A bit about Bailey’s journey:

Meet Bailey, this lovely little lad has had an incredibly difficult start to life and has been treated in ways so horrendous that we can’t even comprehend.

Bailey was bred in a puppy mill, where he was kept outside for the first year of his life with a large group of other dogs and a washing line tied around his neck to restrain him. Every meal had to be fought for, and human interactions never meant kindness.

Unfortunately even with our modern day welfare standards this is still an all too common fate for dogs to suffer. Bailey was sold at a year old to a family who were told he was a puppy, and when they collected him he was completely covered in mud to the extent it was hard to make out what he was underneath. He was riddled with worms and covered in fleas. He had lesions across his body, including around his genitalia, from where he’d had the washing line tied so tightly that it had cut into him.

Bailey was completely shut down, not only had he been treated so horrifically but he had now been taken away from the only things that he knew and been placed in an unknown environment. Likely this was the first time Bailey had ever been inside a house or even outside of that garden, he’d never seen or experienced so many things that make up a normal part of most dogs lives. He’d never been on a walk, or seen any people or dogs outside of where he was bred, he’d never seen cars or bins or bikes. Absolutely everything was terrifying and alien to him and it only caused him to shut down further, curling into himself and hiding whenever someone came remotely near him.

The family that bought him hadn’t been expecting any of this, and realised they didn’t have the ability to give him the support that he needs, and as such Bailey has come into our care. Bailey is currently in foster where we are trying to help him settle before we take him completely back to basics so that he can learn that people are safe, so that he can learn how to be loved.

The road ahead for Bailey isn’t going to be quick or easy, but we’re going to be here for him ever step of the way so that he can become the wonderful dog we know he is and so that he gets to experience the love and pampering he deserves. Bailey has needed a bit of time and a lot of care before we could start considering adoption but his foster family have made such a difference to his quality of life. We would be incredibly appreciative of any support that can be given to help us help him during this time.

Update from Bailey’s foster family:

“Bailey has been in foster care for over 5 weeks now. On his arrival he was a petrified little dog who found the world & everything in it terrifying. He has now progressed to being 'just' fearful.

He goes on a daily walk to the woods, which he now recognises, and enjoys constantly sniffing. This has been expanded to include more open areas of grassland, and he has encountered ducks on the lake, but showed no interest.

When he meets other dogs on his walk, he shows no aggression whatsoever, but is rarely prepared to touch noses - or other areas! I am convinced however that, if some of these dogs were in the garden with him, he would be happy to play. The first time he wagged his tail was to a visiting dog. He doesn't seem fazed by size.

He plays in the garden in daylight now - initially it was only in the dark - but by himself, finding all sorts of things to play with other than the toys provided. He definitely shows a mischievous side and is a real character. He is great fun to watch, though he will stop if anyone enters the garden.

He has a bolthole indoors which is behind the sofa, and is his haven - he is never disturbed from it. The time spent there is getting less & less, and he is more inclined to settle on his bed out in the room.

He seems confident now that any food is his & his alone, and is beginning to respond to the call of "chicken Bailey".

He will be picked up and handled, but it is obvious that he is very apprehensive about it.

He is good around young children and very interested in what they do. If they leave the room, he goes to the door to see what they are up to.

It is being so inquisitive that will finally bring him out of his 'dark place' but at the moment he needs a great deal of time & love spent on him. His recovery will require a great deal of patience as it sometimes feels that you are taking one step forward & two back, but when you look at the advancement he has made in a relatively short time, that is not really the case.”

What Bailey needs in a home:

As above the main thing Bailey needs in a home is a massive amount of love, lots of time and someone with lots of patience to help give him all of the support he needs. Bailey isn’t a dog that’s going to go into a home and settle instantly but we know when he does come around he’s going to be such a superstar (he already is really, despite everything he’s been through he’s so resilient and such a sweetheart).

Bailey would benefit from a quiet home environment with lots of space and a really good secure garden (as when he’s settling playing in the garden by himself is his favourite thing and a really good way to start building a relationship with him). He needs to have his own little hidy-hole where he can go when he wants to be alone so it’s important his family provides that for him. He’d love to live in the countryside where there’s lots of nice sniffy woodland walks and it’s a bit quieter - he’s definitely not one for city life.

We think Bailey might benefit from living with a confident placid dog, when he has dog friends visit is when he’s the most himself and he definitely gets confidence from them. He’s not really had much interaction with cats so we’re still not sure on that from, he is interested in the occasional squirrel outside.

He’s really good with visiting grand children so is good with children but as he needs a quiet home where everyone will respect his boundaries he may be better placed in an adult only home or with older experienced children.

Now that he's had a few weeks to settle in foster and build his confidence this gorgeous boy is ready to start looking for his forever family - applications for this beautiful pup are open so if you think you’d be his paw-fect match please fill in a form!