Bailey Boppins

    The question always is “Did you rescue the animal or did the animal rescue you?”
And, my goodness, the answer is that there's a hole left in your heart.
    This Prayers & Passages honors Bailey – known as Bailey Boppins, according to the memorial sent in by Darlene and Steve Berry.
    Bailey “went back to Heaven” on Oct. 6 – cancer was the cause, Darlene says. “I have many more photos of her but the one at the top is my favorite. They are all of her, I'm just not the best photographer in the world; they were taken with my iPhone so the coloring/contrast is different for oh so many reasons.
    “I got her from Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of North Texas in 2004.  At that time I was told that she was previously a 'breeder', had heartworms, and their vet guessed she was around 6 years old,” says Darlene who adds that “the First Act of her life” is a mystery.
    “I do know she was tremendously loved and treated like the Princess she was, in the Second Act of her life here in the Metrosprawl."
(That's a photo of Bailey catching some shuteye on the arm of the couch.)
    “I somewhere have a 'snoozing' picture of her on an undeveloped roll of film (yeah, old). We had been visiting my parents and would leave the baby girls with them when we went out to catch up with friends.  All of our babies loved going in the car and did not like the fact that they did not get to go, too.
    "When we were packing to leave, I had put my suitcase on the bed and had gone to get the laundry.  I came back and Bailey was curled up in the suitcase, taking a little nap.  It was as if she was saying, 'I WILL be going with you this time."
You can tell in these photos that Bailey had a way of relaxing as well as a way of being “involved” in whatever was going on.
    Darlene says, “Yes, she was a 'relaxer' in the morning. But if there was a squirrel in her yard or you mentioned ‘go in the car’ it was 90-to-nothing.  And then she had that natural tail all up in the air like a radio beacon (i.e. the snow picture) when something caught her attention.  She was a personality!  Quite the 'talker' when she was really excited like when I came home in the evenings.”
    The dog nose poking out of the shrubbery is explained like this: “She was after a critter in the yard that ran behind the bushes – ‘Where's the puppy?’ That was taken just a couple of weeks ago.   She was lively until the very last few days.  Reminded me of one of the ladies in the YaYa Sisters movie, needed the oxygen tank on wheels so she could get on with her daily activities. 
    “I miss her so!”
    And, with that, we turn to Darlene’s formal memorial for the family’s loved one:
Bailey Boppins
    “When I picked Bailey up from the rescue group and she curled up against me for her first ride home, she permanently curled up into my heart.  This precious baby girl was a complete joy and tripped the cute meter daily with her personality.  I am so thankful we were blessed to be with her the last 7 years of her life. 
    “She was such a happy, prissy, precious girl.  Bailey was mostly known by her nickname, Boppins or Bop-Bop.  She liked to be-bopping around.  From the way she held her natural tail in the air, to her ‘you’re-home!’ dance, to her ‘I’m cute, give me a cookie’ prance, she was always such a delight to be around.
    “Bailey was all mini-schnauzer, all 15 pounds of her.  She was the queen of her domain.  How dare that squirrel enter HER backyard!  This is her and her sister’s special running and sunning area; no varmints allowed!   From her royal perch on the back of the couch used to look outside, she barked a warning to any who dare trespass on her front yard. 
    “Boppins is my heart and was my cuddle bunny.  She loved to be held, gave many, many kisses and loved her mom.  If she couldn’t be curled up on my lap or next to me, she had a bed or blankie in every room so she could be near her mom.  Bops would either wait by the gate or nap in her bed on the patio everyday waiting for mom to get home from work. 
    “Although she was a momma’s girl; Bailey also loved her daddy.  She ran to him when he came home from work for a pet and a kiss.  Boppins really liked to lie next to him on the couch while he rubbed her belly.  One of her favorite things was to channel that hunting instinct and help daddy run the squirrels out of the backyard. 
    “We love our precious baby girl so very much.  We were very blessed to be able to share her life.  It ended way too soon, but even forever would not have been long enough.  Bailey Bops is at The Rainbow Bridge with her sister Ashley, waiting for her sister Abbey and her mom and dad to catch up.”
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