I will never own another dog.

[austin ensor]

u will say that for a couple of weeks then you will not no what to do without a dog..mans best friend.... thats what we did its worth all the good times you get out of one compared to when they leave you!!! srry for your lose.

[John Rogers]

Sorry for your loss

[Captain Fred Archer]

BW,

I am so very sorry for your loss. I have a very hard time writing about this, so I'm going to just post something that I wrote after a great, heartbreaking loss of my own and then I am going to repeat The Rainbow Bridge because my poem was meant to lead up to it and I, like others, found a great deal of solace in learning of The Bridge and I absolutely do believe that it is there and they are too.

My words first...

“I will wait for you”

From Shadow Girl and Friend

She felt her worn and tired muscles relax and her pain dissolve. She drew in a long, soft breath and relaxed a little more as the familiar, loving scent of her beloved Family filled her lungs. Memories of them rushed through her brain and warmed her great heart. The love replaced the pain and it began to swiftly leave her.

"A collage of happy images and tender days."

She felt the soft touches against her fur. Master’s hands when he lifted her sent a tactile message of his gratitude and love. And she remembered the warmth of the familiar hands of Mistress atop her head and neck and blinked and saw the faces streaked with tears.

"Don't cry for me or feel sad, my loves."

She heard the words one last time as she shut her beautiful and loving eyes. They said her name and the "good girl” words. They reached her through her pain and sorrow and replaced them with powerful, healing love. In her mind she wagged her tail to tell Family that she heard. And understood. And sent her love back to them.

"Good bye, my hearts."

And then she is standing in a lovely meadow awash with stunning, golden sunlight near a clean, bubbling stream. The sky is fiercely blue. The air sparkles in a clarity and sweet cleanliness that she has never know before.

She hears the songs of many birds and smells the growing grass. Happy barking reaches her ears from somewhere nearby. Her legs are strong. Her eyes are clear. Her body is healed. She stands proud and magnificent again. She begins to walk toward a brightly colored bridge, far off on the horizon, but pauses for a moment and looks back.

"Thank you, sweet family. Until the day we walk together once again. I will love you forever. And I will wait for you."

She turns and her now strong rear end wiggles and squirms in happiness and excitement and she runs. And runs. She is joined by a huge, black female Labrador who seems familiar somehow. Her great golden eyes confirm what her heart has told her. It is one named Shadow Girl, come to greet her in joy and happiness. Then, comes another, smaller, strangely familiar dog. As she gazes into her eyes she realizes it is her mother, gone from her these many years. She has come back to claim her baby once again. The three frolic together in the green meadows amid flowers and lush trees and bushes.

And they occasionally stop playing and stand together, heads cocked to one side and one tail wagging and a rear end wiggling slowly in that special way that they have, impatiently watching the horizon.

And they wait for you.

At God's knee.

At a place called Rainbow Bridge.

Captain Fred Archer

The Rainbow Bridge, author unknown

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

When an animal dies that has been especially close to special people here, that one goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills there 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 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 our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss people who were 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 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 wonderful friend, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....


BW and Family,

The special ones know that there is a deep hole in our hearts when they leave us, and so they select another special one to help us heal. Tasha has already done that for you. You know that she loved you too much to leave you here without a special friend to give your great love to and to return it to you. And she knows that you must not forgo the love another special creature because of the pain caused by her leaving you. You will know the one that she has selected when you see him or her, but won’t know that he had been chosen and sent for you to find.

Look for this new one soon. I know that you will open up your heart and take he or she into it. And when you see a bit of Tasha in that new one, you’ll know why now, won’t you? The moment you make that connection, tails will wag and happy barks will ring out up at The Rainbow Bridge.

I know. My Shadow Girl told me so and I think I heard another, smaller dog barking in the background.

What's that, girl? Okay, I'll tell them. Good girl!

Yup, it was your old pal Tasha!

She is happy and waiting.

Thanks, good girl.

Now, if you haven’t already done so, go find your faithful old friend’s gift of love to you. You must not let her down!

With great love, sadness and understanding from a friend and his great good girl, Shadow Girl of Cabo San Lucas and The Rainbow Bridge.

It is real.

Tasha is happy now.

Rejoice!

Captain Fred Archer

[phrog46]

That is an amazing piece you posted. This is twice this thread has brought tears to my eyes

[Ravens16]

Sorry for your lose
We just had to put our girl Sadie down 2 months ago
I still think about her everyday, really sucks

[Questsportfishing]

we have 4 boxes of ashes up near our bar (spirits so to say..) they hold our dogs that we have had.. we have one now that is 18 and still loves the beach although we have been helping hold her up as she eats sometimes because the rear drive is not doing so well... most people that bought bait from me know our dog Shasta here in Fort Lauderdale she fished with me for 6 years every night almost and has made the sun senteniel newspaper .. I know what you are feeling... the best thing you can do though is be happy ... get yourself back down to the pound and find another one that will make you smile ... they need you just like you need them. Sorry for your loss but glad you had a great dog thats what makes the difference. We kinda figure by the time we all pass we will ask someone to take us all up in a tower ...hit a blue edge and dump everything...makes a cool trail. till then remeber it's not the date you were born or the final day it's the small dash in between that makes the difference!

[Boonebird]

Sorry to hear about your loss.
All pet owners have gone threw it.
You as a pet owner have to do what is right for your family member.

[Boston Whaler]

My wife and I sat together and read every one of your touching posts numerous times, holding each other and crying.

Even though I have never met any of you I feel as if I know you.

I hope you all catch a record smashing fish this season.

Thank you.

Brad & Patty

[Bimini29]

i am on my way up to the Mantoloking Beach now with my golden. I am very sorry for your loss. 17 years is a long time, and I can only hope that my goldens will live that long, but I know they will not. I have put 3 dogs down in my life, it is terrible. But, you will get another dog. Maybe not now, or this year, but you will and you will be very happy you did. i could not even finish reading your post, or Grady's, that stuff tears me up. Again, very sorry.