This morning we had to put down our beautiful little princess “Baylee”. She was 38 days short of her 15th birthday.
Forgive me, BayLee, I did it because I love you and did not want you to suffer any more pain by keeping you alive for my own selfish purposes.
I took her outside this morning and carried her all around the yard one last time. She always liked to go on walkabout and discover new things, unless it was cold, or rainy, or snowy. On those days, she would hold it as long as she could and then hurry out and right back in. She was the definition of “inside dog” She hated to be wet!
As is common, we name our pets before we actually find out who they really are and BayLee was no exception. She became “Cinnamon” and I called her that because she was “My Little Sweety Roll”.
Last night, Mom and I stayed up with her all night long to comfort her in her pain and suffering. We kept our hands on her as much as possible so she would hopefully feel the love we have for her. We both miss her terribly and I don’t know if I will ever get over her.
In August 2005, she developed leg problems and we had to have knee surgery done on her. She almost passed during the operation, but it was successful and it gave us another wonderful 14 months to share her love for us and ours for her. Her recovery was very difficult, but is was worth it for each additional day we shared with her.
When she brought us home with her, she was so tiny that she could sit in the palm of my hand and barely come up to my wrist. She only grew to about 13 pounds at her heaviest.
She was the most delightful “person” you would ever want to meet. She was very well behaved except at suppertime. She loved people food and demanded that we share our meals with her. She never bothered to share her dog food with us, though, but that is OK! There was not a mean bone in her body, and she had many friends, but was somewhat skittish of most things and people ’till she got used to them. Little dogs are like that!
When she adopted us, her “other mother” kept afghans on the floor for the puppies and she always liked “warm and fuzzy” things. She had her own afghans and blankets (several of each) and God forbid anyone borrowing them. Her favorite was a pink and white afghan and it is stored in a box with the rest of her possessions.
If by chance another little dog comes into our lives and adopts us, I am sure that Baylee won’t mind sharing, since she no longer needs it at the Rainbow Bridge where it is always warm and sunny, and there is plenty of good people food to eat! Oh, I did throw away all the stuff she disliked, like the hateful hairbrushes and all her bitter tasting medicines that she has had to take for the last year.
Goodbye, Baylee, my Cinnamon, my Baby Girl, You will live forever in my heart. When I go, your ashes will be put in with me so You will be with Me for eternity.
I will always Love You, I will always remember You, I will always miss You, and miss the comfort and love You gave so unselfishly to your people.
Your portrait hangs where I will see it everytime I sit at my computer, or look at my bedroom wall. It is the last thing I will see when I go to bed each night and the first thing I will see when I awaken each morning.
Love,
Your Daddy
P.S. Thanks to Dr. David Hart and all the staff, especially Jen and Meghan, at Page Animal Hospital in St. Louis. You guys are the reason that We had the last year to share with our precious BayLee and We appreciate it more than you can know. Thanks for doing all you have done for us and being so professional while still being human and compassionate.