Carolyn Walsh, a special education
teacher, holds Harry T., a puppy that she
was given after her dog Ted E. Bear died.
Ted E. Bear and Walsh will be honored.
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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. |
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| 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... |
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The lady who came to assess our suitability as "dog parents" brought her two Goldens. I really didn't want to let them leave, it was so good to have a Golden in our home and running in our yard again. Just like old times.
I was astonished to learn that there are 200 volunteers who "foster" adoptable Goldens just in our little state and quite a number of available dogs.
A really shocking story was that of the Golden who worked for an elderly lady confined to a wheel chair as an assistance dog. The lady died, and her relatives turned the Golden over to the Humane Society to be euthanized! Luckily the Humane Society recognized the value of the dog (an assistance dog with one year's training is worth $15,000), and they sent the dog to the rescue organization where he was eventually placed in a new home.
We can hardly wait for our new Golden to arrive (about 3 months is the average wait).
Took care of our daughters Golden for a year and really developed an appreciation of the breed.
I own two dogs, so I couldn't keep him, but I spent the whole weekend futilely looking for his home (I thought he might have been stolen by teenagers, or some such thing). By going around neighborhoods around the park I ran across this couple, the woman was the principal of a rural grade school some miles from our town. Her secretary had a severely autistic child and she worked with that child. Her secretary took a number of phone calls that we made to each other as we tried to arrange for a home for this dog.
Sheepishly, her secretary approached her and told her that she was interested in this dog because of all she'd heard about it from taking our calls. She thought the dog might help her son. We put them together and it was love at first sight.
They took the dog right then and there -- and to really put a capper on the story, she enrolled the dog in training to become a special education dog as well.
Now there's a happily-ever-after ending!
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY. The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son and daughter that he has reared with loving care may become ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him when he may need it most. Man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog.
Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.
When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open, in alert watchfulness and true, even unto death.
