Crossing the Rainbow Bridge
It’s always painful to say good by to someone you love so unconditionally, but my work with Doc was done. I had honored the contract we made with each other on that warm fall day in 2012 on the goat farm where I was born. To Doc, I looked like a sweet innocent puppy, so she was unaware that I had chosen her, knowing that she needed me to help her with all of the people that would cross our path and to watch over her as well. Although the ending feels sad, let me tell you that my life with Doc was a wonderful adventure.
From the very beginning, I was her shadow, her companion and eventually her co-worker. After I graduated from my puppy kindergarten class, I started to go to work with her on Fridays, so I could get use to all the different people, noises and smells that would be at my new job. From the start, I was welcomed by my new co-workers and the patient’s with open arms. After I passed the test to become a certified therapy dog, my days were filled with belly rubs, treats, and having a sense of purpose. It was a privilege to help people when they felt anxious, sad, scared or unloved. I accepted everyone unconditionally without judgement or wanting anything in return. Doc told me she was always amazed at how I could go into the waiting room and easily put a smile on everyone’s face. I was the bridge that helped Doc to do her work by putting the patient’s at ease.
During my lifetime I not only worked full time at CompDrug, but Doc and I also volunteered to visit with other’s in the community. We would visit cancer patient’s while they were receiving their chemotherapy, spend time with veterans that served out country, and hung out with children and teens to help them reduce their stress and anxiety, just to name a few.
When Doc and I were not working, we took many long walks in the parks and neighborhoods surrounding my house. I had best doggie friends Frankie and Norman that lived next door that I played with often. In the summer Doc would take me up to Lake Erie where there were many new marvelous smells and adventures.
My life was filled with many people that loved me, including family, co-workers, neighbors, patient’s and friends. I want to thank those that snuck me extra treats at work when Doc wasn’t looking, liked Renee, Homer and Sheila, and Brandi. I will miss that, along with my buddy Bob bringing me my daily extra large Milk Bone. So many great memories for one short lifetime.
As with every good life, there comes a time when you must say good by. Over the past few weeks my hips and legs started to hurt. I could no longer hop up in the car or on the bed. Doc and my veterinarians tried everything. I stood by watching as Doc became more worried and I tried to comfort her the best that I could. When I could no longer get in the bed to sleep beside her, she would lay next to me on the floor by my dog bed and talk to me while rubbing my ears until I fell to sleep. My Vet, Dr. R tried one last procedure to correct the neurological issues that were affecting my hips and legs and said it should work in 24 hours if I was going to get better. We were all hopeful. On the Wednesday I came home, Doc’s nephew Cole that has been a playmate of mine my entire life , came to visit, I rallied for awhile. Then on Thursday evening, when Doc called me to get up and go outside, I was unable to use my hips and legs to get up and walk. The look of pain and grief on Doc’s face broke my heart, because for once I could not be the one to comfort her. With the help of Will one of my favorite family members, I was carried and put in the back of Doc’s car, I knew it was time.
We arrived at the Veterinarians office and were met by the staff that had taken such good care of me over the years. Because they knew Doc and I loved being outside, they took us out in back of the office near the barn on the property. Doc and I laid right next to each other on my favorite blanket in the grass. They brought me some treats and just like always, I stuck my head in the bowl and ate every last one of them. I also got a good bag of Cheez-its crackers. The sun was shining, I could hear the birds singing and some children playing off in the distance. Doc was rubbing my head telling me what a good boy I had been, thanking me for all of the help and comfort I had given her during my time on earth. Right before they gave me the shot to put me to sleep I moved my head and gently placed it on her arm. I wanted Doc to be the last person I could touch and smell as I crossed over. I was never afraid with Doc by my side and as I walked across the Rainbow bridge, It was much Like the dream I had a few weeks ago before I got sick. There was Doc’s Border Collie Wendy, waiting to greet me. Behind her were all the patient’s I helped along with Doc’s family members that had crossed over. Pope Francis didn’t show up this time. I figured he must have been busy helping others. I felt safe and warm in the light and my pain was gone.
Maybe you think after we cross over that we no longer keep an eye on you, but we do. I want to thank everyone that is being supportive of Doc as she learns how to move forward with out me. Grief is a journey that no one should travel alone. It reminds me of the quote by Jon Katz that says “ In our love for animals, in compassion and empathy for one another, we are one.”