Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

My best friend Sandi and her husband Jon had to euthanize their dog yesterday. Colby (aka Nunu, or to me Colby-roni) was their 4 year old King Charles Cavalier. He was full of energy and a very special part of their lives. They adopted him from Bide-a-Wee about 2 years ago. Colby recently started suffering from seizures and the past week took a turn for the worse. He was diagnosed with numerous abnormalities in his brain and it looked like he had auto immune encephalitis. My friends are devastated. If you ever had a dog (or any animal) and been in this situation you know how difficult the loss of an family pet is. They are your family. The unconditional love, seeing them waiting by the door when you get home and wet kisses always brighten our days.
Only a dog owner could relate to the feeling of being greeted by the tail-wagging four legged animal after a hard day at work. Every day, regardless of what you've accomplished or where you've been, your dog is elated to see you, and that joy can be contagious. It has been shown that reciprocating your dog's love and happiness can buffer you from stress by helping you relax. In fact, new research has shown that dog owners are happier, healthier, and are likely to live longer than people who don't own pets. As a person who works in an environment which uses pet therapy dogs I see this effect quite often. I love watching the face of one of my Alzheimer's patients when a dog comes into the room. A feeling of calm comes across them and, even if just for a moment, you feel like deep down that memory of their own pet is still there. The impact an animal has on your life is indescribable.
We just want to let Sandi and Jon know that we will all miss Colby. Hawkeye and Lucky are chasing her around and they are having a blast!

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. TehThe 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.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown