Rainbow Bridge

"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 someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills 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 who have 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 someone 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 begins to quiver. 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 hand again caresses the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

This page is dedicated in loving memory to those special and loving companions, our dogs, we have loved so dearly and have now crossed over. To add a tribute, like those below, follow these instructions:

Your photo will be returned as soon as it's scanned. Please include your dog's name and anything special you would like written on your page. Also please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Send an E-mail to: Rainbow Bridge. Please include your dog's name and anything you would like to be written on your page. Please try to send photo as a .JPG, .BMP or .GIF file. It will be resized if necessary. Don't forget to attach the file to your E-mail.

If you have a scanner and would like to know how to scan a particular photo:

Scan your photo at 96 DPI and save it as a .JPG, .BMP or .GIF file. Prepare your E-mail as above and add the photo as an "attachment".

This is Peyton. We adopted Peyton in August of 1993. He was a retired racing Greyhound. Prior to adoption, racing Greyhounds live in kennels with other Greyhounds where humans are the minority. There are no steps, windows, mirrors, or toys. When we adopted Peyton, everything was new to him. He was scared of his new environment. Peyton made the adjustment to his new home and family quickly. He loved going for walks and was recognized all over the neighborhood. He soon learned to play with toys and loved the squeaky furry ones the best. When we would go to the pet store I would let him shop and pick out his desired toys. His favorite game was 'tug-of-war'. Peyton's rules were to never let go.

He always made me laugh. My husband would tell me that Peyton would lie at the back door and wait for me to come home; it was the highlight of his day. He would start barking before I even pulled in the driveway and not stop until I was in the house.

In December of 1999, Peyton was diagnosed with bone cancer. Unfortunately by the time it was diagnosed, it had spread. Peyton was very brave and did not let on that he had been in pain until the very end. It broke our hearts to see him cry put in pain.

We lost our precious Peyton on 12/14 99. Peyton was a very special Greyhound. He was elegant and had a royal air about him. And we, his family, treated him like the king he was.

We will miss our Peyton, our friend.

Mary Jo Kelly
bikerbabe@mpdr0.chicago.il.ameritech.net

     Zeus was an apricot brindle English Mastiff. He was our first family pet. Zeus was born June 25, 1993. We traveled to River Falls, Wisconsin to pick him out when he was four weeks old. What a chubby boy he was, Twice as big as his littermates. Of his litter of eight, Zeus was the only one to Champion. He also got his CD and Therapy Dog Titles. He was the biggest of his litter,
34 inches and 242 pounds. The first time we entered BC, Greg carried Zeus in. Cathie asked if he had broken legs, and said it would be the last time we would carry him in there. Zeus will always be remembered at BC for his "fast" recalls!
      Zeus loved us all, But especially his daddy! He was Greg's "Number one Guy". Zeus would sit in the dining room window with his chin resting on the sill, Waiting for daddy to come home. When he slept with us, It had to be between us! When Greg came home with groceries, Zeus would greet him and lay close by on the kitchen floor. With every trip in and out with groceries Zeus would wag his tail loudly as if he had just gotten home. Whenever one of us came home, Zeus wouldn't leave us alone until he got a kiss. This was unusual for Zeus, He usually gave "almost kisses" where he pretended to kiss, but didn't make contact.
     Zeus loved to ride in the van. Of course, this usually meant going with daddy. He went out west camping with us several times. I guess it was fitting that his last moments with us were in the van. Zeus went quickly, We woke the kids and all left for the vet. Zeus died in the van on August 16, 2001. He had one apricot spot on his back, We called his re-set button. When he died Britt pushed his button and said "re-set", as she cried. Greg pulled the van over, climbed in back, laid on top of Zeus, and said "You're my number one guy". Our hearts broke. When he was able, Greg climbed back infront and drove the rest of the way to the vet. Poor Titan was lost for two weeks He didn't act himself and wouldn't eat because Alpha was supposed to eat first.
Here is a poem, The author is unknown but it says everything;

If tears could build a stairway
and memories a lane
I'd walk right up to heaven
and bring you home again

Zeus will always hold a special place in our hearts!

Greg, Laurie, Brandon, Brittany, Nate, and Matt Crowley