Hi everyone,
This is a tough post for me so bear with me here. Last Sunday (Nov. 14th) our pet bunny Splash went off to Heaven. She was with our family just over five years. My son David picked her out at the pet store here in town when he was only four. After bringing her home he also was the one to name her since as he put it…“She is a Splash of colour!”. So Splash it was. Splash spent many Summer days in our Garden RR. When no one was looking she would sample our foliage. Often my wife Naomi brought her out so she could enjoy the outdoors. I recall a few days after getting track down this season that Splash even tried to see if the whistle on my Shay really meant business. She was promptly nudged out of the way and realized she should stay off the tracks! Often after that she would just sit by the tracks and watch the trains go by. Thanks to an article Rene wrote earlier this year, Splash also has a part in Garden RR history along with a few other members pets.
Pets have a unique way of bringing joy and adding substance to our lives. I’m sure many of you can add here stories of your pets and the things they have done on your line. My list is too long to print here. Splash is greatly missed by us all but we are very thankfull for all the years we had with her. This coming Spring I will be adding a memorial for her on our outdoor line.
Thanks so much for allowing me to share with you all here. Take care and God Bless you all…Brian.
Brian
I’m sorry to hear about your lost pet, I had to have our golden retriever “Beau” put down a few years ago, as at 14 he just lost interest in eating and in living in general. I think we were just too busy and didn’t have enough time for him but the losst really hurt.
What the problem is mate, these family members were part of general family life for so long and now they are gone, you realise within yourself that so are those wonderful years too; never to return.
All the best and I’m sorry.
Rgds Ian
Hey Brian
Sorry for the loss, sometimes our pets just have their own schedules, we want them to stay around forever but it just doesnt work out that way, again I hope your family gets over this as best they can. Take care. Vic
Thanks so much Ian,
The house isn’t quite the same here. BTW I did receive your pics you sent me a while back. Just too busy to reply. I absoltely love Golden Retrievers. When we move out of the city in a few years we plan to get not one but two! Pups of course. Retrievers are great with children which is very important to us. We feel dogs that size need room to RUN! Then I will have two companions to work the new line out there with me. Rgds. eh…Brian.
Hey Vic,
My son took it the hardest…a tough lesson in life for sure. Time heals though…and prayer sure makes a difference. Thanks for writing. Later eh…Brian.
Brian sorry about your families loss, reality hit me last week when I took my dog to the vet for a checkup and found he needs a couple of tumors removed.
Probably wait until after the thanksgiving holiday due to the fact he has to work that one!
To many messy kids to cleanup after[:0]
Should have named him Shopvac [:D]
Hey Matt,
Appreciate that. Speaking of checkups…gotta get one done myself. Don’t like surprises that way. Hope your dog does well with the surgery. Later eh…Brian.
Brain,
There is a certain something that we feel when we lose a dear pet. We once had a cat named Thomas, he came to us (he was a stray…probably a ferral cat in his younder days and as a kitten) and was a very loyal cat. He never scratched nor bit. One day, when I was petting him, I noticed that we had a lump on his side. He was with us for two or three months and we grew to love him.
I figure he had some sort of cancer, because he came to us…saddly to die. I imagine that, as a kitten, he had known human kindness. He was simply “coming home” and we made life confortable for him.
He died under a negelected tree in and isolated corner of our backyard on a windy September day. He was well hidden…(did he try somehow to spare us?)…and it wasn’t until after a full day of looking for him that were found the carcass. He is buried across the street in the pet cemetary behind my grandfather’s house.
Rainbow Bridge
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.
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…
Here is a poem for you, anyone that has ever been close to a pet will understand this one. It is a tearjerker but a good cry never hurt anyone.
Hi Brian,
Our thoughts are with you, our support is unquestioned, our understanding comes from like moments in the past, our young ones learn the lessons of life…which always goes on. I think of my long gone dog friends in quiet moments and smile and shed a tear for them.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
Please accept my apologies bman36. I like to think we are all headed to a better place when we pass on. Why should pets be any different? So it’s OK to mourn but don’t you worry too much about Splash. Animals know not sin, so all are guaranteed a place in heaven 
I know I’ve already emailed you personally, but wanted to post here too. My heart goes out to you. I’ve lost pets too, and though it doesn’t get any easier, time will heal. Eventually, you’ll only remember the happy times. Hugs to you!
Hi Brian,
New to the forum and the hobby…just wanted to tell you i’m sorry for your loss. My golden retriever is under my desk as I type…spend more time with him than my wife as I work from home…Pets ARE family and the loss is as deep as any human loss.
John
Hi everyone,
Well I must say that I feel extremely blessed by you all here on the forum. Your words of encouragement warm my heart. My family and I know Splash is in good hands and with the many who have gone before us. One day we will see her again. My kids being so young (8 and 6) they are just learning this sad lesson in life. The nice thing is they are not turned off to having a pet. For us prayer makes all the difference. Thanks so much for being my “on line” family. You all are so great! Take care of yourselves. Later eh…Brian.
Brian, I just read your sad post. Please accept my deepest sympathy. Only someone who has had a pet can understand how much they are family. I’m still teary from reading Rainbow Bridge…My dearly beloved Golden Retriever, Rascal, is buried in a friend’s woods south of here, with his favoriite toys and a bowl of food, covered with his favorite blanket. He is a spirit dog now, and though I can’t see him, I hope to meet him again one day in Heaven.
To all of you who have lost a dearly beloved pet, and expecially to you, Brian, my heart goes out to you all.
SandyR
Brian here is something to think about ! Did you know that rabbits are illegal here in the state of Queensland, big fines mate if you haver a rabbit of any kind. The problem is that Australia was once part of the old Gwandana land and as such they have no natural enemies and the they breed, well like rabbits to plague proportions; literally millions and millions of them, as far as the eye can see.
So I thought you might get some relief from that bit of info.
Regards
Ian
Thanks Sandy,
I dearly love Golden Retrievers. Plans are for two when we move out of the city. Want to give them all the room I can. My kids do want a dog now. I asked them to wait until Spring so we can do the “training” in the yard. Will most likely be a small dog. Thanks so much for your words of sympathy. Later eh…Brian. [:)]
Hi Ian,
Never knew that interesting info. Here in my neighborhood wild rabbits are starting to get out of hand. It may only be a year or two before the City of Winnipeg will have to do something about it. My wife even saw a Racoon the other day! Fat little guy waddling down our front walk. Yikes! What next??? No shortage of wildlife here. Rgds eh…Brian. [:)]
hi brian
iam so sorry about splash,got me thanking of my dear friends ,and i just about had to get the mop aftre rainbow bridge i hope to see my friends again all those dogs and others it will look like a stamppeed.
again sorry for your friend
robert
brian
sorry for your family’s loss of splash. hope its going well fer youall. God Bless youall!