Rainbow Week - Second Day

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge..........



Winnie the Bulldog

She was a sweetheart who was only with us four years when she died of lymphoma. Broke our hearts. A gentle giant with children...and a first class snorer.



Dutchess 1988 to 2000

A much beloved Doberman rescue, who though riddled with arthritis, stayed by my side day and night when I tore my ACL and was homebound for two months. She seemed to wait until I was able to get up and around before dying shortly afterwards at the age of 12. I spent many nights sleeping on the floor beside her during her final days, trying to give back some small measure of the love and comfort she had given me. A great dog.



Oscar 1990 to 2003

A Daschund devil who gave me no end of pleasure at his antics. My husband learned not to yell at Oscar or he would later find his slippers filled with a 'deposit' from the boy. Dutchess and Oscar were a sight to see when they were together, as their coloring and markings matched, even if their height didn't. Oscar died at the age of 13, a wonderful little rascal.



Lodie

A sweet natured Boxer who came to us shortly after we lost Dutchess, when her former owner had to go into a nursing home. Her first night in our house was hilarious as she tried desperately to play with Oscar, the Daschund - the first time she had ever played with another dog. They became great friends and in their time together, Lodie and Oscar spent many a winter night curled together before the fire. Lodie-girl was 12 when she died not long after Oscar.

W had three yellow Labs at the same time we also had Dutchess and Oscar- it was a very full house with 5 dogs and four children under 12. Jo-Jo was mother to the other two labs, Red and Jake. Another bunch of wonderful pups. Jo-Jo actually saved two of my children from falling out a two story window. Obviously, she holds a very special place in my heart.



Looker

The neighbor came home with his new black and white puppy, a cute little fellow. The pup kept coming over to our house to play and just hang out. He seemed very attached to my husband. Soon the pup was waiting when he walked out the door and followed him everywhere, even jumping in the car to ride with him. One day the neighbor came to the door and said, " I think this dog was supposed to be yours, you two have something special going on." For the rest of his life, they were never apart.



Allie

Allie and his littler mate Jess were adopted together. Jess had a sleek black coat with neat little white feet. She was small and dainty and a fine mouser. Allie was large and messy and clumsy. Jess would jump from the floor to the bookshelf, then walk the stair rail to a sunny spot. Allie would jump and miss and crash to the floor taking picture frames and books with him. Once on the stair rail, he would lose his footing and tumble down the stairs. He preferred to hide from mice. He died several months after Jess.



Dylan (on the right)

He was a silly pup who loved to bound thru the snow with his dog friends. He could clear a room with his snoring and he could catch a bird on the wing. He went crazy at the sight of water, a wading pool, a hose or a lake, it was all the same to Dyl, a place to play. He accepted Ellie into his life in his later years and taught her to chase the cats, Allie and Jess.



To Love Again...
Oh what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to my gate,
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth and food?
For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny,
While she, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house the law.

She scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed,
She ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke my heart the day she died.
So if you really think, oh cat I'd willingly relive all that.
Because you come forlorn and thin
Well don't just stand there - come on in.

Author Unknown



Cat died 11/16/2009

We don't know where he came from or what sort of life he had lived. We know his people let him down and didn't deliver on the promises they made to him as a kitten. He was a pretty cat, smokey gray with white markings, but he hid from people and stole food to exist.

We don't know why he chose us at the end, maybe it was the stray piece of dog food overlooked by our pups, or the bird feeders that distracted the fat sparrows and made them easy prey, or maybe it was just the comfortable porch furniture that offered a soft spot to spend the night and a place to bask in the sun in the afternoon.

Maybe he knew he needed help when he became sick and sensed that we wouldn't turn our backs. We're sorry that we only knew you when it was too late, but maybe we helped end the pain and fear.