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 begins 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....
Author unknown...
Today is the day I been dreading since last January. My Darling Desiree is no longer here. She has gone to sleep for ever. I can hardly write this as my eyes fill with tears again as I think of her. She fought the liver disease with great courage and in the summer it looked as if she might have beaten it, but she began to get weaker in October and the disease has finally taken my beautiful girl. She was ready to go and escape the discomfort and I take comfort that she is now at peace even though it hurt so much to look into those big brown eyes for the last time.
I am so grateful that she was part of our lives for the last seven years, I remember vividly going to pick her up from Eileen's house and how quickly she became part of our family. I know that dogs always enhance our lives but she brought so much to mine. Desi introduced me to the sport of agility and she was so patient -well most of the time-with me and eventually we began to work as a team and we had such fun! Desiree also introduced me to lots of new friends and I am so grateful to her for enriching my life with such caring, enthusiastic, supportive and positive people.
Every time a plane goes overhead, I will remember Desi. She loved to chase them and one day she might have caught one! She loved to race up the hillsides in Colorado and enjoy the cool mountain air. Our dear friends who spend the summer in Breckenridge were so kind to invite her many times-including this last July and this is another fond memory of her and just how much she enjoyed her life.
When we came home tonight from the vet, another lasting and wonderful gift from Desi - Guinness- came racing to greet us with the usual wags and kisses. Again thank you, Desi, for being such a good mother to all your special puppies. You brought such joy into our world. We will miss you! May you rest in peace and may your spirit live on with us.
Carole Mitchell
Our special blue boy went to RB this morning. He was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago and things moved very quickly. He had been in pain for the past few days so my vet came here this morning to help him on his way. We are so sad but know that now he is free from pain and joining his mother Patches who went to the Bridge on August 3, 2009!
Cheers was my partner---conformation, obedience and agility. We did our last agility trial only a month ago. He was born in our home and our last Beardie (had beardies since 1981). Cheers was everyone's friend--always a happy boy that had a full mouth smile (yes, uppers and lowers).
Please give your doggies a hug in Cheers' honor.
Megg, Ted and Gylf
9/17/09
We had to put Allie down on Tues evening. She was getting over her pancreatitis and abscesses but she was worn out and had "the look."
We made it very nice for her. Sent Dr Boggs flowers before we got there and had Allie in her wagon with photos all over her of her life. She had a McDonalds hamburger and french fries and cookies and ice cream as her last meal.
Dr. Boggs was so sweet. She took her time and let us light a candle, turn out the lights and have the only light being the candle and one of the x-ray box lights on in the room. She stroked her head and enjoyed our stories. Darron said a prayer and cracked near the end which I thought was sweet. My friend, Ann, read a poem and placed in on top of Allie.
I put my hand under her back leg with my fingers on her pulse because I wanted to feel her last heartbeat. I think I drained my tear ducts over the past 3 weeks. We all were teary but not sobbing. We feel so at peace now knowing that she's in a better place. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
I lost my Beardie Girl Yesterday.
She had a long good life and she died in her sleep. Her little heart stopped.
Bobbie Bokelund
Emi, Eminator, Beemer, Sweet Girl... The list goes on.
Emi was born with a big white M on the back of her neck. She was our Divine Ms. M from day one. So when we decided to keep her, we had to pick a name that would be logical for a call name of "MSsss." Emi was about 4 weeks old, in a litter of 7, when my Mother came for what was to be her last visit. She had come up for Christmas, and the puppies added joy to the season. Although Mom was failing, she loved to play with the pups. Emi seems to have been the last of that litter. We lost both her Mom, Bretta, and her sister, Dani, and probably her brother, Sagan, to brain cancer, the same kind that has attacked Ted Kennedy. Emi never showed any signs of the seizures.
When Emi was about 18 months old, we baby-sat a litter of 3 Labs for a friend. And the delight in Emi's eyes, as she laid under the elm in the backyard, keeping all 3 pups within the confines of her paws, I hope will stay with me forever.
One of my friends has Rhodesian Ridgebacks. We travel to shows together frequently. And one of my favorite "Emi" stories is Debbie's. She was fast asleep. Em decided it was time to get up. So she got a drink of water, jumped on Debbie's bed, and kissed her awake. *I* awoke to screams and shouts.
And when I left Emi in Portland to be bred, she stayed with the mother of the stud dog's owner. Mom decided that I was a terrible Mom, and she would spoil my dog, and make me regret leaving my sweet girl. At that time, dogs were not allowed on the furniture. By the time Emi left, they were allowed on the bed and on the love seat in the family (TV) room. I heard that "Mom" decided to take a nap with Emi one day, and they laid down on the bed together. Emi kept insisting on attention to the point that after an 1/2 hour, nap time was declared over.
Emi was bred only once. Both her performance career, and her brood bitch career suffered from my medical issues. However, she was awarded her Register of Merit from her only litter, and Jim and I gained some wonderful friends, including Pat Columbo and Joel Robinson with Ryan, and Geoff and Pam Hobert, with Beo.
It was when her puppies were 3 weeks old that I started her agility training. And I realized that Emi was a very serious girl, a perfectionist. And I loved to travel with her. Oh, her puppies--we kept two. One went Winner's Dog out of the 9-12 class at a Regional, and one went Winner's Bitch at a Regional, two years later.
When Jim and I returned home from California last October, after the Santa Rosa National, Emi was doing poorly, barely eating. So I started fixing chicken soup for the dogs for every meal. Her appetite picked up immediately, and I have continued making soup for our crew. When Emi reach 15, we celebrated with ice cream. This
past winter was a cold one, and she had problems being outside. I was concerned then for our girl. But she rallied when spring and summer finally arrived until just recently.
She accompanied me when I went with a friend to the Coeur d'Alene shows over Memorial Day. We camped on the show site, in a tent trailer--a first for both Emi and me. And I was thrilled by the concern voiced by people who didn't know Emi and didn't know me. And friends made the trip very wonderful. Emi was tired when we got home, but her eyes twinkled, and her tail wagged. Several weeks later, she went with me down to Portland, and again was treated royally, and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
But she has gradually slipped this last couple of weeks, becoming weaker. And this week--well, Emi proved to be the toughest decision we have had to make regarding the dogs. Although she had no mobility, she could usually control her bladder, she knew when we were with her, she loved, in fact demanded her meals with non-stop barking, and until last week, seemed to be happy. In fact, last week. she bit my toe!! Well. my jeans were puddled around my foot, and there was biscuits in the jeans, both from training and from work. And well, she wanted the biscuits.
So this morning, she had ice cream with her breakfast. And I gave her treats before going to the vet's. And when I told my friends about helping Emi to the Bridge, one said "We'll lift a glass to Emi this weekend--or maybe an ice cream cone. She would have preferred that". I will celebrate her life--but first, I need to stop tearing up.
Give your kids ice cream for us.
Jane and Jim and the Alamos Animate.
Photo by Tien Tran
It is with great sadness that Neil and I must let all our friends who knew Talisker know, that we lost him on July 1st. Although he had been ill for many months we were grateful that, other than an occasional day, he never knew that he was ill and that was still the case in his final hours. We were lucky to have several unexpected months to spend with Talisker and really enjoy him.
Talisker was the first dog that Neil and I had together and we can still remember going to get him 14 years ago. Of course, he was going to be brown and female but we fell in love with Talisker. Talisker opened up a whole new world of activities to which we may never have been introduced. Along with that came many new friends – most of you who are reading this. He really enjoyed new adventures, meeting people and dogs. There are many things that we would never had done had it not been for T. We would not have taken part in agility or sheep herding. I would not have the job that I do. We would not live in the house that we do and we certainly would not have Jura and Glayva. We may never have discovered vacations in Vermont and most importantly, the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory. Who knows, we might not still be living in the USA!
Talisker was a happy dog who just liked to be busy all the time – only last week I found him on top of our garden wall and I have no idea how he got there. If there was nothing else to do then he could always BARK! He is a beardie after all. Sadly, our home is quiet now.
Neil, Ruth, Jura & Glayva
The house seems very empty tonight without Colton. He was such a big part of my life for the last twelve years and I miss him terribly.
Barbara and the brown dustmop dudes, Brinian and Eriskay
Photo by Pat Cagney
Sadly, I lost my beautiful brown eyed O'Shea on April 15th, 2009. At the time I was just unable to write about her. She has done her fair share of contributing to the BAD membership roll in her children and brought much love and joy to my heart.
Sandy McDonald
Photo by Karen Barratt
Our hearts go out to Robin Fortenberry who lost both her dogs and her home to a fire on April 8. Her Beardie Dos and her Manchester Gretchen succumbed to smoke inhalation. Robin wrote, “Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It's really very hard. Not a day goes by that I do not think of both Dos and Gretchen. I did not ever think that I would lose them both this way, that they would not grow old. Even though Gretchen was 15, she had so much energy. She ruled Dos and he loved it. My only comfort is that they both went curled up together. Dos loved Gretchen so much and she loved him. Again thank you.”
Meaux and Jean Larroux of Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Photo by Ann Clayton
“Shelby was my first beardie and was everything that I was hoping for plus much more. She was bright, willing, athletic, sweet, loyal, funny, talented and a wonderful mom. She truly surpassed all that I could have expected of her. Thanks to Pam and Shelby I know that I will always have beardies in my life.”
Tobé Saskor Photography
“My sweet brown boy Rob went to sleep forever Monday afternoon. He was approaching his 15th birthday and had been having a difficult time this winter with the cold and ice. I had the feeling he wouldn't last until the spring. Rob collapsed Sunday night and on Monday I made the difficult decision to let him go. I shall miss him always.”
“Our dear, sweet Cydney passed away last week. She was sixteen and a half. We all miss her very much.”
Photo by Tien Tran
=Photo by Tien Tran
Our Darby left us and crossed the Bridge this afternoon, and we are sitting in a much quieter and sadder house this evening. After 4 months of ups and downs with his health, his body had just had enough, and we let him go. We’re probably doing as well as anyone who’s been through this damn situation, and we surely do appreciate your thoughts and concern. (Anyway, Dennis says that when I cry it reminds him of a time when he once heard a calf bawling for its mother on the other side of a fence, so you don’t want that in your ear, do you?) I’m here to tell you the agility bond that I shared with him has made this ever so much harder to bear. Hug your pups one time for the Darbster. That little guy sure was fast.
It is with a sad and heavy heart that I let you know that we lost our "little man, Ripley" about 6 weeks ago to a battle with cancer.
Artisan Rook's Feather...Delilah passed away in a freak hit by car accident yesterday. She died almost immediately. I am thankful I was with her and got to hold her. I am just so sad and empty without her. I had a baby boy 2 months ago. Delilah absolutely loved him. She slept in the nursery with him, would gently lick his head and got up with me every night for the night feedings. But most of all, Delilah was my best friend. She was one of the silliest dogs I have ever had. The house seems so empty without her. Grendel just keeps wandering around looking for her. Our golden Sawyer is sitting out by the scrub oak Delilah would lay by....just waiting. Please hug your dogs and give them a special treat in memory of one of the coolest dogs ever....Delilah
Ann Clayton Photographic Imaging
Photo by Tien Tran
"It's with a heavy heart I have to tell you, Tom and I had to help Murray cross the rainbow bridge on Friday night. Murray was 14 1/2 and had a great life. His passing was very fast. He only got sick on Thursday and was gone on Friday. He didn't suffer and I was glad Tom was home and we shared his passing together. It's never easy saying goodbye to a dear friend.
Murray lived in 3 states and got to travel through and visit many more. He loved running on the beach in California, in New Jersey he loved the long walks through the beautiful state parks, and here in Missouri he loved to go to the school where he could run, play ball, or just go for a walk.
Murray was very intelligent and had a great sense of humor. How he could make us laugh. He went through life on his terms and his own way. He will be so missed. Please think of him."
Cheri Omnus
John Spivey/pawPrints
Breezy's life ended peaceably on a Sunday afternoon. Breezy had let us know that it was time.
Lu and I thank everyone who sent emails in response to my recent post reporting on Breezy's failing health. Your expressions of sympathy and support and the many who shared their experience of losing a Beardie friend gave us the strength to make the decision to end Breezy's downward spiral. Your caring let us know that we wouldn't grieve alone.
Breezy is the dog of our lifetime. Breezy transformed the ordinary lives of 2 ordinary people into a fairy tale-like experience. Because of Breezy Lu and I have wonderful friends that we would not otherwise have including many we have never met like many of you reading this post. Breezy had taken us out of our confined world and took us to places and events beyond our imagination. Our home is filled with trophies, plaques and ribbons because of Breezy. More importantly, she filled our home with love and companionship. She gave our lives purpose, pride and fulfillment. She lived up to her name, Precious Friend. Breezy was extraordinary! We are humbled by her greatness.
Breezy's death has left an extreme emptiness in our lives. Lu and I are grieving deeply. We are comforted by knowing that all of you understand our grief.
Jerry
Breezy's life is celebrated on her website, Breezy's Scrapbook, at:
www.geocities.com/jerber0/breezy.html
"It is our sad news that at 3:00 today, at home, our Little Miss Kassi crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. With the assistance of Dr. Wolpher, she gently fell fast asleep on her favorite bed with her mom lying by her side. Kassi has been dealing with nasal cancer and our old girl was fading fast. She fell two weeks short of her 17th Birthday and our hearts are filled with sorrow. She has taught me lots, especially about unconditional love, and we miss her dreadfully. We have many fond memories to keep close to our hearts and she will never be forgotten. Kassi will come to rest beside KODDI at home after cremation. With Tears in our Eyes, Leslie and Cliff Dawson-North"
Photo by Tien Tran
"The trip to California was a great thing to do for him (for us) but it was also hard on him and I helped him along to the Rainbow Bridge on April 25, at 13.5 years. He taught me a ton and was one of the first Beards out there playing on the West Coast."
"I wanted to let all of you know that as of Monday, March 24th, Miss C is running pain-free at the Rainbow Bridge.
I'm still too sad to say more."
Photo by Tien Tran
"She became my running, hiking and biking partner. She brought a tremendous amount of joy to my life. I feel honored that she was able to spend the last 7 years with me. I will miss her more than anything."
Photo by Tien Tran
Sad to say that PATTY joined the list of pioneer Beardies at the Rainbow Bridge late last fall. It's still too hard to talk about.
"Being in his presence was the purest affirmation of possibility, of joy, of love."
"He was my loyal, faithful partner and friend and I will miss him more than I know right now."
CH O'Duinnin Picabo Streak
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"Drake was so very important to me and such a great friend and helper."
"We said Goodbye to Amos this afternoon.
He was one tough kid, with a ton of personality.
Many of you old timers will remember Amos stories...there were plenty of them.
We'll miss him very, very much but it was time to let him go.
He'll be running with the others at the Bridge tonight, something he has not been able to do for a very long time."
Sharon and Joe
Photo courtesy of Bill Newcomb
Photo by Tien Tran
Photo by Tien Tran
Photo Courtesy of Catherine Haake
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Photo by Russ Burdick Photography
19 April 1991 - 23 November 2003
Owners/Handlers: Libby Myers-Buhite and Jack Buhite of Santa Clara CA
Betelgeuse--a giant red variable star in the constellation Orion. "armpit of the giant" Betelgeuse--a brown barking boisterous Beardie boy who through his enthusiasm for life got us both involved in many facets of life we wouldn't have otherwise done. I was indeed fortunate to know your love, loyalty, and devotion. You have marked my life permanently, inside and outside, with the pawprints from your life. Thank you.
Owners: Tom and Marilyn Severson of Saugus, CA
Carl and Kay Widell, Alice Goodman and Kathleen Flanagan
