“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” Quote by Josh Billings | ||||
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many splendid colors. Just this side of Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush, green grass.
When beloved pets die, they are carried to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.
They are happy and content except for one thing… they each miss their special people who loved them on Earth. So each day they all run and play together, until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches. The ears are up! The eager body quivers, the bright eyes intent… and this one suddenly runs from the group, flying across the green grass. You have been seen!
And when you and your special friend meet, you take her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the eyes are your trusting pet.
And at last, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together…
Never again to be apart.
-Author Unkown 
Peppy was not with use in rescue long but made an impact. He will be missed but is with her owner who passed away about a month before she came to us. 
A few months after Honey went to Heaven we got a call from a cousin that worked at a Vet clinic. We have a doberman here that is too big for his family and they can't keep him any more. As a puppy he had been abused, rescued and lived happily with his new family for 2 years. Deciding he was simply too big (weighing 100 lbs and standing 32 inches at the shoulder) for two older people with health issues to handle. We drove over to meet Rusty and he came home with us that day on a trial basis......Rusty became a trusted part of our family, regularly sleeping with our then 7 year old son Pete. Rusty lived happily with our family for 5 years before cancer took his life in 1997. 
When Ruckus came to live with our family as a puppy he decided that our son Mark belonged to him. Schipperke's are watch dog, hunter and family pet all rolled in to one small package. Ruckus and his brother Rowdy filled our family with love and laughter. Ruckus was a runner, I remember one winter he left for a week, coming back late at night I could hear a dog outside howling. When the 3 dogs inside started with the "howlaluia" corus I ran to the door, opened it and this little black streak ran in and headed straight for Mark's room. Following him, I witnessed Mark saying in a sleepy voice, "Rowdy go away?!" while petting him. Then all of a sudden realizing this wasn't "Oh! Rucky!!!!" Ruckus was all over Mark, wild with Love and Happiness at being home. Ruckus went to heaven in 2004. 
"Coon" his first family called him, an employee had picked up a dog for his kids. As he came out of my husbands office I remember saying "Oh, Rufus you are so cute!" A few weeks later my husband called me, "Remember that puppy, they can't keep him." So, "Rufus" came to live at our house. Going to work every day with my husband and greeting customers with his famous "oooooorrrrrrr". His mama was a rottweiler and some people said he would turn out mean. Rufus didn't have a mean bone in his body. Even letting the kids dress him in boxes, playing chase in the snow with our youngest. Pete would run and fall with Rufus jumping on him, then he would run and Pete would fall on him in the snow. It was their favorite game. Cancer took Rufus in 2006, we miss him still. 
Honey was 3 when my first son John was born. When we placed him on the floor for her to meet, she fell instantly in love and so it went with Mark and Pete. Those babies became hers to take care of and she did. She knew when they woke from naps, coming to bump me with her nose until I would follow her to their room. She was the "baby monitor". One summer we bought some raffle tickets, a book of six. Placing Honey's name on the last ticket was just a joke....to our surprise she won! We took her to the local paper to have her picture taken with check in mouth, the caption said "Honey says she will share her winnings with her young owners." Each boy got 100.00 to put in their savings. Honey lived with our family for 13 years, she was the "once in a lifetime dog. |
