he's going to get dirty and you can wash your sheets." Bailey was my cuddle buddy and he loves to ride in the car. He would lay with me in bed and sleep. He never left me. Bailey was there through a lot of life changing events and I honestly don't know how I could have made those events without him there. He was the only permanent figure in my life. I started and finished college, got engaged and unengaged, I met the love of my life, experienced what it's like to have your parents go through a divorce, moved while in college during my parents divorce, experienced some of the worst days of my life, I even moved out on my own and got married and Bailey was there every step of the way. Bailey was there when we got our other two dogs. Bailey was there through another move to another state and through my husband's first deployment. Bailey was even there when I found out I was pregnant.
So, having the only permanent thing in your life for such a long time and having to make a decision to leave him with someone for 3 years is not easy. Here is the reason I HAD to decide to leave Bailey. Bailey, being such a good dog is a nervous dog and will bite if he feels threatened. He can be the best dog but he can also be difficult. He gets really nervous at loud sounds and he likes peace and quiet. I took him to Pet Smart one time and a little girl came up and pulled his ears, he didn't do a thing but whine. However, the older he gets the more agitated he seems to get. Being pregnant I wasn't sure if it was a good idea for him to be around a little child- what if he bites her? Then I'd have a harder decision to make. What if he bites someone during the flight to Germany? I've read and read that if they are thought to be aggressive it's possible they could put the animal down. What if because he is so nervous that he doesn't handle the flight well and something happens to him? About 8-9 months ago he experienced his first seizure. What if he had a seizure on the plane and aspirated and died? I wouldn't be able to monitor him. I had to make a decision because we are only allowed two dogs on post in Germany. I decided that Bailey would best be suited at either my mom's or my mother-in-laws house. My mother-in-law groomed her previous dogs and she has a fenced in backyard and she's usually always home. She feeds him from the table and she makes sure he has food and water. Bailey is happy being able to go outside and roam and he loves to eat. He also loves to cuddle. I know that she will meet these needs for him. I also know I can call or e-mail and check on him at anytime. A few days before we left Bailey had another seizure. I started to cry because I know he is getting older he will be 8 this year. I worry that I won't be there for him if he needs me. The morning I left Bailey I cried and had a moment with him. I asked him not to be mad or feel like I was neglecting him. He looked at me and licked my face and ran into my mother-in-laws living room and jumped on her couch and wiggled his tail. The night before when we called them to go "nite nite" Bailey went straight to my mother-in-law's bedroom door. :) Knowing that he feels comfortable there makes me feel better. After we left and were driving down the road my husband looked at me and said, "Are you OK?" This was probably the worst thing he could have asked because I busted out into tears. It hurts knowing I had to choose. It hurts knowing that I had to choose him. Through it all I hope I made the right decision. My mother-in-law lost her two dogs separately in the past two years. I feel like Bailey can fill a void that she may have. I hope he can bring her as much joy and love as he has brought me over the next 3 years. It's hard waking up and Bailey not being there, licking me in my face or hearing him bark at everything that moves. I miss him so much and it's only been 1 day. I know I can do this but it will never be the same without Bailey. Bailey I love you so much and I always will!
