Around 6 PM Carlos from the Pampered Pooch called Melissa. Carlos told her to come quick because Bailey had fallen over and was having trouble breathing.  Melissa immediately drove to the doggie day care and called me to meet her there.  In the next phone I received Melissa was hysterically crying and told me to meet her at the Veterinary Hospital on Woodbury Road. 

Bailey was not doing so well.  She was laying on her side with labored breathing. Carlos stood by silent.  When asked what happened, he shrugged his shoulder.  He was next door when this happened, he told us.

“Bailey had a seizure,” the veterinary assistant told us.

I drove Carlos back to the Pampered Pooch.  He told us that he would find out what happened. I was confused by his statement.

Back at the animal hospital, the assistant assured us that Bailey was getting better, “Her systems are coming back.” After some reflection she continued, “They never should have put her in a drying cage.” 

What? Huh? Confused we asked her what she meant. “Drying cages are not meant for short haired dogs, there was no reason to put Bailey in one.”  She went on to explain what they were and how they worked.

We never heard about drying cages.  Why would they need to put her in one? We towel dry her at home.  Why would anyone think it was alright to blow hot air at high speeds on a short-snout dog?

The next few hours were a mixture of sadness, hurt, pain, anger but at the same time relief as we were being assured that Bailey would make it through. 

“Did you see she is missing a claw?” Melissa pointed out. 

“Oh look they are all shredded up,” I noticed.

“No that claw right there is gone.”

“My God,” I realized. “She struggled to escape the drying cage. My poor Bailey.”

We stayed with Bailey while she was moved to another room. We stayed with her as long as possible while an IV fed her nutrients and she was wrapped in blankets.

At home, the house felt strangely empty but we started to figure out what time we were going to pick her up the next day. We went to sleep only to be woken up by an early morning phone call.

Continued in the blog...