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Just this side of heaven is a beautiful place called rainbow bridge. When an animal who has been especially close to someone here on Earth dies that animal goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all our special animals so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine and they are warm and comfortable. Those that 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 their days and times gone by. They feel no pain or suffering, only comfort. The animals are happy and content but for one small thing; they 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 anxiously into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers.
Suddenly she begins to break away from the group, flying over green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your friend finally join, you cling together in your 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 trusted eyes of your animal friend, so long and painfully gone from your life, but never absent from your heart. Then you cross the bridge to heaven together......to live together in peace and joy and love forever.
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HERSHEY, YOU WILL BE MISSED.
WE KNOW YOU ARE THERE WAITING FOR YOUR FAMILY TO COME SEE YOU AGAIN.
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It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Sweetie. She passed away while under anesthesia to get spayed. She was about to go to her new forever home, but it was just not meant to be. We can only take comfort in the fact that she was loved, fed, warm, and well cared from the time that we rescued her to the time that she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
As you can see from her photo above, she always had a smile on her face and she lived up to her name!
Please join us in extending our condolences to the family who had planned to adopt her. They are brokenhearted, but they are going to take Sweetie’s ashes to keep in a place of honor. They are still going to adopt an older dog from us. Isn’t that a wonderful family? While we can say “if only Sweetie had had some time with them,” but we’re sure she will be looking down from her place at the Bridge waiting to be joined with the family that would have loved her so.
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DIGGER
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We're so sorry to say that Joe and Anne Pugh, who adopted Digger in September 2009, have had to say goodbye to him. Digger had liver cancer, discovered just a couple of days before his passing. Joe and Anne had to make the difficult decision to let Digger cross over Rainbow Bridge. Even though they had Digger for only 6 mos, they report that he was the best dog they ever had - and they have had several senior dogs. Digger quickly became, at 14yrs old, an integral member of the family and went everywhere with them - the bank, store, even down to their beach house. He also attended meetings where people were grieving over the loss of a pet. Digger's presence made them feel better. Everyone who met him loved him. He was glued to Joe and Anne, a true Velcro Cocker! He was their little gentlemen. They said he added so much to their lives. Anne was going to see about having Digger get certified as a therapy dog. That's how sweet he was. The only regret that they have is that he wasn't in their lives longer. Even though their time with Digger was short he had touched their hearts deeply and is going to be sorely missed.
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Our 17-1/2 year old Rush crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in the middle of November 2009. A couple of weeks before, chest x-rays show several massive tumors in his lungs, so we knew his time with us was drawing to a close. When he stopped eating, kept falling over when he tried to walk, and wet himself while lying on the kitchen floor, we knew it was time to say good-bye. Beth and I were with him when he left his earthly body behind. He went so peacefully, just falling asleep as we petted and talked to him. Even through our sadness, we knew we were so blessed to have known and loved this special boy.
Rush was such a “perfect gentleman”. And he never acted like a senior citizen, running with our pack, even up and down the stairs multiple times a day. I have heard it said that older dogs are too much trouble to foster or adopt, but I couldn’t disagree more. They are already house trained, are rarely territorial, and have left the “chew everything in sight” phase behind. Rush was accepted by our pack within minutes of first stepping through the door. He was not a picky eater and faithfully did his business in the yard. He was just the best dog, of any age, one could want. His year and a half with us provided laughter, love, and memories we will cherish forever.
Thank you CSAC for rescuing Rush and allowing him to love and frolic his way into our lives and hearts!
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Six years ago I received a phone call from Valerie asking me if I would consider fostering a 2 year old female that could not go to a kennel because of a suspected heart problem. She was still in the vet's office, but she pleaded with me to take a look. I was still reeling from the recent loss of LadyBug and my I didn't know if I could bring another into our home.
But . . . I went to the vet's hospital to meet Lydia - what a precious little girl - she was petite and spunky and loving. She wasn't ready to be released and when I left she started to whimper . . . of course . .. that did it . .. I told the vet hospital that I would be back to get her when she was ready to be released.
And so began life with Lydia - she was so full of life - everything was an adventure - she loved our other dogs - they loved her - she loved to romp and play and snuggle and give kisses.
We made an appointment for a cardiology work-up. We had no idea at that juncture how bad her heart was. She had a genetic birth defect - the duct to one of the heart's ventricles never closed and blood was constantly seeping into that chamber. One of her chambers was so enlarged that the doctor said it was the size of a labrador's. The prognosis was poor. The doctor said - maybe 6 weeks . . . . However . . . he prescribed multiple medicines - even a new one that we could only get from Canada . . . and our 6 weeks with this darling girl turned into 6 years.
A month ago, she was having trouble breathing - we knew that the time had come . . .we took her to the vet - she stayed there 4 days - and then we took her back to the cardiologist where her medicine was re-adjusted - she was in congestive heart failure. We knew now that she was really on borrowed time - we were told to have her avoid stress - to avoid excess exertion - we carried her so that she didn't have to walk the steps - we gave her all of her favorite foods.
For the past two days, her appetite dimished - she wasn't her spunky self - of course we never thought that there would be a day without Lydia.
Last night, Leslie carried Lydia downstairs to go outside and then he carried her back upstairs. She died in his arms, surrounded by the love we had for her.
She was such a gentle spirit - a wonderful little girl - hopefully she is with all of the other Goldstein clan romping and playing across the Rainbow Bridge.
Barbara
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David died Sunday morning of kidney failure. He died as he lived, with courage and on his own terms. We only had him 18 months, but we were truly blessed for every minute of those 18 months.
For those of you who never got to meet David, I feel truly sorry for you. He lived for 12 years in a tiny wire crate in a puppymill, and was rescued by Linda Koser along with the other "American Idols." He had to have an eye removed when he came into rescue (it had been injured and never tended to--I hate to think of the pain he was in all of that time). David was not in very good shape, and Linda told me she was worried about him. Bob and I agreed to foster him, thinking we could help this poor little soul. Stupid, stupid us--that little dog taught us more about love and courage and perserverence and just being cool than we ever thought possible.
David was our ambassador of goodwill--he would always greet new fosters when they came in as if to say 'this isn't such a bad place, you'll be ok.' He'd show them the water bowl and the beds, and would often lie down next to them when they first arrived. When Linda was dying, he stayed by her until she passed and then he howled when her sprit was gone. God knows I howled when his spirit departed.
He is at peace now, out of pain. He died on his own, and he lies next to Charlie in the ever expanding doggie memorial garden. Thanks, CSAC, for giving us such a precious gift. There is nothing quite like these older PM dogs--and I had the best one of all.
Nancy
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Our Daisy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge last evening at the ripe old age of 16. She was always a petite lady, but her weight had dropped to 10 pounds, has extreme difficulty getting her back legs to work, and the coup de gras...she stopped eating. We were fortunate to have had her in our lives for six years and were with her at the end to ease her crossing.
Daisy was the first dog I ever transported for CSAC. Valerie called me at work soon after becoming a volunteer and asked if I could pick up two dogs who were just rescued from the Montgomery Animal Shelter. They had been dropped off at the Pasadena PetSmart for baths and grooming, so I would have to pick them up there and transport to Tail End Kennel. I didn't even have carriers yet, but agreed to pick them up. Daisy laid on the back seat. From the time I got them settled to the time we made it out of the shopping center, Daisy was sound asleep. In fact, she slept so soundly for so long, I was afraid she had died. I could just hear myself telling Valerie the first dog I handled for CSAC died while I had her. Luckily, she woke up when my vehicle reached the kennel.
Beth and I agreed to foster Daisy and took her to several White Flint adoption shows, where she barked and growled at any person who came within five feet of her. Needless to say, she wasn't adopted from the show. But she was a completely different dog in our home. Warm, funny and prone to lay on any pillow she could find; hence her nickname "Princess of the Pillows". Kate, our college freshman, asked if she was eligible to adopt Daisy...and as the say, "the rest is history."
Daisy had been "thrown away" twice before CSAC rescued her. We like to think the last six years of her life were a happy, safe time for her. She certainly taught us a lot about love. We will miss her, but our other six won't let us brood too long.
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Missy’s story will break your heart. She was an example of everything that is right and wrong with the world. It seems Missy’s owners allowed her to wander outside. One day she wandered into the woods in back of her house and got tangled in some barbed wire. Her owners didn’t bother looking for her, so she spent many days entangled in the wire. It ripped her skin and she was unable to eat or drink anything. She was alone in the woods, morning, noon, and night, for days on end. She must have been terrified!
One day, some hunters found her and thankfully called animal control. They commented that it seemed she had resigned herself to dying. Humane workers went out to the woods, cut her out from the barbed wire, and took her to the shelter. She was terrified. It appears that Missy was mostly deaf and blind and had no idea what was going on with her. By some miracle, the shelter was able to track down her owner. You would think they would be overjoyed to get Missy back and to know she was safe, right? Wrong! They told the shelter they didn’t want her back because they would have to pay a $30 fee! They were able to tell the shelter workers that Missy was 17 years old! Can you imagine a 17 year old dog, practically deaf and blind, being stranded in the woods for days, only to be left at the shelter and almost certain death for a mere $30??? One can only guess what kind of people owned her, and how they could give up on a dog that had given them 17 years of her life.
After being placed in a foster home, Missy had a wonderful ten months to finish out her life. Missy was so adorable and investigated every nook and cranny in the house! She was like a little monkey because she found herself getting stuck every now and then! She was known to get caught behind the toilet and the wall, between the poles on a floor lamp, behind the TV set, and let’s not forget behind the desk top computer with all its wires!
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It is with a broken heart that I must tell all of you about the passing of Farren. For those of you who don't remember, Farren came to CSAC in Sept, 2008 blind and deaf after being found as a stray twice in two years by the local police and turned into the the Harrisburg Humane society. We became his foster parents and officially adopted him in March, 2009. What a wonderful little man he was. Our vet estimated his age between 12-13 years. Even though he was blind and deaf he did not let that stop him. He certainly taught us about living life on life's terms. He wanted nothing but love, belly rubs, treats and a warm place to cuddle up, preferable as close to you as possible. Oh, and an ocassional chocolate pudding (inside joke).
He was only with us a short period of time but taught us so much about living. Farren suffered two grand mal seizures and a stroke last week and it became quite clear that he was not going to recover from the brain damage the stroke had caused, so as I held him tightly in my arms he was quietly put to sleep Thursday morning.
Rest in peace my little man. You are my hero, Farren
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