It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you that my little Molly is on the other side of the "Bridge" as I write this. She had been having difficulty with her hips, standing, etc. from the beginning but it has been getting worse the past day or so and this morning she cried out when I started to help her get up. She had also wet all her bedding during the night and, worst of all, was licking it trying to clean it up. Made me want to cry. I got her up, used some baby wipes and wiped her off and then helped her stand up and placed her back legs. She was able to eat her breakfast before her back end went down again. She got an extra measure of chicken this morning. Since it was very early in the morning and our appointment at the clinic was at 8:15 am, we had a lot of time to snuggle with Molly wrapped in her special blanket. When we got to the clinic, Dr. Laura and I talked a lot about Molly, her condition, her quality of life, before she examined my baby. Laura noted marked change in her from when she saw her on the 18th particularly in her inability to stand or walk on her own. After checking her over really well, she said she thought the problem was in her spine and that it was most likely a disc or deteriorated vertebrae and that her brain was not getting the message to tell her where her legs were positioned. She had no muscle mass left and little body fat. Her weight had held at 17# but she had been eating 3 times a day and she really should have been gaining some. Long way around of saying that Laura and I looked at each other and said "it's time". I am so sorry she didn't have more time but am so glad I got to have her for those few days of her little life. I picture her happy and healthy now and running like the wind in the sunshine -- chasing squirrels, barking at rabbits, playing with toys. My heart hurts. She will forever remain my very own "Sweet Molly Malone".
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Bailey Summer Dream 2/17/97-6/16/10
Yesterday was her first birthday at the Bridge.
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I miss her so. She went blind with SARDS and i will never forget my little angel.
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To my sweet baby boy, Chino. You are missed and always loved.
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In memory of Duglas (January 16 to May 24, 2011)
We bought
Duglas at a local pet store not realizing he was blind. (Duglas is
Spanish for Douglas.) We thought he was just a klutzy puppy until we
sat down to play ball with him one day. The pet store offered to
"exchange him for a dog that can see," but we knew Duglas' only chance
for happiness was to stay home with us.
Our family loved this
dog with all our might every moment of every day we had him. He
brought us incredible joy. He was drop-dead gorgeous and had many
friends and admirers along his usual walk routes. The whole
neighborhood knew him and everyone would go out of their way to call
out his name and fuss over him.
His favorite thing in the whole
world was to run. He ran down the sidewalks of Brooklyn while we
carefully guided him to avoid obstacles. Everyone was impressed with
his bravery as he ran full speed into the darkness.
A progression of his neurological disease
took him from us suddenly. We miss him so much. We did our best to
fill his short life with love. We only hope he realized how important
he was for us.
John & Eufemio Torres
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First I want to say thank you to everyone that made Wallie's rescue possible. I
never imagined such a wonderful group of supportive, kind, loving, and
courageous individuals, that feel just like Matteo and I about these perfect
souls that grace our lives each day.
Wallie lived the last days of his life surrounded by his new family. From the
moment we saw him, it was instant love, and I knew I would do anything to try to
make his life better. Work and life obligations seemed less and less important
by the minute. The stress and pressure of day to day life began to truly take a
back seat as we saw Wallie's situation become more difficult. Having been graced
with this little angel for just shy of a week made us really take hold of what
our priorities are, and what they should be. Watching him enjoy the very simple
things, fresh cold water, kisses on the head, sunning on the patio chain free,
discovering his bed--those were the moments I will never forget, and touch you
to your very core in such a way that changes your life always.
Wallie was the epitome of grace and dignity, never once did he whimper, cry in
pain, or even when his faculties began to fail-he never once went inside the
house. He was the proper little boy, waited until he was outside, and never let
you know the discomfort he was in. The years of neglect and abuse are something
I can hardly bear to think about. No animal ever deserves that kind of
mistreatment, and I hope we convinced him that he was never deserving of that,
and he never did anything wrong in his little life. He is so missed, and I can't
get his face out of my mind. Thank you for the Rainbow Bridge, I will keep that
by his picture in remembrance.
We decided yesterday that we may try to wait to allow the wounds to begin to
heal from losing our first foster (he was really not a foster---and I think we
had already come to that conclusion...), but talking this evening, we realized
that to begin to heal, we need to honor his memory, and keep helping all those
in need, just like him, and continue to end this type of abuse and neglect.
We are working on a memorial for him, and will send pictures to be placed in his
memory. There will never be another Wallie, and he taught us so much in his 6
days with us. Matt and I both found out that we have a soft spot for seniors
that we didn't realize we had--and to foster a special needs dog is such an
immense gift. Wallie was truly the best dog in the world, and he had a spirit
and strength unlike any other. A perpetually forgiving soul, who loved
unconditionally and deserved the same back.
We miss you so much Wallie, Love you forever and always.
Cat and Matteo
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Sandi came into our family in 1996 when she was only 6 weeks old. I remember at the pet store when I asked to see her, I held Sandi in my arms, she looked up at me and let out such a cute meow. I looked at Rob and said “she is the one”. Rob noticed that her tail was very short and asked the sales associate what happened and we were told “she was born like that”. Once we found that out, Rob affectionately nick-named her “Stubbi”. Sandi was such a great pet. She was very friendly and cuddly. When we would come home, you would see her on the window sill looking out waiting for us to come to the door and when we would open the door, she would be right there to greet you. Sandi had a heated bed that she loved and was the place where she peacefully passed away in her sleep. We were lucky to have her in our family for 15 years and we miss her very much!
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Marshall was a loyal dog with poor eyesight who was left behind in Iran when his owners moved away. He guarded the empty house for days, never leaving the doorstep. Neighbors fed him, but when he was finished eating, he would go back to his post guarding the house. A caring man brought him to VAFA Animal Shelter where he lived with other dogs; his infected eyes were treated, but eventually the veterinarians had to remove both eyes as the infection got worse and Marshall suffered from pain and blindness.
Eventually, Marshall was sponsored and sent to the USA where Blind Dog Rescue Alliance took him in. He found happiness for a few months in a loving home before his ailment took a toll on him and he had to be put to sleep.
I met Marshall when I volunteered at VAFA Animal Shelter this past summer and agreed to bring him back to the USA with me. However, his congested symptoms became worse and he came a few weeks later when he was feeling better with another passenger. I became very fond of Marshall the few days I had him in my care in Iran. I used to take him for walks on a leash in the compound gardens and he was such a good dog. He was very smart and very devoted to the humans around him. If I didn't have two adopted dogs at my house, I would have taken Marshall myself.
Beloved Marshall, rest in peace.
Sheyda Ardalan
Ridgefield, CT, USA
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Missy
(1996 – 2009)
Missy came to us as a 6 week old Border Collie – mix puppy. She won our hearts in seconds. She was a super intelligent dog, easy to train, full of heart and life; loved riding in the car; loved playing in the snow; waited patiently when you came back from the grocery store for her “treat”; always greeted us at the door, no matter what. In 2005, she went into a diabetic coma and the vet told us she may not live. With breaking hearts we begged her to do whatever she could to save Missy. And save Missy she did. So began 4 years of needles, check-ups, weight-loss, and a slow road to near-blindness. Amazingly, Missy could still find her way around, find her way to the door whether to greet you, or go outside; she still could find her way to her food, to join one of us in the arm chair, or to find her toys. Although her beautiful eyes had taken on a blue cast, she could still see – with her heart - she never gave up, never gave in, was never a quitter, no matter what. In 2007, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and the vet gave her 2 weeks to live. She lived 2 years. She was a fighter. But some battles you just can’t fight forever. Despite the needles, the home-cooked food, the love and care, she lost weight until she was less than half her body weight 4 years prior. She found it hard to get around and get up and down from furniture. Her quality of life diminished and our hearts broke. We couldn’t watch her suffer any longer just because we wanted her to stay with us forever. On July 24th, 2009 we said a heart-breaking and tear-filled goodbye to our beautiful, 13 year old puppy and a loyal friend.
"I love you. Forever. I miss you. Everyday." Love Mommy (Sandra)
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