Yesterday, we lost a family member. Missie an 11 year old Cinnamon colored Australian Shepherd died of cancer. A sad day for us.
I have recently seen talk of the ‘Rainbow Bridge’, so I looked it up last evening. It is described as meadow or bridge where dogs and other pets wait to be reunited with there owners.
I hope Missie made it to the bridge because there a few to meet. Over a long period of time we have homed 5 dogs, Missie being the last. They have all been strays or rescues, no prima donnas for us.
As I talked with Missie on Friday, when she could no longer get herself up, I explained about the Rainbow Bridge and told her about the dogs she would meet. I named each and told her of our experiences with them. I will do the same for you.
The first was Rocky, a Lhassa Apsa. He was a stray. Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park, he would emerge from the rocks every evening when the cook fires were lit. After several nights and considering his general condition, we decided to take her home with us. His IQ wasn’t the highest, but he was protective and loving; staying with us for several years.
When Rocky left us we stayed dogless for a period. One summer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming we met a sweet small collie breed. She had a collar with license and phone number. Several calls evidenced that she had been abandoned. She went hone with us and proved to be smart and gentle; training us to behave as she wished. We later learned she had a heart murmur. She crossed over the bridge the next summer.
We found Stanley in a Border Collie Rescue in Ft Collins, CO. She traveled home with us and almost immediately developed liver cancer. Terminal.
We almost always summered in Colorado. We decided to drop by the Humane Society in Canon City. We found an amazing, really big “Border Collie” mix. We became convinced that Lady had some Borzoi in her genes. One Christmas we traveled to Colorado to be with family. Lady had a kennel date. Kidney failure took her from us.
Missie was adopted from the Bend, OR Humane Society. She stayed with us the longest, almost seven years. The sweetest girl ever, loving and obedient.
That’s the pack, waiting there in the Rainbow Meadow for us to arrive. I hope that is true. We loved those dogs. Each became an important member of the family. We loved them and they loved us. Don’t know about another as we are getting older.
Please don’t miss an opportunity to re-home a pet. There is something about unconditional love that keeps you young.
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