RAINBOW BRIDGE

this Rainbow Bridge section honors all special pets that have gone before and wait for us there

(inspired by a Norse legend)

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill, Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still. Where the friends of man and woman do run, When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next, Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest. On this golden land, they wait and they play, Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness, For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness. Their limbs are restored, their health renewed, Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care, Until one day they start, and sniff at the air. All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back, Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met; Together again, both person and pet. So they run to each other, these friends from long past, The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart, Has turned into joy once more in each heart. They embrace with a love that will last forever, And then, side-by-side, they cross over . . . together.

"Whizzin On a Cloud" by Sharon Jagger

I had a good mistress, for my happy doggie life,
she took me home and loved me..
away from doggie strife.
so even though I got real sick,
closer to the end,
a had a happy doggie life,
with my special human friend.
just remember this folks,
that just because I'm gone,
don't forget there's lots more pups,
that need their own green lawn.
to ease your sad & broken heart,
with you they'd love to go,
and be your loyal puppy,
so you can help them grow.

when your heart has healed a bit,
this one thing I'd like to see...
PLEASE save another puppy,
and love it just like me.
'til it is time for THAT old dog,
to finally come home too,
up here in doggie heaven ,
where we will wait for YOU.
yes it's time for me to go home now,
but no need to cry out loud.
cause I'm in doggie heaven
whizzin on a cloud.

Why Dogs Don't Live Longer Than People Author unknown

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."