This is dedicated to the most gentle and loving Golden Retriever, Marvin White and his human, Gary.

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, sunshine so our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy 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. 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.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.”

-Author Unknown

We love you Marvin. You are a special dog who taught us about love, life, laughter and patience. And its because of God’s gracious creatures like you, as this blog’s sub-head says, that All Pets Go to Heaven.

Love, Jaime.

This poem was given t0 me by the owner of Russell Rescue and Multiple Breed Rescue at Crazy W Farm in Elyria, Ohio. It’s source is anonymous.

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Once I was a lonely dog just looking for a home. I had no place to go, no one to call my own. I wandered up and down the streets in rain, in heat, in snow. I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore, and my body ached with pain. No one stopped to give me a pat or gently say my name. I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run. For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

Then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet, with arms so soft that reached down to me and took me off my feet. “No one again will hurt you,” was whispered in my ear. “You’ll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear.”

“You will be dry, you will be warm, you’ll have enough to eat. And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet.” I was afraid, I must admit, I’ve lived so long in fear. I can’t remember the last time when I let a human come so near.

As she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur, she told me about this “rescue group” and what it meant to her.

She said, “we are a circle, a line that never ends.. In the center of it, there is you protected by new friends. All around you are the ones that check the pounds, and those who share their homes with you after you’ve been found.”

“All the other folks are searching near and far, to find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star.” She said, “there is a family, they are waiting very patiently, and pretty soon we’ll find them, just you wait and see.”

“And then they’ll join our circle, they’ll help to make it grow, so there’ll be room for more like you who have no place to go.”

I waited very patiently. They days, they came and went. Today is the day, I kept on thinking, my family will be sent. Then just when I began to think it wasn’t meant to be, there were people standing there gazing down at me.

“I could tell they felt it, too, for a special dog like you.”

Now every night I say a prayer to all the Gods that be. Thank you for the life I live and all you’ve given me. But most of all, protect the dogs in the pounds and in the streets. And send a Rescue Person to them to lift them off their feet.

Coping with the grief after losing a pet can be a difficult thing to do. Those experiencing pet loss need to arm themselves with their toughest defenses because outliving a pet is a heartbreaking situation. The loss of any type of pet – guide animal, police animal, companion animal or other, is a devastating loss of a best friend.

The deep emotional bond one shares with an animal is hard to put in words. Whether you are grieving, or sympathizing with someone who is, take a soul-soothing journey through the pet loss poetry on this page. Pet loss poetry serves a dual purpose: it’s healing and supportive at the same time.

Feel free to comment and share with others experiencing pet loss.

The Power of the Dog

Excerpt:  
When the body that lived at your single will
When the whimper of welcome is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone wherever it goes–for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear

A  Poem for the Grieving…

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…
-Anonymous

The words inspired by Misty Blue, a retired racing greyhound may also be comforting.

Other good resources:
• Four Paws in Heaven
• http://www.pet-loss.net/
• My Pet Loss

If you happen to be comforting someone else through their tough time, try sending a little pet loss gift to show your support. Framed pictures are always a nice gesture. Surprise them with a note in their inbox to cheer them up; there is a wide variety of pet loss cards available online. A loss of a pet eCard might brighten their day a bit and let them know you are sympathizing with them.

Other uplifting gifts for pet loss include donations to an animal welfare groups like the Fund for Animals (which allows you to “adopt” a specific animal with your donation), In Defense of Animals, or a shelter in your area.

Henry is a wayward Basset Hound.                                               
His nose is always to the ground.                                                               
He feels the need to announce himself,                                                                 
to other dogs on a walk, to people, and himself.
Henry prefers to spend his days lounging around.                                                       

Henry’s nose is long and stout.                                                           
It frequently steers him about.
He loses all control
When chasing smells is his goal.
His nose directs his whereabouts.

Henry likes to run away.
He gets caught up in a world of smells day-to-day.
He sneaks out the back,
His owner has a mild heart attack.
He then saunters home in his nonchalant way.

Henry’s ears hang down to his toes.
They’re almost as long as his banana nose.
They take quick dips in the water bowl
They get ice-covered on walks in the snow
Amazing how he can’t hear a thing when his owner scolds.

Henry has three-inch-long legs.
He uses them to look pitiful when he begs.
He whines and he squawks,
‘Til he gets what he wants
He makes visitors think he’s underfed.
 

Sometimes Henry’s too lazy to go potty.
He hates moving his hovercraft Bassett body.
He’ll just go in the driveway
Making his owner deal with the fray
He doesn’t care when he’s being naughty.

We call him a Perpendicular Peanut
We call him the Tubular Dog
Henry is genuinely one-of-a-kind
with his stubborn little Bassett mind.
He’s the sweetest little hound one could ever hope to find.