I am convinced that putting a beloved pet, a member of our family, to sleep is the hardest thing we ever have to do. The following poem best expresses the untold communications between our beloved pets and us at that fateful moment. We have had to do this eleven times in as many years and it doesn't get any easier.
This page is in memory of our beloved family pets, all were loved and all are sorely missed. They all live on forever in in our hearts.
"If it should be that I grow weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep, then you must do what must be done, for this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad I understand, don't let your grief control your hand, for this day more than all the rest, your love for me must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years, what is to come can hold no fears, you'd not want me to suffer so, the time has come, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend, and please stay with me until the end, hold me firm & speak to me, until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time that you will see, the kindness that you do for me, although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I've been saved.
Please do not grieve it must be you, who has this painful thing to do, we've been so close for all these years, don't let your heart hold back your tears."
Our dearly loved pets that have passed on and are now all together again:
Mandy 1988 - 2000 Muffy 1988 - 2001 Coco 1988 - 2002
Buddy 1988 - 2006
Buster 1988 - 2004 Speckles 1997 -2006 Tike 1992 - 2007 Daisy 1994 - 2009
Bandit 1999 - 2009 Best friends together again Zena 2000 - 2011 Snickers 2003 - 2011
Snickers, our sweet 20K dog. Our sweet boy was almost lost so many times before finally diagnosed with Addison's Disease, A Thyroid deficiency, tumor on his Gallbladder and a skin condition caused by his medications. Despite all his problems, our sweet boy lived a very happy life and enjoyed his last three years in sunny warm Florida. The last year was difficult for Snickers but he remained a happy boy. The final straw was a severe hip problem leaving him struggling to walk and get up but true to his nature he never complained or had a grumpy day. On March 3, 2014, it was time to say good bye to our beloved Snickers, just walking and eating was becoming a hard thing for hi to do so we made the difficult decision to send him on to be with his Brothers and Sisters. He left us at home on his favorite bed and blanket to find his way to Rainbow Bridge and rest. His brother Tike and Sister Hailee were at home by his side as were his Mom and Dad when we told him it was time to rest and feel like he did when he was younger. Our Cocker Spaniel boy who was for ever by our sides is greatly missed every single day. We love you Snickers and hope you are free of pain and suffering, you held on this long to be with us and now its time for you to find your brothers and sisters in Rainbow Ridge and play with them until we will meet again. We miss you each and every single day and think of you often. Good bye sweet Snicker, daddies big baby boy.
Zena, our little princess warrior was to have left us to straighten out her Brothers and Sisters 16 months ago when 0ur little "Cozy Mo" had a neck injury November 2009 and the extra 16 month our baby was able to stay with us were priceless. Always the happy little girl she was never shy about letting you know that she deserved, no, demanded a treat. She definitely knew how to speak and communicate with us. While her dad was getting ready to bring the family to Florida in a few days, she lost weight rapidly, and stopped eating and drinking. She was severely dehydrated, was diagnosed with diabetes, and pancreatitis from the medicine that kept her our happy little girl for 16 more months. While we could have prolonged her stay a few more days until her dad came home, it was time to be strong and let her go while her mom held her close. On Tuesday night May 23rd 2011 she left to head to rainbow bridge and find her brothers and sisters. She leaves a very big hole in our hearts and I will forever regret I wasn't there during her last moments to tell her I loved her and that it would be alright.
While we can no longer hear her speak to us anymore, we know in our hearts that she is safe and just speaking away and we just can't hear her anymore.
She came to us as little Hailey but will forever be in our hearts as our little Cozy Girl.
We will miss you sorely Cozy Mo, we will think about you each and every day, we love you, sleep well baby girl.
Speckles, our precious dapple girl left us much too soon. On the day we were to put her brother Tike to sleep, July 10th, 2006, she became very ill. She waited for her dad to return home from a business trip laying at the top of the stairs for his return and passed away in his arms shortly after he arrived home. She is not easily forgotten, she was much to young and is very sorely missed by her best friend Bandit and by us all.
Tike passed away in December 2007 six months after he was to be put to sleep because of diagnosed liver failure. He was a great friend until the end. Our extra six months were a gift not to be forgotten. He will miss our boat, dinghy and jumping into the water after those pesky crab pot floats.
On January 23, 2009 Daisy left us to join her brothers and sisters at Rainbow Bridge. She left us at a mellow old age and will be missed. She was always very close to her brother Tike and now they are together again.
Our brave dapple boy Bandit "Bandito" left us to join his soul mate "Speckles" at 8:40pm on July 15th 2009. He suffered multiple slipped discs and suffered from nerve damage leaving him unable to control his back legs, neck and bladder. Being the clean boy he was from his first puppy day he joined our family, there was no choice but to let him go and find his brothers and sisters already passed. He was too proud and would have had a difficult life if surgery would have been feasible and a cart to hold his back legs would have worked. It was the most difficult decision we have made to date. He leaves a great big hole in our hearts and will truly be missed but never ever forgotten.
Play hard our little Bandito, we love you and miss you!
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 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 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 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 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 pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
So when you cross Rainbow Bridge, you will be together.... Our Mandy, Muffy, Buster, Coco, Buddy, Tike, Daisy, Speckles, Bandit, Zena
and Snickers are now together again in Rainbow Bridge and happily playing together again, sleep well and play hard our little angels.
Our hearts ache without you but just knowing that you are together and now have each other makes us smile.
We think about you often and our memories are full of loving thoughts about you all.