They Were Loved, and They Will Never Be Forgotten
This page is a memorial for all of the dogs (and very special people) who have passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
Finley had a rough start to life. He was found by animal control walking down the highway while completely blind. When his family came to claim him they left, without him, claiming he wasn't worth the impound fee. Fortunately Rainbow stepped in and rescued him.
I found Finley through a website and immediately fell in love with him after reading his story. Although blind and cast aside by those that should have loved him he had an indomitable spirit and love for life.
While we only had Finley for a very short year and a half we were blessed to have him in our lives. He taught our family a lot. Like, even though there are obstacles (blindness) you should still live life to the fullest. And I believe he did.
We tried our best to give Finley the life and love he so deserved. He will be missed and remembered always.
Angel Mia is at the Rainbow Bridge playing like a young puppy. She was only with her adoptive mom for 10 months but those were wonderful months for her. Mia was a senior who was adopted and loved by Rosemary. Rosemary is one of those wonderful, special people who look past the years and see a special friend who needed love and caring. Her love and caring more than made up for the previous neglect to which Mia was subjected.
Thank you, Rosemary, for loving and taking good care of Mia.
We called Missy 'Our Little Sweetie" because no other words seemed to describe her better. We only had Missy with us for about four months but in that time she managed to become a major part of our family and losing her as we did so suddenly has been incredibly hard. Missy had a lot of things wrong with her but she found ways to deal with them and to compensate. She was a joy to watch and be with. We learned so much from her about dealing with the tough things in life and that has helped us during this sad time. The tears we have in our eyes are more for us than for her. We miss her terribly but she is and always will be one of the greatest gifts we have been given in our lives.
We Love You, Sweetie.
Murphy
When I got Murphy at a shelter in Ohio, he was approximately 6-9 months old. It was January so I picked March 17th, St. Patrick's Day to celebrate his birthday. Being Irish, I knew he deserved a good Irish name, therefore, Murphy... I called a friend of mine in Ireland Sr. Elizabeth Corrigan, and told her. She said, why didn't you name him Paddy that's a good Irish name? So he was from that day forward on all his papers, he was officially - Murphy Paddy O'Higgins... It fit him because he was a border collie, corgi and loved to herd. A friend of mine even designed a FB account... Murphy's occupation - herder. And he had quit a few FB friends... He was my baby for over 10 years and my heart is broken but I know he is in heaven.
Petey
Once again we are broken hearted. After a long fought battle with his kidneys and his heart, and at the young age of 16, we decided to let Petey go to Rainbow Bridge to join all his sisters. As we loved them all, but he is probably the hardest to part with. Petey was the last of the group of 4. He's been an only child for a few years now and never spent a moment alone. We didn't pick Petey, he picked us 16 years ago by running in front of our car just minutes from home. With it being 24 hours after losing David's Sly boy, we knew that Sly had a hand in directing Petey where to go. We weren't really little dog people, but then Petey didn't know he was a little dog. He lived all his life with his much larger Aussie and Pointer sisters and loved them all. He traveled over 55,000 miles with us crisscrossing the country camping countless times. He's been to more states and provinces than most people and loved every minute of it. He was one of a kind, irreplaceable and we will miss him more than I can say.
My special handsome boy is gone. He had a rough start to life. He was left tied to a 7-11 pole in Pungo, thus his name. Even though he was deaf, he knew what I was saying to him and he knew that I loved him with all my heart.
He loved traveling and camping with us and his best friend, Abby. I know that he is waiting at the Bridge for me with all of my furry babies who are gone. Rest in peace my special Angel.
Roxy was not with her family as long as they would have liked. Her fosters loved her so much that they adopted her knowing that, when taken out of animal control, she had a tumor on her neck. It was removed, but there was no way to know if it had spread. She and her family went to the Dog Park everyday. She was known at the Dog Park as the “Godfather” because she broke up fights and protected the little dogs. She is now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for her family and watching over the little angels who are with her. Her body is gone but her spirit will always be with them.
Our hearts are again broken as on Tuesday Aug. 30, 2011 we let Ruby join her sisters at Rainbow Bridge after a long fought battle with a brain tumor. Ruby was 15 years old and was our girl for all that time. We rescued Ruby when she was just 6 months old in Dunnelon, Florida. We didn't really go there to see Ruby, but another Aussie. But when Ruby ran up to David and kissed him, it was a done deal. She was ours. Ruby traveled all over the country with us and her brother and sisters. She was happy to go anywhere with us. She loved to play frisbee and could catch anything you threw to her. She was the most agile Aussie I'd ever seen even in her teen years. She was also the most loving Aussie. I just can't think of any time when Ruby ever did anything wrong. She was as close to perfect as they come. There just are no words to decribe how much we love her and miss her so terribly already. I know she is at Rainbow Bridge now playing frisbee with her sisters, Kaley and Abby. Rest in peace my love, you're the best and we'll love you always.
Sadie has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Even though she was with her forever family for such a short time, she had more love and toys then most dogs have in a lifetime. She will be sorely missed by her loving family and all who knew her. She is playing now waiting for her family to join her one day.
Dear Scooter,
You were the embodiment of everything that is pure and good and real. You showed everyone that it is not the condition of your body that defines you, but the condition of your heart.
I don't know much about your first 8 years, but i know without a doubt that your last 6 were the ones that really counted. I know that blindness forced you to live in perpetual dark and yet you returned nothing but light.
You are missed beyond words. It is my prayer that you now know what it is to run without pain, to see without impairment, and that you still know that everyday you are loved by the ones you left behind. We may have been your third family, but we are your forever family.
From our hearts,
Noa, Tiffany, Jeremy, Shobi, and all of the foster dogs you inspired me to bring home
Sweet Socks came into our life a little over 12 weeks ago and a week before my beloved beagle, LitL Bit, crossed over Rainbow Bridge. We were happy to give this 15 ½ year old girl a forever home. I referred to her as my senior with special needs. She loved walks and car rides. If my car was on the street she went to it and looked back at me to see if we were going somewhere. As weeks went by she went from being able to walk a mile a day to only a few feet. She could no longer get up on her own, even on carpet. I trip to our vet revealed that due to the arthritis in her spine the vertebrae had collapsed on the nerves. Anyone who has ever had back problems knows that this is painful. She never complained. She just looked at you and wanted her silky head patted. She crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/13. She is missed but I take comfort in knowing she is no longer in pain and she can run and play again.
Betty and Steve
Sunny
...the greatest friend I ever had!
Love, Jim
I first saw Willow on TV as a Rainbow Rescue dog up for adoption. I don't know why, but I couldn't get her out of my mind. I called and emailed and arranged to meet her. I fell in love with her instantly. What a sweet baby. She bonded very quickly with the family and Willow seemed very happy. Always wagging her tail and giving kisses. She loved her toys and played with them like she was a puppy instead of a senior dog and she loved going on walks. We only had this sweet girl a week before she left us. But I will never forget how even at the vet, literally an hour before she died, she still wagged her tail at us when we walked into the room. Willow didn't make it out of surgery but I hope she knows she was loved and she mattered. We miss her very much and so badly wish we had more time with her.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2015 my beloved companion Barney passed away peacefully. Barney had been battling several health problems and I decided with love and sadness that I didn't want him to suffer any longer. Although Barney was with me for less time than I imagined he would be, I cherish the time we spent together. Found on the street in Virginia Beach, it was through the efforts of Esther Williams and Rainbow Animal Rescue that he found a loving home with me for the last years of his life. Barney was the sweetest spirit I have ever known. During our walks he would approach everyone as if he expected them to treat him kindly, even though he had good reason to think otherwise. He loved children coming up to him, he loved meeting other dogs and he loved exploring our neighborhood. Barney had a positive effect on almost everyone who met him. He will be missed by many, especially me. Rest in peace my friend.
Marvin Goldberg
Gentle Libby came to Rainbow in January 2013 with an orange-sized tumor on her abdomen and a hot spot on her tail. We were so relieved to find that it was a lipoma! She was constantly smiling and loved getting treats. Libby loved to lay in the grass and have her head scratched. On September 27, we were devastated to learn that our sweet Libby had mediastinal lymphoma in her chest that was pressing on her esophagus. There was nothing that could be done to prolong her life so we decided to give her palliative care until her quality of life declined. Leanne, her foster, provided a wonderful home and took excellent care of her every need, but Libby deteriorated so fast, developing other problems, that we made the decision to end her suffering. Libby crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on September 30, 2013 surrounded by people who loved her.We are comforted in knowing she is now in her forever home, no longer suffering. Libby is running free, breathing easy, and eating whatever she wants.
We love you sweet, pretty girl!
Our Molly was a very sweet little dog who gave us a lot of pleasure. She provided us with a lot of humor and we felt a sense of pleasure in being able to provide her a good life in her last days. She was really beginning to deteriorate in her last days and had lost almost two pounds. She was eating well but just not gaining weight. She was loved by all who knew her and our dogs knew enough not to mess with her. She would not hesitate to offer her little growl when they tried to take something she considered hers.
We would like to thank Maggie and John for giving Molly such a wonderful end to her little life. She is with her brother Hamish and they are playing at the Rainbow Bridge while waiting for the rest of their family to join them.
September 8, 2010 - Rest in Peace my beautiful angel, Keila...you will be greatly missed but I will keep your memory alive by remembering to look up, smile everyday and "speak up and HOWL when it is most appropriate to let them know that WE ARE HERE"! Watch out world....we will be a quite a TEAM to reckon with! ;-)
Love, Gwen and Larry
P.S. Dear Angel Princess Keila....thanks for sending me the white feathers....smile!
Our handsome boy, Rhett Butler, is now at the Rainbow Bridge with Libby and all of our other furbabies who have preceded him. Even though he never officially found his furever home, he was "family" to his foster family. He was with them for almost 2 years when he succumbed to acute kidney failure. They considered him "their" furbaby. Rhett could be quite a clown and is famous for his "love" of guinea pigs:-). When we set up at the Laskin Rd PetsMart we were by the guinea pig cages and he would spend those 3 hours howling at them. We even designed "blinders" out of a bandana to cover his eyes:-). At Dogs Gone Swimming one year, he placed second in the swimsuit contest. You will never be forgotten handsome boy. We love and miss you desperately sweet Rhett. We'll see you again.
Dear Shobi,
Words cannot express how much you meant not just to me, but to all those who knew and loved you. I am heartbroken that your life was cut so short. You endured abuse, abandonment, and animal control and yet you never lost your loving spirit. You changed hearts and minds about what it was to be a "pit bull." As a friend to every foster dog, you showed Foster how to be safe and confident and gave him a new spirit to go through life with. From our first meeting all the way through to the end you loved in an infectious and complete way that captured many more hearts than just mine. Foster and I are a little lost without you. But you showed us, through every medical issue and the residual physical effects of the abuse you suffered, how to continue on with grace and dignity. Eighteen months was such a short time out of your six years in the human world, but in that time you were undoubtedly an amazing friend who saw me through. My comfort comes in knowing that you and Scooter are running and playing without pain. From your pibble wibble to your tricks to your mischievous sense of humor, you are missed more than can be expressed. Go run and play, finally free from the cruelty you once endured, knowing that are still absolutely and completely loved.
Noa and Foster
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