Gone

While I was sitting at the airport waiting for the second of three flights yesterday, I got a call from my petsitter.  My bullmastiff, Lady, was dead in her crate when she arrived to let the dogs out.

I adotped Lady in the late spring of 2006.  She had come from a high-kill shelter in West Virginia.  She was two years old, not housebroken, but she had that bullmastiff personality and charm.  My friend Liz, who I'd known from fostering for two different boxer rescue groups, was fostering Lady, and the minute I saw her picture posted on the available dogs page, I knew we belonged together.

She was my dog and I was her person.  When I went to Liz's to get her, she was waiting at the door for me, tail wagging.  Liz told me she'd started smiling the minute she head my car pull up outside.  I'd seen it happen with many of my own fosters.  Somehow, when their forever families arrived to get them, they just knew.  They would bounce to the door, grinning, wiggling, eyes a-sparkle.  They knew.  Lady knew. 

Lady never met a person she didn't like, and she was especially trustworthy with children.  I have never known her to growl or snap at anyone, although there was one teenager on our old block in New Jersey that she would bark at if he walked by the house.  I'm pretty sure he was not a nice person, because Lady never barked at anyone else.  She didn't bark much, period.  She would tolerate anything from children, even being climbed on, although as Little Man learned the hard way, sometimes she might get up and walk away, and if you were trying to ride her like a pony, you just might fall off and break your arm.

After some flight problems (mechanical issues, diversions, standby on two connections) I made it home with enough daylight left to say goodbye to my girl.  J and I buried her in a sunny spot in the pasture and through tears I bid a final farewell to one of the most special dogs this life will ever bring me.  She loved to sunbathe, and I will plant a tree next to her so that I can go sit and spend time with her.  I don't know why she died, she was only about 7, which isn't young for a bullmastiff but not ancient, either.  The sitter said she had thrown up the night before, but otherwise was acting normally, eating, playing, going potty.  I will probably never know how it happened, but I will be wondering for a long time and wishing I'd been with her at the end.  From the looks of her, she died peacefully in her sleep. 

Sleep well, big girl.  I will miss you always.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth

It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge

There is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys

With lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, they go to this place.

There is always food, water and warm spring weather.

Those old and frail animals are young again.

Those who have been maimed are made whole again.

They play all day with each other, 

But there is only one thing missing.

They are not with their special person who loved them on earth.

So each day they run and play, until the day comes

When one suddenly stops playing and looks up.

The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring...

And this one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen.

And when you and your special friend meet,

You take them in your arms and embrace.

Your face is kissed again and again

And you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

Credit to Terri Pike for the movie and Ken Muzzey for the music, this was the best version of the Rainbow Bridge story I have ever found.  

 **Updated:  Visit here to see the slideshow I created for Lady.