by Karen Mardarello
This past Friday (July 13) i got a call from my mother. She and my stepfather Steve had no choice, but to put our sweetie Minnie to sleep. Minnie was Steve's dog, that along with her adopted sister Jessie came to live with us when he and my mother got married in 1995. She was the mother of our pets. I have 2 cats that weren't happy about the dogs moving in, and my cat Enzo took cheap shots at Minnie (with no retaliaion ever) every chance he got. She was gentle, never begged, and when you gave her treats, she was never greedy, always happy and playful afterwards. Minnie was the picture of loyalty, and lived for Steve, she never left his side.
In the past few years Minnies health began to deteriorate. Although at her age, it was amazing she still moved at all!! She had good and bad days, which slowly turned into mostly bad. On July 7, 2001, Minnie celebtrated her 21st birthday. Her stomach was too waek to hold her once favorite dinner treat spagetti & meatballs. Friday morning she could not walk, she had trouble getting up, mom says she struggled a little bit. Steve carried her to the car and then into the Vet's office, where she would then cross over to Rainbow Bridge. There was nothing that could be done.
At first, i wasn't bothered, she lived a great long life, but yesterday morning i felt wierd, i took time to think of her, and thought of how i'd miss her. I loved her face when she would pant. It looked like she was smiling. That's how i'd like to remeber her.
I came to the Rainbow Bridge site, because i heard of the poem and wanted to print a copy for my stepfather. I put it in a frame and put pictures of Minnie in it. When he and my mother read it, we all cried, and remembered the loyal, loving dog who became a big part of our family.
We also decided to get a large frame, and increase the poem size, and put in pictures of other pets that have been called to Rainbow Bridge long ago. This can be a memorial for all our beloved pets.
I will never forget Minnie, i know i won't, because i had a cat named Tiger that went to Rainbow Bridge 10 years ago......there hasn't been a day that has passed that i haven't thought of my little booboo.
Dear Minnie,
Last night, i thanked God for the time we had with you. I hope we made your life on earth a great one. Play with Tiger, and Dixey, and run without pain. I hope there is spaghetti and meatballs in heaven!! Know that you will never be forgotten, and know that we will see you again at Rainbow Bridge.
We love you.