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 and water and
sunshine, and our friends are warm
and comfortable. All the animals
who 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
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. The bright eyes are
intent; the eager body quivers.
Suddenly she begins to break away
from the group, flying over the
green grass, her legs carrying her
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 pet, so long gone from your
life but never absent from your
heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge
together.......
~
Attributed to Abby Lederer. The
story comes from an ancient Norse
tradition. ~
Copyright (c) Donald Vann
Used with permission
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The Last
Battle 
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me
from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last
battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let
grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your
love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy
years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please,
let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay
with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no
longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to
me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I
have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this
thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let
your heart hold any tears.
~ Unknown ~
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 On October 15th, 2002,
the day we had all been dreading,
the day of the Last Battle
dawned. Pebbles had to be put
to sleep. She was 15 ½
years old, the equivalent of 78 years in dog
years.
Pebbles came into my life as an
8-week old puppy along with her
litter-mate, Sasha. Pebbles loved to
chase her tennis ball almost to the
exclusion of everything else...
including food. Even as a puppy she
loved to chase her tennis ball. She
was too small to pick it up in her
mouth so instead, she would pick it up by the
fuzz and carry/drag it back
to us.  No
matter where we were, Pebbles would
find a tennis ball. When we took her
to friends' homes she would search
the entire premises and find one.
She always succeeded at finding one
even when the owners of the home
insisted that there were no tennis
balls to be found. For all but the last
two days of her life, Pebbles chased
her ball, albeit with a little less energy
than when she was a puppy. It
was her security blanket and
constant companion as evidenced by
the fact that a tennis ball appears
in three of these four pictures.
Pebbles was the sweetest dog that
you could ever meet. When I was angry or upset, Pebbles
would sit by my side and console me
with her presence. If I was
extremely upset, she would shake
while she sat by my side, somehow
picking up the intensity of my
emotions. She was an enormous
comfort to me. Pebbles' passing has
left a huge void in our hearts, but we will never
forget her and all the love she gave us. Pebbles waits for me, tail wagging, with a
tennis ball in her mouth and with Sasha at her side, at the Rainbow Bridge.
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