My name is Bailey and I am about 6 years old and a black lab mix.  I have had a sad life but you would never know it as I am the sweetest thing ever and love people.  My last owner was in trouble with the law and moved out quickly, leaving me in the backyard with a note for the landlord to call my previous owner who also didn't want me.  I don't understand how two people could not want me. I was then left in the backyard for a week in this cold because the landlord didn't want me in the house to shed. 

I was so happy to see a Grand River Rescue volunteer and even happier to go home with one.  I am very calm and good natured, but to be honest I am very overweight but with proper diet and exercise I will slowly lose the weight and hey don't we all have a little weight to lose?  My kind foster took me to the vet where they discovered I most likely have a cruciate ligament injury which is bad news and means I will need a very expensive surgery and will probably always have a bit of arthritis. 

Grand River Rescue is fundraising for my surgery as they care a lot about me and know that I am worth it. For now, I have to stay on metacam as I need it and lose some weight which will help my arthritis. 

Maybe you would like to sponsor my surgery by donating even $25?  Every bit helps.  I really hope there are more good people out there than the owners I have had.  I would really like a chance in a forever home as I have lots of love to give. 

You can help me by mailing a cheque to the PO box (PO Box 32116, Preston Postal Outlet, Cambridge, ON  N3H 5M2)  or if you need to use credit card you can make a payment at the vet clinic and we can give you that information. 
Thank you kindly for any assistance you can give!

UPDATE FROM BAILEY'S FOSTER MOM:

Hello Everyone!

I would like to give an update on Bailey as he had his leg surgery a week and half ago.  First of all Bailey charmed the nurses, doctors and staff at Hespeler Animal Hospital.  Bailey is a talker and he will literally talk your ear off. He is that charming kind of guy.  I picked him up the day after and he was so happy to see me.  He was clearly in a lot of pain but his happiness was definitely more prominent. After the first day back home from surgery he slept a lot and barely spoke.  He soon came around though.

For the first 10 days he had to be towel walked with me lifting his back end to lessen the pressure on his back leg.  If anyone knows Bailey or has met him they will know that he is a BIG dog so this was a little hard on me to lift him out. Not to mention the pain he was in. Thank you to the Grand River Rescue volunteers who came to our aid and helped Bailey go outside when he had to go.  Every day though he got stronger. Every day he was more alert.  Every day he talked more.

He is off the pain medication now but we are continuing with the antibiotics. He is almost back to his regular self, sweet, kind and talkative.

Thankfully Bailey is a very smart dog and knew his limitations during this recovery.  He was very careful with his leg and gave himself plenty of rest.  He still is aware of his healing and acts accordingly. I am thankful for him being so careful.

If I could translate Baileys words they would be “Thank you Grand River Rescue for not only saving my life but giving me quality of life”.