Pupper West Side: Bailey Loves Attention and Volunteering as a Pet Partner

By A. Campbell

Name: Bailey

Age: Almost two years old! I’ll turn two this summer.

Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog

Profile/History: My parents were looking for a pup with the personality to match their home – they said a calm, loving home needed a calm, loving dog. That’s me, alright! I have to admit that I like a lot of attention. I’m occasionally mistaken for a bear or a life-size stuffed animal. 

Daily routine: Every morning it’s a healthy breakfast followed by a quick jaunt over to Central Park to enjoy off-leash hours. I’m part of a group of regulars and want to give a special shout out to my friends Maggie, Goldie, Gus, and Brinkley. Guys, I’m being interviewed for the West Side Rag! What a world! Ahem, ok, so back to my routine. We’ll take a couple more walks throughout the day. People often think that hefty puppers like me need lots of exercise, but it’s actually quite the opposite. I enjoy getting time outside, but I don’t need tons of exercise. In the colder months, I have a lot of energy. Rolling around in the snow and skidding over the ice – I just love it! I honestly don’t understand why everyone complains about the (gorgeous) weather between December and March.  Also, aren’t you enjoy this chilly Spring we’re having? Puffy coats in mid-May! How delightful! 

Loves: Attention. Heh. Sometimes, I’ll put my head in someone’s lap or lean against them, just to subtly remind them I’m here and in desperate need of pats.

Does not love: I’m not a negative pup, but if I had to choose, I’d say the humid New York City summers.

Favorite store/business on the UWS: I can often be found outside Lenwich when Mom and Dad are grabbing morning coffees. I also enjoy stopping by Park West Pharmacy, Citibank on West 81st, and TD Bank on West 86th. TD Bank is so pup-friendly with their treats and water bowls.

Favorite treat: It’s important to keep up appearances, so one of my favorite treats are rawhide chewies that keep my teeth clean. 

Favorite park spot: The Great Lawn in Central Park. It’s so exciting when they finally open it up in the Spring. The cherry blossom trees that surround the border of the Great Lawn are just stunning. And of course, the wilderness vibes of the Ramble speak to my Swiss roots.

Would you tell readers about your volunteerism as a Pet Partners therapy dog? Yes, of course! Pet Partners is an organization that promotes the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education. Pups like me will work with patients in recovery, people with intellectual disabilities, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, students, veterans with PTSD, and those approaching end of life, to improve their overall health and well-being through the human-animal bond. It’s a rigorous program of classes, training, and a behavioral assessment. My “job” is to provide people the comfort, love, and affection that a dog provides without the responsibility of taking care of one themselves. I’m part of a team with my sister, Sydney. Sydney is 15-year-old high school student, and she and I make visits together. My family recommended that I get involved because they thought my disposition was perfect for the role. Bernese Mountain Dogs are not only very kind, but also keenly sensitive to people’s emotions and needs. My hope is that our work proves to be very meaningful to others. 

Read all our Pupper West Side interviews here!

If West Side Rag readers are interested in becoming pet owners, we encourage you to consider adopting or volunteering to be a foster parent with one of the many shelters and nonprofits based in and around New York City. These include but aren’t limited to: Muddy Paws Rescue; Animal Lighthouse Rescue; NYC ASPCA; Humane Society of New York; Bideawee; Social Tees; and Animal Haven.