Kathy Shelton, Monroe, talks about her best friend Bailey, a 6-year-old shitzu-bichon frise-mix.
After she lost her 21-year-old cat, Shelton and her husband, Scott, were thinking about getting an Australian shepherd to accompany them when they’re riding horses. While Shelton was in Spring Green training horses, she saw an ad for a puppy and decided she just wanted to see what the puppy would be like. After seeing the dog had come from poor and abusive conditions, she decided to keep him.
Shelton said her husband had no idea and was a little skeptical when he first met Bailey.
“By the next morning he was already in love with him,” Shelton said. “Best choice we’ve ever made.”
Best Friends is a weekly feature designed to highlight a local resident and his or her pets. To suggest someone for the series, contact Marissa Weiher, photographer, at photo@themonroetimes.com.
Describe Bailey’s personality.
He loves to be loved. He’s people-oriented. He likes to ride in the car. We just took him to Colorado and back and he did well. Everybody is his friend. He wasn’t socialized with other dogs at first, now he loves playing with other dogs. He’s good with kids and horses. He’s a quick learner. I taught him tricks and it’s unbelievable how quickly he learned them.
What do you and Bailey like to do together?
He likes to be wherever I am. I go for long walks in the woods and he likes that. What he likes best is just being petted and sitting with me. He likes going camping with us. You wouldn’t think of him as a barn dog but he’s there with me all the time. He thinks he’s a really big guy.
What has it been like having Bailey in your life?
It finally took away my empty nest syndrome. It finally helped. With him, I’m never alone or lonely. He makes us laugh all the time.
