Bailey Zehner-Ross

Our thoughts to to Katie Zehner and Christine Ross on the death of Bailey, their 12 year old Boxer. The following is their tribute: 

After 12 and a half beautiful years, our Bailey James crossed over the Rainbow Bridge with four of the most kind, compassionate, and loving humans to walk the earth his rehab team from the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County: Marah, Dr. Fletcher, Tara, and Alicia and his Moms. The room was filled with love, comfort, and peace. There was laughter through the tears. Bailey left this earth surrounded by people who loved him and who have worked ferociously to extend his life despite the awfulness of the Degenerative Myelopathy hes been fighting for over three years.

This boy was a miracle. A fighter. The strongest, most loving boy. Dogs diagnosed with DM typically have a life expectancy of about a year. Not Bailey. He loved his moms and his Boxer brothers and sister too much to go without a fight. And fight he did...through years of physical therapys cavalettis, paws up, high-powered laser treatments, and the underwater treadmill to his quad cart that allowed him to get around in his own again. But DM is also a fighter, and our boys physical strength and muscle inevitably deteriorated until that wheelchair of his had to be pulled and lifted for him. Until walks became wagon rides. But despite the lack of physical strength, Jimmy never gave up mentally or emotionally. He was happy until the end, passing the reigns to his brothers and sister, making sure they protect their mamas like he always did.

Not only was Bailey strong, but he was so selfless. I know that boy was staying strong for us. He was fighting for US. He saw how losing Tai (his Boxer brother who passed away 3/25/21) affected us, and he was trying to protect us from more heartbreak. But after a very scary night on 12/1, we had to become the selfless ones. We had to let him go. He was tired and weak. Breathing was no longer easy. And more than anything, he deserved to be able to run again without his wheels and without struggling to take deep breaths. Today, we set him free.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bailey Zehner-Ross, please visit our floral store.