Bruno Chesterton-Wood
March 2012, 15 years, 10 months, 2 days old

"He was my north, my south, my east and west,
My working week and Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song. . .

"The stars are not wanted now; put out every one.
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun."

The following poem - one of my favourite Bridge tributes - says it all. My precious Bruno - you were my heart dog. Big Mama.

So this is where we part, My Friend,
And you'll run on, around the bend,
Gone from sight, but not from mind,
New pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
Life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,
But they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
Will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
Take with you this...I loved you best.

Duke Zachary Smith - March 2012, 11 years, 3 months, 18 days old

Dukey - you were an amazing boy full of a "'tude" to the nth degree. We loved watching you chase your tennis balls, on land and in the water, and your love of food was beyond belief. Your demise was so sudden and so unfair. Your brother, Arnie, misses you so much. He is lost and crying and howling. Hope you find Quincy, Jagger, Adam and Max up there. Will never forget you. xoxoxo

Barney 'Mighty Knight' Harper - March 2012, 9 years old

This is to honour the memory of our little Barney. Our mighty little knight that loved, and played, and guarded the yard from the invader squirrels every day. He got us through the loss of our first dachshund and comforted our hearts so much. Now our hearts dearly miss him. He will forever be in our hearts and the breeze we feel by our sides.

Gracie Gillen Cummings - March 2012, 14 years old

Gracie, Daddy and I think of you all the time and miss you so very much. Knowing you are finally at peace gives us great comfort and strength. You were the best dog we have ever had and gave us joy every single day. Until we meet again, our love will be with you forever.

Gabriel Samson Klaiber - March 2012, 15 years, 3 months old

My sweet Gabriel, how I miss you. It has been only three days since I had to say goodbye - my heart is broken. I thank God I had the priviledge of rescuing you, but the truth is you rescued me. Gabriel means 'gift from God' - you truly were. I will love you always and forever. I pray that when I leave this earth, we will meet again. My beautiful boy, please don't forget me. Mom xo

Poppy Canty - March 2012, 15 years, 3 months old

See you at the Rainbow Bridge, my faithful little friend. Forever in my heart, until we meet again.

Bismarck's Little Trooper Anderson - March 2012, 11 years years, 10 months, 20 days old

Trooper and I were destined to own each other. For both of us, it was a miracle that we grew to adulthood because of complications with our births. Trooper was the first dog I got after Bismarck (May 2000) left to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps as a result of the family tragedies that had befallen my sister and me, both my sister and I each decided to get another dog after Bismarck left. I responded to a newspaper classified and the lady who answered indicated that she had two dogs left in the litter and that one was a runt. Being a runt myself, I chose Trooper and my sister chose his brother and named him Pistol. Pistol was so named in honour of Bismarck, because the lady I got him from said that he was a real pistol and Trooper was so named because while Bismarck was being treated for the cancer that defeated him, all the doctors said that he was a real trooper.

Trooper was aptly named. He soldiered on through being the runt of the litter, developing epileptic seizures that required medication twice a day for the rest of his life, and a couple of bouts of back problems. Despite that, he was a happy, bouncy little fellow who, when you would come home, would bark long and loud, as if telling you what he had done and what had happened while you were gone. He would not only tell you when he needed to go outside, but also when the other dogs wanted to go as well. He was also a world class beggar, lightly putting his front paws on your leg as you sat at the dinner table.

His face was, as the photo shows, quite angelic, and he answered to so many names, such as 'Teapot', 'Scooter', 'Angel Face', 'Toops' and others.

In March 2012, I noticed that his belly was swollen and the next morning took him into the vet. They diagnosed it as cancer of the spleen and operated on him, but the cancer had just spread too far and so I had to let him go. The next day, shortly after my veterinarian sent me flowers in condolence of Trooper leaving, I was walking down the hill at my work and a bright rainbow lit up the otherwise gray sky. Trooper was letting me know that he had made it to the Bridge and that he was waiting on me there. I love you Trooper. I will be there none too soon, my little angel face.