[Stylist] blog post 394 words

[Chris Kuell]

Happy birthday, Bailey!

 

 

From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ann
Chiappetta via Stylist
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2020 7:10 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: anniecms64 at gmail.com
Subject: [Stylist] blog post 394 words

 

http://www.thought-00000wheel.com/happy-birthday-bailey/
<http://www.thought-wheel.com/happy-birthday-bailey/> 

An Essay for Bailey

By Ann Chiappetta

 

Who is Bailey? My guide dog, of course, a goofy and sometimes dignified
seven-year-old male yellow lab bred and trained from Guiding Eyes for the
Blind. He's the right dog even though his cream-colored fur infiltrates
almost every fabric, even the bathroom towels.

 

Here are some of the things he is done since we met in March 2015:  Helped
me be a better handler, a faster walker, a more patient person.

Here are some things I believe I have helped him achieve: better manners,
tolerance to cats, and doing better with food scavenging.  

 

Today he is 7 years old and it is significant because I know he will be my
working dog for another 2 years; his projected retirement age is 9.  Until
then, Bailey and I will travel a little more once the covid19 pandemic has
subsided. 

 

Finally, I want to convey to folks reading this why handlers like me go on
about our dogs, why a working dog deserves respect and the best care
possible. I personally believe every pet deserves the best care possible, no
matter the species but working dogs, especially guide dogs even more so.  

 

I hope I am not overstating the obvious. Every time we go out and walk a
route, I feel blessed, free of some invisible restraint.  Bailey knows his
job and   his desire to perform is infectious. He picks up a new route or
task quickly once he knows a treat will mark it.    

 

There was one time I thought he wouldn't walk onto the lift platform beside
the jet. The jetway was being used and I could not walk down the stairs.
When the flight attendant said I would need to ride down from the plane   to
the tarmac, I panicked, not knowing if Bailey had ever been on an open-air
lift. He took me on, sat and cocked his head as if to say, wow, this is
different, waited for the lift to complete the ride, and guided me off like
he'd done it just yesterday. 

 

He only showed fear once. We were at an old-time farm and the chickens and
rooster were in the street. He refused to walk past, in fact, tried to turn
around and go back the way we came.   

 

Happy birthday to Bailey, ever-curious, affectionate, and full of big-boy
sweetness.

 

 

 

Ann Chiappetta, Author

` Making meaningful connections with others through writing `

www.annchiappetta.com <http://www.annchiappetta.com/>  or
www.dldbooks.com/annchiappetta/ 

Blog: www.thought-wheel.com <http://www.thought-wheel.com/> 

Facebook Annie Chiappetta

 

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