Dear Lord, please open your gates and call St. Francis

"Dear Lord, please open your gates
and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion
across the Rainbow Bridge. 

Assign them to a place of honor,
for they have been a faithful servant
and have always done their best to please me.

Bless the hands that send them to you,
for they are doing so in love and compassion,
freeing them from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss.
Help me remember the details of their life
with the love they have shown me.
And grant me the courage to honor them
by sharing those memories with others.

Let them remember me as well
and let them know that I will always love them.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise,
please allow them to accompany those
who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of their companionship
and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord,
for granting me the strength
to give them to you now."

4 yr Rainbow Bridge Day

 

My Dear Sweet Montana,

It has been 4 yrs since you left me.  Where has the time gone?  My life hasn't been the same since you passed away.  I miss you so much!  I think about all the great memories we had together.  I think about those times quite often.  I rarely think about your last days.  The surgery on your tail, you not eating, me still giving you the Deramaxx which ended up killing you.  You don't know how much I regret that.  Even to this day I wish I would have listened to my gut.  You might still be here.  You were my heart and soul.  Bailey was a daddy's girl and you were mine. 

I also wanted to thank you for sending Buddy to me.  As you probably know he passed away July 24, 2015.  I sure hope you were there to meet him at The Bridge.  He brought me such happiness and joy.  He was my sweet Bud Bud!  You did a great job picking him out for me.  I realized we really needed each other.  I know you know his story so I don't need to write it out again.  Besides I posted it a couple times in this blog. 
 

Bailey is going down hill.  She has, what I believe is Degenerative Myelopathy.  There is nothing that can be done.  I have a harness for her now for when the time comes that she can hardly walk.  She misses Buddy but I know she missed you so much when you passed away.  She hardly ate for 18 mos.  But I am sure you know that.  She only started eating when I brought Buddy home.  I believe he helped heal her heart too.  I worry about her being alone when I am at work.  Please come and keep her company.

Montana, my boy, please come to visit me in my dreams.  It has been a long time since I have seen and felt you.  I miss you so much!  Happy Rainbow Bridge day my love!

A Young Dog Once Again

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.
But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.
So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic that will
Once more make me whole.
The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.
That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner till the end.
Please, understand just what this gift
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.
You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it, too.
So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To grant me this appeal.
Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.
And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.
I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever-faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
... a young dog once again.

This Is Why Dogs Never Die

2 1/2 yrs

My sweet boy!  It has been 2 1/2 years today that you have been gone.  I miss you just as much as I did when you first left me.  The past couple days have been rough which has made me really miss you.  I miss how you would place your paw on my knee when I would cry or when you wanted attention.  I just miss everything about you.  I know I will see you again and that gives me hope.  Bailey is getting older and has lost her hearing.  That makes me sad.  Buddy will be 12 in April and he is slowing down quite a bit.  I can't believe in a couple weeks Buddy will have been here 1 yr.  After you passed away I never thought I could love another dog.  Buddy has changed that.  I love the little guy!  He seems happy here.  He has to since he is inside and loved. 

 

Buddy at the shelter

                                                                            Buddy at home

Just a little note to say I love you and miss you, Montana!  I can't wait until we are reunited!

The Moment That You Died

It was your birthday on January 1st and I missed writing in here.  You were on my mind all day!  Oh Montana, I am still missing you and crying almost every day.  When will I stop?  I know grief is different for every one.  Bailey and Buddy bring me joy and happiness but there is always something missing.  You!  I hope you had a wonderful Birthday celebration at The Bridge!  I am sure all your friends were there.  I love you, Montana!

Montana's 3rd Christmas in Heaven

 
Even though this is Montana's 3rd Christmas in Heaven I thought I would post this poem that I found on Facebook.

My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's star, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is spectacular, please wipe away the tear.
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas Choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,
For I can't count the blessings of love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,
Remember I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

  

T'was the night before Christmas, at the Rainbow Bridge too
We Bridge kids were thinking, as always, of you
We'd seen how the holidays weren't bright this year
Heard you whisper so often, "I wish you were here"

We know how you wish you could just stay in bed
And sleep through the holiday lying ahead
When all celebrate with their loved ones so near...
Unless they have loved one on this side this year

But we're no less alive here, on the other side
If you could just see us, you would've laughed and not cried
The dogs all in harness, pulling the sleigh
The cats all in Santa hats pointing the way

The pet birds all flying back over the rainbow
Bound homeward in spite of Earth's darkness and snow
All the pets that you've lost, pets for whom you've cried
Flying home on this Christmas to be by your side

If you feel warm fur brush you when no pet's around
Hear a soft bark or purr, just a ghost of a sound
We're trying to tell you we're visiting this way
And our visits, even rainbows, can be on any day

But for Christmas we have something special to do
A sleigh full of happy dream visits for you
On doggy, on kitty, on winged friend and ferret!
The love that you lavished, we mean now to share it!

We're fetching that love home, the way we once played
With the closeness we shared and the memories we made
Our Earth lives with you were too short for us, too
And on this Christmas Eve, we have so much to do

So all through this night as you sleep in your beds
Sweet visions of fur babies dance in your heads
This one special night we can bring you Home for awhile
Your true home in Heaven, where again you will smile

Over the Rainbow you'll fly, for a short while this night
Hours that you'll be happy, hours that will feel right
Hours to cuddle and kiss us, to run and to play
Before the return to Earth in our magic way

They Will Not Go Quietly

The Moment That You Died

You'll Meet Me In The Light

I miss you my boy!  <3

Your Pets in Heaven

Your Pets In Heaven

To have loved and then said farewell, is better than to have never loved at all.

I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.

Today I am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the Sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump, play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.

We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such as you are so rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself. Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

Your Pets In Heaven

By Ken D. Conover

22 mos

My sweet Montana!  Time is flying by.  Two more months and you will have been gone 2 yrs.  I can't believe it.  Even though I don't cry every day, I still cry a lot for you.  I miss you so much!  You were my heart dog and there will never be another dog like you!  Buddy is settling in just fine.  He is a good boy.  The only problem we have is the resource guarding.  He and Bailey got into it because Bailey walked by his food bowl and he went after her.  Stupid me I tried to pull Bailey out of the fight by her collar and she bit me.  It is fine now but it scared me.  I was so use to you and Bailey getting a long great.  I could feed you two right next to each other and not worry about anything.  Since Buddy was outside most of his life I am sure he wasn't sure when he would get food.  I am just guessing but that could be it.  I remember you would go up to Bailey, while she was eating, and bark at her until she finished her food.  You would then go to her bowl to see if there was anything left and then move on to your bowl.  I think that is the reason Bailey stopped eating when you passed away.  She didn't have you to pester her while she was eating.  She is eating now.  I think she is afraid Buddy is going to eat her food.  I won't let that happen.  Well, my sweet boy.... I can't believe it has been 22 mos.  So much has happened since then.  I miss you so much!

Here is a cute picture of Buddy.  He has captured my heart too.  I love him very much but the love I have for him is nothing like the love I had for you.  You were my heart dog!

Not Goodbye!

Buddy part 2

 On March 16, 2013 I drove to Roanoke, VA to meet a sweet old man named Buddy!  He came from a horrendous situation in Floyd, VA.  He was an owner surrender and was left at the shelter for 3 wks.  The poor boy had matted feces stuck on his rear and legs.  He actually had poop hanging from him.  It was disgusting and he smelled so bad.  I took him immediately to the vet to have them shave his rear so he could sit and lay down.  Poor Buddy was so matted and in pain.  He would pant so hard and was so restless.  Always pacing.  It took the rescue 10 days to get him into see a groomer.  A friend was going to pay for it but the rescue stepped up and said to go ahead and make an appointment for him.  He went in to the groomers/vet today and looks, smells and feels so much better.  He has been sleeping most of the day since he got home from the groomers.  I heard he had a very hard time and didn't do well.  Made me so sad to hear that.  He is a good boy.  Just has some resource guarding issues that we are working on.  I always thought I would never be able to let another dog into my heart.  I am letting Buddy in.  He is such a sweet mellow guy.  He was left outside 24/7 for most of his life.  He was severely neglected.  He is laying on a fluffy bed right now sound asleep.  I hope he always knows love from this point on.  I am not sure how long I will have him here.  They want to send him to Nashville for unnecessary surgery.  You see...his old vet said he wasn't neutered but 2 vets, 1 vet tech and 1 groomer all swear he is neutered.  The rescue wants him to have surgery because they think he is cryptorchid.  They think his testicles never descended.  I think they are so wrong.  I don't want this sweet old man having to go through surgery for that.  They would have to open him up and look for something that could be smaller than the size of a pea.  The only reason they want him in Nashville is because the woman in charge of the rescue says that their vet will only charge them $15 more dollars to do the cryptorchid surgery.  They will also need to do an ultrasound to even make sure they are there.  I have considered adopting him but being unemployed makes it very difficult especially when they want me to pay $450.  I just don't have it and I feel it is totally ridiculous for a 11 yr old dog.  Who knows how much time he has left.  I will do my best to try to come up with the money because I have already fallen in love with him.

Montana...I hope you know how much I love and miss you!  You are my love and no one will ever take your place.  Buddy reminds me so much of you!  So sweet and mellow.  He even yawns like you!  :)  I put your old collar on him today after he got back from the groomers.  It looks good on him.  I even ordered him a Boomerang tag for the collar.  He even is laying on your bed.  I thought he deserved that since he has had such a rough life.  He needs something soft to lay on since all he had was the ground to lay on for many years.  I want to spoil him like you were spoiled.  He deserves that.  I am not sure how long he has left but I want to be able to show him love and kindness.  I want to be able to give him a permanent home.  He also deserves that. 

 

Buddy at the shelter

Another one at the shelter

His freedom picture

 Buddy finally home

Happy boy in his crate

Happy boy on his bed

Sleepy Buddy with his bone

Smiling in his crate

So matted

 

Looking out the window

 After grooming..leaving the vet

Home on his bed feeling so much better

Buddy

Hi there sweet boy!  I have some news.  I am fostering this sweet boy named Buddy!  He came from the Floyd County Animal Shelter.  A severe neglect case.  This poor boy lived his whole life outside on a chain.  He is around 10 yrs old. and the papers say he is Collie/Shepherd mix.  Not sure about that.  Will have to see what the vet says.  He came to me full of mats matted with feces.  I had to take him immediately to the vet for them to shave his behind.  The poor boy could hardly sit down without crying out in pain.  It broke my heart!  He had been like that since before he went to the shelter and was there for 3 weeks.  No one brought him to the vet or got him shaved.  What hell he must have been in.  I am waiting to hear from the rescue to see when I can get him into the vet and shaved.  Montana...he has brought a happiness to me that I lost when you passed away.  I never thought I would feel that way again.  It isn't that I am not happy with Bailey because I am.  She is my heart.  It is just that it is good to have another dog in the house.  One that needs love and kindness.  There is a photo that is going around on Facebook called A Dog's Last Will and Testament. 

 I have read this and of course it made me cry.  I honestly believe you sent Buddy to me.  It is something you would do.  I know you don't want me to grieve for you but I do and probably will for a very longtime.  So far I have given Buddy your bowl and toys.  After grooming I will give him one of your collars and your fluffy bed.  I know you would want him to have them.  He desperately needs love and patience.  Bailey and Buddy got into a couple tiffs so far but I expect that to happen.  I am sure it will take time for everyone to adjust.  I love you, Montana.  You will always be in my heart and soul.  No one could EVER replace you!  You were one in a million!

Here are some pictures of Buddy.

Dog Pennies

Your Loss

I'm Home

18 mos

My dear sweet Montana!  Where has the time gone?  Today marks 18 mos since you left me.  I miss you so much!  I thought time would ease the pain of your loss but I still cry every day for you.  I feel I am broken.  Will I ever heal?  I looked at a picture of our house in NC online and the picture shows the house with the yard.  I had to laugh because it shows the big bare area of where you would always go potty.  We could never get the grass to grow there.  You would always kill it.  Bailey would go in different places but you always would go in the same place. 

Bailey had a seizure a little over a week ago.  Scared me to death!  It happened to be her Proin that she is taking for her urinary incontinence.  I guess the dose was too high.  She seems to be fine...thank God!  I don't know what I am going to do when I lose her.  I try not to think about that at all.  If I did it would drive me insane.

It is snowing now.  I think you are the only Siberian Husky that didn't like the snow.  When we were in MI you seemed to like it ok but when we moved to NC you would tip toe through the snow, go potty, then hop right back onto the patio.  It was so funny!  I also have a picture of you hiding under the canoe when it was snowing.  It made me laugh.

You were such a silly boy.  You would always make me laugh and smile.  I find myself laughing and smiling when I think of the silly things you use to do.  I miss them.  I miss YOU!  I just wanted to write a little something to you since today marks 18 mos.  You are always on my mind.  24/7  What I wouldn't give to have you back again.  Only I would want you to be healthy.  I hope you didn't suffer long.  I wish I would have known you were really ill.  I will never forgive myself for leaving you the whole day you were getting worse.  I came home and I knew there was something desperately wrong!  I am so sorry my baby Doopus!!  I would have never left you!  You never showed me you were in pain.  You were so stoic!  You are now a healthy and happy boy!  You don't know how much I look forward until we are together again.  I will be happy when it is the three of us again.  The three of us went through so much together.  We will be happy again together.

Well my love...I must get some sleep.  Please visit me in my dreams.  I long to see your face and feel your fur under my hands.  Some day.....  Good night sweet boy!  I love you!