Each of Nanette Bailey's four dogs -- two pugs, a Boston terrier and a pit bull -- has their favorite plush toy. Even Xena the cat has a beloved little monkey doll.
But none of the pets is quite so passionate about their scrap of fuzz and fluff as Maxxis the pug, who has been remarkably faithful to a small stuffed, now-bedraggled frog for going on a decade now.
The pug was a wee puppy -- just a few months old -- when the frog first came into her life, in a major way right from the beginning.
"She would run around the house looking for froggy so she could take a nap. At bed time once she had her frog she would lay by my feet and suckle her frog for at least 10 minutes then go to sleep," says Bailey.
Back in the day, froggy was bright green and structurally intact! Photo by Nanette Bailey
Except chewed-on bits of cotton are wont to fall apart. So Bailey -- who lives in Ohio with her husband and stepson -- went out and bought several replacements, so that Maxxis would never be without.
"That idea didn't work out though," she says; her dog wanted the one frog alone.
Bailey thought perhaps the new frogs smelling different was the trouble. She tried sticking them in a Ziploc bag with the original, thinking the scent from the beloved toy would rub off, and Maxxis might be fooled -- or if not fooled, then at least satisfied.
"But that didn't work either. So that is when I started sewing it up to make sure she would always have it," Bailey says.
That's love. Photo by Nanette Bailey
There's been a lot of amateur toy frog surgery over the years. Bailey doesn't mind.
In the last few years, there's been a lot of real surgery, too. The pets have had the kind of health problems that leaves a family grateful for every day together: Maxxis survived cancer, as did Clutch, the other pug.
Tag A Roo the pit bull overcame a serious skin condition. Even Xena the cat has been subject to a double knee replacement. Only Sprocket the Boston terrier has escaped the knife thus far.
"It was a stressful couple of years," Bailey says. "They mean everything to me and my husband. They are our babies and we just love them, and take care of them, and spoil them with love as much as we can."
Can't believe this was almost 5 years ago.... #NationalPuppyDay
Posted by Nanette Bailey on Monday, March 23, 2015
And at this point, and after all this, Bailey herself has a pretty much indelible attachment to the frog, herself.
She's been adorned with pet-related tats for many years, like a line of ink paw prints, a Boston terrier riding a rocket ship -- because Sprocket loves dashing at top speed -- and a cat in a ninja mask, for obvious reasons to anyone knows cats.
Last winter, Bailey got Maxxis' toy frog tattooed onto her foot, right on the spot where Maxxis likes to snuggle up when she's tuckering down -- always accompanied by that precious doll, which has been loved into decrepitude in real life, but rendered less threadbare in ink.
It's not that Bailey likes to picture an eternity in which nothing wears out. Froggy's perfection on Bailey's foot is really just a nod to this world, in which some things are possible, and some things are not.
"Her frog would be too hard to draw in the mess it's in," Bailey says. "When Maxxis gets her frog, it still makes me happy to this day. It's like I know she is happy and content when she has it."
Clutch and Maxxis, and froggy. Photo by Nanette Bailey
Get in touch at arin.greenwood@huffingtonpost.com if you have an animal story to share!
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.