| Kierra May 2005 Kierra at a year and a half had been in five different homes and escaped or destroyed her way back to the shelter on every ocassion. Her days were numbered when the shelter called us. With God's help we found a loving family to foster her, but once they got to know her they decided to keep her. Kierra now had the most wonderful home, and she chose to stay with the people she loved. The family had just over a year with Kierra when she became very ill with lukeimia and passed away. The family is devistated by her loss but cherish the time they had together with their beautiful white dog, Kierra.
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| Marin July 2004 This girl was found wandering in the east end of Vancouver. She was very weak, and from her tattoo it was determined she was 10 years old. She was taken to the Vancouver Animal Shelter to be cared for but was not doing well in that confinement. VAS contacted us, and we agreed to take her into foster. The night before she was to be moved she went down and could not get up. Three volunteers from the shelter stayed with her all night, and she passed away quietly early in the morning.
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| Timber April 2004 This dog had been allowed to run free and took to killing chickens. He had been picked numerous times by the local SPCA and his owner no longer wanted him. The SPCA asked one of our members to assess his temperment. Some of her comments after working with Timber: "I can see after today that things are getting progressively worse for Timber and that finding a workable home for him would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. I think his true behavior is now coming forth and although I am able to handle him I believe someone is going to get hurt by this dog. We need to look at those we are better able to help. We do the best we can but sometimes even that is not enough." ........Timber went to the Bridge
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| December 2003 - Male Siberian found in Cranbrook:
Here are a couple of pics of this boy. He has been taken to the vet and she says he is an old dog that has had a stroke. The dog was in good weight and lwas clean and looked well cared for. no one ever inquired about a lost Siberian in the area. After treatment for three days the dog was not improving and all he could do was walk in circles. Also he was unable to lay down and would not eat. The decision was made to let him go to the Bridge in peace. Some one who cared about him was with him.
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Journey was rescued from euthanasia over three years ago.
The wonderful family who took him home did not care thathe had ongoing
medical problems, they just wanted to give him a good life for his remaining
years. Journey was one ofthe very lucky ones.
This is their tribute to him. August 8, 1993-August 12, 2006 The Journey When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also tests your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savouring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colourful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvellously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own. I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. |
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now grey. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
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