The 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 that 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….

We would like to honor your loved ones who have crossed the bridge by posting a memorial of them below. Please include a digital photo & a testament to your beloved hound with your submission to the Memorial Form.

Shelby

It is with an extremely sad heart that I share with you that Shelby crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She had not been feeling well the last several days and I was waiting for the Vet to open this morning so I could take her in to see Dr. John. Shelby licked John when he said good-bye to her and left for work. A few minutes later I went to check on her, and she was gone. She was in her favorite spot under our kitchen table.

We took in Shelby as a foster dog on my birthday last year (July 7). We finalized her adoption in December. This is the hard part about adopting senior dogs. We don’t get to love on them for very long, but for the final year of her life, Shelby knew she was loved and that she finally had a home where she belonged.

My heart is so broken right now. The Lang family side of the Rainbow Bridge is getting too crowded. Thank you to everyone at TBSR who played a part in bringing Shelby into our lives. She was truly special and will be so very missed.

Sara

Elvis

My sweet Elvis (known as Penny at the time of her adoption in 2002) was laid to rest a few weeks ago. She was a tough little girl and fought a good fight, but I finally had to make the difficult decision to end her suffering from heart failure. My sons (5 and 3) stood with me, and we all told her how much we loved her as she peacefully went to sleep. We brought her home and had a small funeral for her. Although we pass by her grave every time we walk Reba (known as Brownie at the time of her adoption in 2006), I like to imagine her running and playing with all of her old friends again. Until we meet again, Elvis… The boys and I love you and miss you. <3

Winnie

My sweet, sweet girl Winnie crossed the rainbow bridge on Tuesday night. I rescued her in 2001. We attend the Boardwaddle for many years and I thank your organization for that and all you do. There is definitely a void in the home now and I’m hoping time will heal. She is running around up there now with her Weim brother Smokey who passed a few years ago. Winnie had an angelic disposition and the whole family loved her very much. Rest well sweetie. Xo.

Lauren R. Reo

Maggie

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the loss of our sweet Maggie on September 4, 2015. We adopted Maggie and her brother, Max in April 2013. They were two peas in a pod, one never far from the other. Maggie loved laying in the sunshine, bones and toys (taking every opportunity to “borrow” them from her brother), and fiercely protected the house and yard from rogue bunnies, mailmen, and dangerous neighborhood children. Her tail spun in circles and wagged constantly whenever someone she loved would walk into the room. She was so smart and brave. I will forever miss her soft doggie kisses when I come home from work; the joy I would feel in watching her leap through snow drifts and sprint through the backyard into my arms; the look my husband and I would exchange at seeing her little head peeking out the window…the thousands of little things you know about your dog that no one else knows. The silly names you call her, the snuggles on the couch. Life isn’t fair, Maggie Moo, that you were so young and we had so little time. I take small comfort in knowing we loved you more than anything and that we will continue to spoil your brother for all the days we are lucky enough to have him.

Jennifer Cordes and Michael Haag

Samson

With heavy hearts, Samson said, “It was his time to be free.” He is now free of pain and full of love. We will surely miss this dear old boy with ears down to the ground, drool flowing freely from his mouth, the cute way he did his grandpa shake, and most of all the smile on his face, and who could forget the howl with excitement. I hope he felt as much love as we felt. We were honored to have met Samson and we are honored to be the ones to have had him in the end. 6/26/15 – 7/3/15

Heidy Daniel

Bridgett

It is with sadness in my heart that on June 10, 2017, my beloved Bridgett passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you to Lisa Packer for guiding me towards her and on 3/17/13 who knew that I would take a 3-hour ride one way to pick up a Senior girl. Thank you to Sue Crane for being her foster mom. I believe she was one of the “Hattiesburg Seven” and would now be the one and only Sussex NJ girl. For the next 3 years, she filled the empty nest with so much love and laughs and made the best snuggle buddy for the grandchildren. In the last year, she battled many health issues and never ever lost her loving personality with anyone, she must have really had that heart of Gold. As I continue on back to the Empty nest I would like to thank everyone at Tri-State Basset for all you do for these dogs.

Hannah Banana

My beloved Hannah Banana crossed the rainbow bridge at 8:40 a.m. on July 20, 2017. She was my first little girl, my fur baby. We loved you Hannah and had a wonderful 12 years together. Until we meet again girl ❤
Noreen Matias
Hackettstown, NJ

Sally

Sally came to us from her Foster Parents thru Adoption from TSBHR several years ago. We knew very little about her past other than she was taken from a shelter by her Foster Dad. From the very beginning it was obvious that she knew how to conserve her energy as on her very 1st walk she laid down whenever we stopped walking for a few minutes.

This was a trait that served her well as she struggled with Congestive Heart Failure over the past 18 months. She was a loving companion, an easy keeper, and very good with our other dogs unless they attempted to share her food.

She never seemed overly concerned about following the other dogs on their walks but in fact, she would head off to some unknown destination, given a free leash. A year ago we took her to our camp in Maine for a week’s vacation as we were concerned about her heart condition. This was a good decision as we got to spend some time with her alone. She slept in our bed and shared her life with us alone for one short week.

We often observed her body movements when she was sleeping, sometimes the tip of her tail would wag, if only we could share those Dreams, what would they reveal? The last several months have been gut-wrenching, we would wake up in the night to see if her chest was rising and falling. The same observations are repeated numerous times each day. Her daily decline was obvious and every manner of caretaking is practiced. While in our hearts we know what is coming, we grasp at that faint hope that a miraculous cure will happen. At age 16 years of age with a heart that beat with waning strength. The unbearable hurt that wracks our bodies and souls as well as hers lead to the inevitable conclusion.

We will most likely try to fill the void by adopting another old basset knowing full well that history will repeat itself as it has far too many times over the past years. Sally is now with a host of our other pets at the Rainbow Bridge. We will be joining Sally in the lands of our Creator when our time on earth has been served. I sincerely hope that Sally will also have past caretakers that will share their love for her. Run Free Sweet Girl – We will miss you dearly.

Kate and Chuck

Chester

Chester came to us some three years ago from his Foster Mom and Dad in PA. A series of rides from PA facilitated by TSBHR carried Sally ( our most recently lost Basset ) and Chester to our Farm.

Chester was “An Old Soul “. Many dogs will not make eye contact with anyone- Chester – Would look you right in the eye. He was also good Listener.

Chester left us for the Rainbow Bridge in October 2015.

You could sum up Chester’s Approach to life with one simple Phrase – When the hurt from walking becomes too much to bare, try running. He pushed on with all his might, in spite of a Senior Life filled with long odds. When the going gets tough, call out Chester’s name.

With his passing goes another time of tears. Chester graced our home for only 18 Months. He was everything that Caretakers would dream of.

How deeply we miss him.

Kate and Chuck

Gummie

On Tuesday, August 1, 2017, I lost the love of my life. We didn’t have him for quite two years when a catastrophic heart event took him from me in 5 minutes. He was always happy, loving, and eating. As long as he was by my side he was content. He would just look at food and drool goobers! He came to us with his girlfriend Libby. He would walk around kissing her continuously and she him. He will be terribly missed by all! Rest In Peace my best friend! You will never be forgotten.