The famous Rainbow Bridge poem:
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. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.
- Author Unknown
" One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail."-The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog by Eugene O'Neill http://www.eoneill.com/texts/blemie/contents.htm
I sent Marcy, my antique OBR girl to the rainbow bridge 1-24-2014. When OBR pulled her, they did not think she would survive transport-she was so frail and dehydrated. She proved all of us wrong. I went down to Bassetfest specifically to meet Marcy and bring her home. She was one of the dogs that found her way into the pond. When I got there, I put her on a leash and never let her go. Marcy was magnificent. She had extreme arthritis, was hard of hearing and almost blind due to cataracts-but that didn’t slow her down. Her walk was regal, her nose could detect anything and she loved to be outside. She would go potty and walk in rain, snow, wind or cold-it did not deter her. She was a typical basset-disliked ear cleaning and hated having her nails trimmed…but she LOVED baths. After every bath, she would zoom around the house-clean and shiny and feeling like a million bucks. She had more spring and pride in her steps after a bath then any other time. She had the deepest bark. It always surprised me how such a deep bark could come from such a petite girl. She started struggling with dementia-night pacing, insomnia and extreme panic attacks. I put her on a prozac-zanax combination that worked very well for 3 months. The meds stopped working, so it was time for me to let go of that leash and of her. I didn’t want her to feel afraid or confused anymore. I was so very blessed to have her for 2 years and 4 months. She was so thankful for food, water, a soft bed and lots of kisses. Fly free my angel…we will meet again.
Thank you so much OBR, Eva and Cathy for your help in saving this girl and blessing me with her.
Kristy Warner
2-20-2013 Today I lost my best friend, Molly. 12 years ago I adopted Molly from OBR to lymphoma. At that time her name was Birdie & found roaming in Cincinnati. Since the day Molly road home to Pittsburgh in a jeep until she left us today to be our forever angel, we had a great life together! Trips to the beach, camping, walks in park, rides to the store...always making passerbys smile...as she always made us do...smile. Molly's adopted giant schnauzer brother, Major & adopted little sister cat, Dazy will surely miss Molly. With our thanks to OBR for bringing Molly into our hearts & lives with so much love & happiness she gave to us.
- Caryn Schultz
My best friend bailey a month ago passed over the rainbow bridge. Bailey was a rescue from ohio basset About 2 1/2 years ago. I believe he rescue me . He made me laugh, he made me smile he gave me something to look forward to every day. He was a much better friend then I was a owner.he never got mad, he always had time for me and no matter how I felted he was always there for me and put me first. I tried so very hard to save him, taking him to several vets. I needed to tell him it was
ok
to leave me and later that night he passed away at home with me (he wasn't in pain till that night) . he was so brave and had so much courage at the end I know he went right to heaven cause he just closed his eyes and went right to sleep and with in a few minutes he was gone. with in this past lonely month friends of bailey has donated money to the morris Animal Foundation n a donation to the cincinnati public library for a book to be purchase with a dedication on the font page with bailey name on it and another one on this birthday next year. Bailey was put to rest in a pet. Cemetery and had so many flowers from friends who was touch by the little basset with the long long ears, the waging tail and the big heart . He will always be remembered and I will always be grateful to ohio basset for giving me such a precious gift.
A little boy (about 8) and his mom was walking pass our yard one day when bailey and I were outside and the little boy said "look mom, that's the biggest Weiner dog I ever saw. Me and the mom laugh so hard and I think bailey did too. I swore no more.the pain I felt was just to great and how could there ever be another one like bailey (which I'm sure there will never be, he truly was one of a kind) .the loneliness I fell and the empty feeling is unbearable. I am retired but still do part time work but I need a new companion. I love the basset cause they are so sweet n gentle. All the kids In the neighborhood always came into the yard to visit with bailey and I loved that. Bailey also use to go with me to a parkinson group (that I work with on expressing feelings etc) . He always was a hit because of his warm friendly way and he is missed by them. I think the lady I who help me with bailey was name kathy (got bailey from a Columbus home) . Thank you with all my heart. Bonnie collins
May 26 we had to say goodbye to our perfect Humphrey hound. He was the sweetest little boy. He will be forever treasured, loved and missed by his family. We adopted him from OBHR in August 2010. His name then was Hank but he really was a Humphrey. He was such a wonderful and important member of our family. We didn't have enough time with him but you never do. Liver cancer took him from us much too soon but we were so blessed with the time we had with him. We thank OBHR for our Humphrey. We loved him so!