Rainbow Bridge

Each of my daughters met, fell in love with, and married men who had children. Well, not the usual kind of children. One had a large brown dog named Samantha “Sam”. She was older when she became a part of my family. The other one had two small rescue dogs, “Oscar” and “Joe”. They were also up in age when I first met them.

All three of those sweet canines quickly won my heart and I referred to them as my grand-pets. They had very different colors, personalities, likes, dislikes, energy levels and habits. Each related to me in his/her own way. One preferred that I only rub the head and back a few times before walking away. One enjoyed snuggling on the couch with me. And one liked for me to throw a toy to chase after.

It happened that Sam began showing her age in many ways a few years ago. As she aged, she no longer played with her toys, something she had done with much vigor when I first spent time with her. bringing me her favorite toy to toss again and again.

Her quality of life decreased to the point that she no longer enjoyed life; she lost the ability to control her bodily functions and became mostly deaf and blind. The decision was made about a month ago by those who loved her the most that it was time to say good-bye.

Joe-Joe developed many medical issues in his later years including seizures, and more recently had been diagnosed with a large tumor in his neck. He was showing a lack of interest in food and slept more than usual. He also was becoming hard of hearing. I got to hang out with him and his siblings when his loved ones went on a cruise several weeks ago. Shortly after their return, the difficult decision was made to say good-bye to this much-loved old boy.

Both families took great care of their fur-babies with good medical care, spoiling them with toys, attention, treats, and unlimited love. It is never easy to say farewell to a beloved pet, but is usually the most loving thing one can do for a pet who’s clearly ready to leave this world.

My younger daughter has had more experience in this than most of us do in a lifetime. She had to come home from Tech on a Sunday night years ago to say good-bye to Kricket who’d been attacked by a pit bull in her own yard. Then three years ago, she had to say bye to Amber whose liver had suddenly ceased working. She found this poem by an unknown author called The Rainbow Bridge Poem:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

©2016 Brenda Holland-Robinson