Every morning Alayne bundles Bailey into a towel and carries him through the house on a "road trip." This lets him "explore" and see things he wouldn't ordinarily see, like our offices on the second floor. They make a stop here in my office, and that photo -- taken this morning -- is the view I have of him peering down at me while I'm on my computer. The last stop on the tour is Alayne's office, where they always end up in front of her computer, and he sits in her lap while she goes through her spam filter, cleaning out emails. As she holds him, he drifts off to sleep. There's something very comforting about being held. But he also loves the view from "on high," which makes him feel bigger than the biggest dog.
He's wrapped in a towel, of course, because he's completely incontinent from his spinal disability. It makes for a safe road trip.
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The current Shelter Challenge started on Monday, April 4th, and ends at midnight on Sunday, June 19th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
Because of your votes, we won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the Shelter Challenge that ended in March. Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
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The ASPCA $100,000 Challenge -- Last Week For This Round
Our friends at the New Hampshire SPCA "downstate" (as they say here) in Stratham have made it into the qualifying round of the ASPCA's $100,000 Challenge to Save More Lives contest. They are competing to be one of the 50 shelters eligible to participate in the final round of the challenge. This is not a contest for us -- you need to care for a minimum of 1,000 animals during the year to enter. The NHSPCA has made it past the first stage and into the qualifying round, and now they need as many votes as possible to get one of the final 50 spots in the contest. On their behalf, we'd like to ask you to vote for them -- they do wonderful work and we'd like to support their efforts.
The qualifying round of the contest starts Monday, April 4 and runs until April 15 -- and you can vote EVERY DAY in this challenge, too! Please vote for the NHSPCA here.
If you have questions or want to know more about this Challenge, please go to this page. My standard disclaimer: I cannot help with voting issues, troubleshoot, or provide any other assistance for this contest.
I vote every day for you!
Posted by: Jane | April 18, 2011 at 02:50 PM
I didn't know you had moved!! I am always telling people how much I admire your place you had in Montana. If I ever win the lottery, yes I play!, I want to do something like yours~with all types of dogs. I think ya'll are AWESOME!
Posted by: Tena Hastings | April 18, 2011 at 02:29 PM
What a wonderful life Bailey has with you two! And what incredible patience, dedication and love you give all your charges.
Posted by: Sarah Prodell | April 14, 2011 at 11:52 PM
Oh how they brighten our days! So sweet of you Alayne. And I sure wish I was working with a pup on my lap or @ my side. :) This is why we all vote for you!
Posted by: Margaret | April 14, 2011 at 02:33 PM
You guys sure know how to love your dogs!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | April 14, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Bailey is one lucky pooch! Not only is he "riding in Style" he has a beautiful chauffer! This is a definite advantage to not being a large dog. Enjoy your "road trips" Bailey!
Big hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | April 14, 2011 at 01:39 AM
Priceless!!!
For both of you....
Made his, hers, and many other of those of us who read the post's, day.
Posted by: Glenda | April 14, 2011 at 12:12 AM
Awwwwwwwwwwwww! :-)
Posted by: Leila - Washington | April 13, 2011 at 11:11 PM
What an adorable picture :) What a great way to start each day for Bailey and Alayne...nothing better than a sweet dog to sit and hang out with!
Posted by: Ann Young | April 13, 2011 at 08:28 PM
That is the sweetest thing he must look forward to it every day. There's no way he can use one of those special wheel chairs. what a great story.
Posted by: gayle | April 13, 2011 at 06:04 PM
My favorite Rolling Dog post so far!
Posted by: Glenye Oakford | April 13, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Bailey reminds me a lot of my little Bogie... same face...same expression... even the same "needing a towel" problem! Sweet Bailey! Going to give my Bogie a special road trip tonight!
Posted by: Penny | April 13, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Bailey is absolutely right!! Someone has to supervise the tasks performed by his staff, isn't it?
Posted by: Mauro Salles | April 13, 2011 at 02:43 PM
You got to love that doxie face. Our two girls would love to be carried around!
Sharyn in GA (mom to Maggie May and Katie Scarlett)
Posted by: Sharyn Frisbie | April 13, 2011 at 02:42 PM
What a wonderful picture of Bailey and how thoughtful of his "Mommy" to realize he'd like a tour. Roo and I sit together working on the computer together quite often. I don't know which of us is more comforted.
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | April 13, 2011 at 02:39 PM
AWWWW Bailey - what a beautiful little face with those huge soulful eyes - what a treat to be held by your sweet and loving Mom - I have always been intrigued by the saying "catbird seat" - well you've got the dogbird seat,right? I know you make email sorting way more interesting. Hugs to you and Alayne(your co-worker :):)
Posted by: Angela | April 13, 2011 at 02:00 PM
SO sweet -- both on the part of Alayne and Bailey! :)
Posted by: Beth Scagnelli-Morey | April 13, 2011 at 11:15 AM
You continue to impress me with the joy you bring and the dignity with which you treat your precious animals. Bailey has always been one of my favourites - I love his pluck. I still chuckle over his antics with Mr. Caterpillar - hey whatever happened to Mr. C? Did he survive to make the move to NH?
Posted by: Carol | April 13, 2011 at 10:42 AM
This is soooooooooooo sweet! And that face- I could smooch Bailey all over. I could relate to the snuggling of a doxie and how comforting it is not only for the doxie, but for the human as well. :)
I just loved this photo and post... gave my heart warm fuzzies!
Posted by: Barbara Techel | April 13, 2011 at 09:54 AM
Love this post and picture! What a way to start the day!
Posted by: Linda | April 13, 2011 at 09:39 AM
What a sweetie! I love that face.
Posted by: Tonya | April 13, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Couldn't have said it better than everyone else already has. What a great treat for Bailey to get a road trip. No one wants to sit in just one place all day, especially if everyone else gets to run around. I know Bailey appreciates his tour and I'm sure it makes him feel special - like he is!
Posted by: Barbara Ribinski | April 13, 2011 at 08:59 AM
Alayne, thanks for taking on the road trip. What a special outing for you both.
Posted by: Deedie | April 13, 2011 at 07:02 AM
What an adorable mug. I'm sure this is the highlight of little Bailey's day.
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | April 13, 2011 at 05:44 AM
Reading about Bailey's "road trip" brought tears of joy and tenderness to my eyes!
Thank you so much, Alayne, for making Bailey feel special and deeply loved. I'm sure he adores his sweet angel (and travel agent:-)) right back.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | April 13, 2011 at 04:11 AM
You go Bailey!!!
Posted by: Marla from Kansas City | April 12, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Oh my gosh--that is so CUTE!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 12, 2011 at 09:37 PM
That's a very sweet and happy face lighting up a very sweet and happy post. How dear of you, Alayne, to give Bailey his daily tour, then to have him for your "laptop" while working on your computer. I wish we had a picture of that, too.
I imagine Bailey thinks he's being good to you in allowing you to take him around the house and for a long cuddle.
Posted by: Moon Rani | April 12, 2011 at 09:30 PM
Oh how cute is that! Alayne, you are so thoughtful of little teeny short legs. So Bailey, what's the weather like up there??
Posted by: Anne in FL | April 12, 2011 at 09:23 PM
I think it's so sweet of you to consider that Bailey might need a change of scenery! I'm sure he loves that ritual with Alayne. Nothin' better than a good road trip! :-)
Posted by: Cassie Betz | April 12, 2011 at 07:25 PM