Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called RainbowBridge

When an animal dies - one that has been especially close to someone here - that pet goes to RainbowBridge. There are meadows and hills for our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water, sunshine and cozy beds, 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, someone 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 breaks 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 on your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet - so long gone but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the RainbowBridge together.

Author Unknown

Grace
BSRR was asked to intake this beautiful little girl. One of our awesome fosters scrambled and made room for her to be able to live in his house until she was healed and adopted. Before we could help her, we received this news: A Moment of Grace... For those of us who work in the animal care field we get to meet hundreds, thousands of pets throughout our careers and lives. For a few lucky ones, we get to meet and be loved by a pet whose spirit is that of an angel, of something beyond this world. We at SpokAnimal were blessed with such a pet when Grace enter...ed our lives. She was only with us for a few very brief days, but her spirit, her love and her memory will be with all of us for the rest of our lives. Grace appeared last Friday afternoon, almost out of nowhere, showing up on the front porch of the shelters neighbor and staff member. The little Rottweiler was curled up on the cushioned chair by the front door, cold and lost and asking for help. Her body was fur covered bones, and there were horrible wounds to all four paws. How could this little dog walk? Where did she come from? How did she end up on the front porch next door? But looking up from her sunken abdomen, protruding ribs, and wound ravaged paws, one look in her eyes answered all the questions. “It doesn’t matter, now. I am here and I know you can help me.” It only took a moment, a brief glance into her face to fall head over heels in love with this special creature. The veterinary team dressed her wounds and started her on pain medication and antibiotics to keep her as comfortable as possible. Shelter staff provided her with warm soft bedding and good nutritious food. Everyone who worked with her loved her and Grace rewarded all who came near with a smile and a wag of her Rottie stump, and if close enough a kiss. Her spirits were high and her will was strong and she was a binding force for all of the SpokAnimal staff. We were her family and she was our dog. A re-evaluation of her wounds a couple days later would prove that the road we were to travel with Grace was not going to be an easy one. As the bandages were removed it was evident that the medication and supportive care was not going to be enough. Her paws had deteriorated and the hopes of some of the veterinary team began to diminish. Could we save her? The options were weighed and a tough discussion took place. Grace had already given all of us so much trust, hope and love, we had to do everything possible to save her. So the team was rallied to push forward and fight as hard as possible to save this little girl. Four different veterinarians examined Grace and stated that they had never seen anything like what was being faced, but radiographs of all four feet showed no serious bone infection or fractures so a surgery team was put together to try to repair the damage. At least 2-4 toes would need to be amputated and there was great concern about one of the rear feet as much of the tissue was sloughing including the pads. Grace was anesthetized and her wounds cleaned and prepped. Once in surgery, the doctors began working with the most severely affected foot, the left rear foot. Multiple attempts to find viable tissue deep in the wounds proved fruitless, and it was realized that she would have to lose the limb. The veterinarians moved onto the other feet to determine what could be done to save the other three. The next foot, the right front, was encouraging, only requiring amputation of one toe and stringent nursing care, it would be a healthy foot for Grace. Hopes were rising in the surgery room. Knowing that she would be losing her left rear limb the right rear foot was evaluated as it would be the remaining leg to bare all of her weight in getting up and down and about. One toe for certain had to be amputated and was so done. Slowly, hopes started to sink as each toe was evaluated, and each toe showed no signs of life. The base of the foot was looking poor as well. The team discussed all possibilities of what could be done, how could we save this foot, how could we save this limb. She could not go on with both back legs missing, and to leave only one toe on the right rear foot to be responsible for all of her movement in the back end would subject her to a life of such crippling pain, she may not be able to walk. The doctors stopped and looked at the final foot that had not yet been surgically evaluated, maybe in hopes of finding a way to give Grace a quality life, maybe because the decision that they were facing was too much to handle at that moment. But, once the final foot was examined, it became much clearer as to what the outcome would have to be. Grace’s final foot was not going to be able to save her. Left with the knowledge that after all was said and done, Grace would only have one viable foot. It was clear what needed to happen at that point. The staff that had grown to love Grace and call her their own were called in. One by one each person said their goodbyes, gave their final kisses and pets, and thanked Grace for being in their lives. After the last person left, the surgical team said their goodbyes and Grace was allowed to slip quietly, painlessly away. Grace’s life with us was only a few days, but the lessons she has imparted on each of us will go with us for the rest of our lives. The animals to come into our care will forever be benefited by the absolute unconditional love Grace showed each and every one of us. And, already, Grace’s life is touching so many beyond the SpokAnimal family. Grace was a kind, gentle, loving spirit who taught all of us what the true meaning of grace is. Thank you, Grace. We will meet again.