Tails From Rainbow Bridge: The Return of Aunt Foley

It has been quite awhile since I have put on the old Ask Aunt Foley hat, but I have so many friends with questions, and I have so much experience, it is my duty to help them.  So on to the mailbag.


Dear Aunt Foley:  My Mom has decided to go back to work.  I don’t know why. Is it something I did?  - Signed Molly


Dear Molly:  No, it is nothing you did.  Your Mom loves you with her whole heart.  But sometimes parents need to go to work.  They get money which they can barter for kibble toys, and treats for you.  Also, working makes them feel better about themselves.  Take heart; there is no more joyous moment than when your parent arrives home from work.  Plus, you will be missed so your playtime and walk time will be even more special.  Just sleep when Mommy is gone, and it will seem like she has been gone only a few moments and you won’t miss her at all.  


Dear Aunt Foley:  We love the Puppy Bowl.  How do we get to play in it?  Charlie, Toto, and Star


Dear Charlie, Toto, and Star:  Unfortunately, to play in the Puppy Bowl, you need to be a homeless pup, and you wouldn’t want to be that.  But you can play Puppy Bowl the home edition. Put all your toys on the floor.  Then run from one side of the house to the other while your siblings try to stop you.  Throw the stuffies in the air for field goals.  And your mom will love it because she not only gets to watch but also she can perform cleanup.  


Dear Aunt Foley:  Why don’t my parents tell me what the weather is going to do?  One day there is no snow on the ground, and the next day there is a foot of snow.  Don’t they know I have to prepare myself for this?  I have to poop and pee out there.  Why aren’t they more considerate?  Oreo



Dear Oreo:  You are so right.  Humans should tell us what the weather is going to be like so we can mentally prepare ourselves.  I think they keep the forecast from us because so many of us love snow and we would be like excited kids when snow is predicted.  Kids look outside hoping there will be no school and many of us look outside for something cool to play in.  Personally, I am for full transparency between dogs and humans.  Dogs never lie, so it is up to the humans.

Tails From Rainbow Brodge: More Silly Dog Research

I would like to introduce you to Dr. Benjamin Hart.  He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.  He is a former winner of the Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.  But what he really likes to do is watch dogs eat poop.

I wonder if Dr. Hart when he was young while explaining to his parent’s why he wanted to go to veterinary school, dismissed the idea of helping animals and admitted his expensive education was only about spying dogs consuming feces.

I am sure Dr. Hart is a fantastic vet who has saved countless dogs and done critical research with great benefit to all, but I have to wonder, as so many of my friends cross the Bridge for various reasons, if all his wisdom might be put to better use than figuring out why we eat poop

I know humans have tried various remedies to break us of what they term to be a disgusting habit, although the one that would work, making poop float, they ignore.  We will eat anything that is lying around.  Jumping up and catching it is hard work.  (Actually, eating floating poop is living the dream.)

I did learn that poop eating has a name, coprophagia, which apparently hasn’t caught on since I have never heard anyone described as wearing a coprophagia grin.  I don’t know why poop eating needed its own name unless the highly educated researchers could not say “poop eating” without giggling.

It seems, after endless study, the scientists have fallen back on the all familiar conclusion: our behavior goes back to the time we were wolves in a pack.  The theory is that we consume the poop to clean our living area.  Well no coprophagia Sherlock!  

But there is a counter theory.  Some scientists believe that we eat poop because we are hungry.  WHHHHAAATTTTT?  This is why I love researchers. They waste thousands of hours and millions of dollars to find an answer that every pet parents already knows since creation.   The first dog owner, Grog, who lived in a cave in what is now Pittsburgh, saw his dog, Grog Jr, eating poop.  His wife, I Belong to Grog, said “Gross.  Why is he doing that?”

Grog said. “I don’t know.  Maybe he hungry.  At least I don’t have the clean that coprophagia up.”

Another great dog mystery has been solved.  Researchers have moved on to why we fart when you rub our tummies.


Or as researchers call it Fartmummaphummery.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: The Age of the Talking Dog is Upon Us

Humans can’t leave us alone.  Normally this makes us happy.  But there is one group of people we would prefer give us some distance:  Researchers.  (Unless the researcher is our parent and we keep the relationship strictly unprofessional.)

This group of mad scientists is now, because of advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning coming close to being able to verbalize our thoughts and needs.

Isn’t that great?  People who do little are going to turn into actual Dr. Dolittles.
Tails From Rainbow Bridge: The Age of the Talking Dog is Upon Us
Here is a secret about dogs.  It’s not that we can't communicate with you, it’s that we don’t want to do it.  Any idiot can speak.  I learned this watching C-Span.  It takes a superior intellect to communicate through smiles, head turns, and soul-searching looks from our beautiful eyes.

We have heard how you talk to one another.  “How was your day?” “Good, how was your day?” 
 “Good.”  “That’s good!”  We refer to these interactions as human barking, and we find it as annoying as your find our yelping out the window at nothing.

The researchers are secretly video recording us and feeding the tapes into an AI algorithm which will study our every move to decipher what each bark and head turn means.  But the joke is on them because most of the time we don’t know what we are talking about.

The ultimate goal is for us to be able to communicate by saying a thousand times a day “I want to eat,” or “I want to go for a walk,” which is quite a breakthrough since every pet parents know all we want to do is eat and walk.  Their next project will be an algorithm to make parents understand that every move their teenage boy make means  “I am thinking about sex.”

   One of the studies is about sheep.  Apparently, farmers can’t tell when sheep are in pain just by their facial expressions (probably because when the sheep is grimacing the farmer is behind them).  The researchers think in a short time farmers will be able to tell if their sheep is sick, scared, or just unbelievably bored because they stand in a field all die.

Eventually, this research could lead to some good.  We might be able to tell our parents when we are sick, or dogs who are aggressive and in danger of being euthanized may be able to communicate what is wrong, and with therapy, their lives could be saved.  So, this research may have benefits to our species, and if that is so then, I support their work.

Just get ready for a world where your dog doesn’t endlessly bark at you, he endlessly says “feed me.”
Such is progress.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: The Power of One

Authors have many reasons for writing blogs.  When I was a mortal dog, and I was writing about my daily life my goal was to entertain as many souls as possible.  My sisters have stolen my idea and have tried to make a name for themselves following in my paw prints.  I allow them to do so knowing no matter how much success they may achieve they will never be as notable as the paw that made the original mark.

When you become immortal many of the issues that troubled you on the mortal side melt away.  Like all bloggers, I would sneak a peek at how many “hits” I achieved from my last post.  I measured my success by the number of comments I received.  But now there is only a single number I care about:  One.

On Sunday I wrote about Ginger Lynn. I imagined my regular readers would bypass the blog because they did not know the subject.  That was fine.  All I wanted was for Ginger’s dad to read it and be helped.

I didn’t write about Ginger because I thought it was a good story, or world bring me notice, or be entertaining.  I wrote about her for the most underrated reason of all.  Because it was kind.

Kindness seems to be in low supply on the mortal side.  As I watch over the world, I see cruelty, insensitivity, selfishness, immaturity, and hate growing throughout the land.  Social media, which should be an incredibly useful tool to help us understand one another, is where these negative behaviors thrive.  People worry that technology will someday bring them hell on Earth.  When I check Twitter, I wonder if it has already taken hold.

We dogs are born happy, loving and loyal and stay that way unless a human changes us.  I wonder if humans are born the same way or with the negative emotions ruling.  I think the latter might be true given how much of it I see bubbling up during trying times.

I am asking humans, during these dark and volatile times, to make an effort to be kind and if you aren’t make amends.  If you strive to do that with one person a day, the mortal world will be more livable.

I understand I may be barking to the choir.  It has been my experience that dog owners are kinder than non-dog owners.  Every dog teaches their parents to put love and devotion above all else.  It is stupefying to me that there are so many dogs without homes since we have such a positive effect on humans.

There is nothing more valuable than showing kindness.  The reward for doing so will bring you enough joy to push those bad emotions away.





And will bring you close to the perfect zen that is dog.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Happy New Year

At Rainbow Bridge, we don’t recognize the New Year.  When you are living for eternity marking days serves no purpose.  But we do like to have a celebration when our humans do, and we have a feast to give thanks for the friends and family who did not join us the in the immortal word the previous year.

We all toasted Angel Apollo, the most famous angel dog rescuer at the Bridge,  His mom helps him rescue hundreds of dogs, and they both work on finding the perfect homes for the pups.  This week not only did Apollo and his mom find a home for one of her rescues, Barry, but when Barry’s new parents saw how close their new dog was with fellow rescue Maurice, who had been deemed unadoptable because Maurice does not like being touched or receive attention, and how upset he was to see Barry going, they rescued him too.  Maurice was one of the most unlikely dog rescues of the year, and we howled at Apollo in appreciation.

Pintus lead us in our New Year’s Resolutions which all had to do with spending more time with our parents.  It can be discouraging because our parents don’t know we are there but we do think that at some level they can tell.  Pintus then passed around some special tequila, and we all toasted him, did a shot, and gave thanks that we were immortal and did not have to worry about our livers.  

Misha announced that the only way to fight off the dulling effect from a shot of tequila was to run through the hills.  She jumped down and ran, followed by others, some of whom underestimated the power of tequila and ran straight into the trees.  I went over and sat next to Morgan the Miracle Maltese who had spent an exhausting week making sure the tumor found on his brother Jackson was benign.  He was successful in his effort, and we took a drink to give thanks.

There were big plates of chicken and mashed potatoes passed around.  I took my share and passed them on.  Then I got hit in the forehead with a spoonful of mashed potatoes.  I looked up to see Otie Campbell laughing at me.  I threw potatoes back and him, and suddenly a fun filled food fight broke out.  The great thing about dog food fights is that we don’t waste the food.  We are dogs:  We don’t mind eating the food off the ground or even off one another.

When the bell in the big church clanged midnight, we all cheered, and Pepsi and I shared a quick kiss before she went dancing with her mom.

I looked over the Bridge and saw it was clear of traffic and said a prayer that it would stay that way for a long time.

That is the Angel’s prayers.  The answer has never come back in the affirmative but we Angels have lots of time to pray so we will continue to repeat no matter how futile.



To you mortal, I wish a happy, safe and Bridge free New Year

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Seeking Help For Those Left Behind

It will be 2018 in a few days.  The last time I welcomed the new year in mortal form was 2013.  I remember it well.  Pocket and I were snuggled in bed with my parents. 

 There was a big countdown, a ball dropped, best wishes for the coming days were expressed, and Daddy wondered what the New Year would bring.  He doesn’t ask that anymore.  The answer will present itself, with little either of my parents can do to prevent it.

I began writing about pups who went to Rainbow Bridge in 2009.  Back then I was like a journalist writing about a war I had never experienced.  I thought when I arrived at the Bridge I would understand.  But I have been in the battle for four and a half years, and while I have seen the war, I still don’t comprehend it.

Why is a dog’s lifespan so much less than humans?  Why would a benevolent creator make the perfect match between dogs and humans then make dogs lives a seventh as long as humans causing pain, pain, and more pain?   It is nothing less than a failure of creation.  Dogs and humans should be paired for life.  

Humans need to admit that a loss of a dog is as sorrowful and life-shattering as the passing of a human, sometimes more so, because humans grow up, move away, but dogs are constant, always home, always devoted, always loving, until suddenly they are not.  

Parents who lose a child often join support groups to share their grief.  But a support group for pet parents is met with eye rolls and “it was just a dog” comments.  It is time to get past that.  I have read countless posts on the Internet about parents who have struggled for months dealing with the loss of a pet.  Grief is grief no matter what caused the sadness.  Hopefully, someday humans will realize that and people will have to stop suffering alone.

Until then there is the Internet where kind people help one another with their grief.  I know it helps, but it cannot replace human contact.  No one recovered from addiction by talking with people over the Internet.  I don’t know if people can recover from the loss of a pet over the Internet either.  Do not be afraid to seek people in your community suffering from pet loss and share your stories.  Your vet may know someone struggling with pet loss.  Talking and sharing has been proved to aid healing. 

 Pet lovers should be able to access every tool possible to begin the road to recovery.
I hope writing about pups who have crossed the Bridge helps their parents if is only for a few minutes.  I had thought, at one time, when the day came that my friend Hattie crossed over, that she would be my last tribute.  But there will be others that follow Hattie’s footsteps. And I will continue to chronicle their journey.   Hopefully, I can help ease their grief parents grief a smidge.

We can’t stop pups from crossing Rainbow Bridge, but maybe we can help those they leave behind.

And we can stop thinking of us as just the dog and start thinking of us like the family members we are.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Foley Takes the 2017 Bridge Angels to Deliver Gifts of the Shleter Dogs

Alright, 2017 Angels, it is time for our most trusted duty, we have to help Santa deliver gifts to all the shelter dogs.  It is going to be a long night with a lot of stops so no shenanigans.  Sydney, you come up here with Santa and me.  You are in charge of the GPS.  Don’t drool on the screen.  We got terribly lost during a similar incident last year.

Barney the cat I want you up here with us too.  Cats are more organized than dogs and less likely to run off if they see a random squirrel.  You are in charge of distribution.  

Okay, everyone holds on, we are taking off.  Now we are airborne.  Everyone make sure they hold on tight and follow Dancer, Prancer, Donna and...Pintus.  Darnit Pintus you are not a reindeer.  Well, it’s too late now.  And you are flying better than Blitzen who might be a bit blitzed.

Noel is going to be our liaison to the shelter dogs when we land.  He never had a true home of his own, so he has shelter experience and will help us when we approach the dogs.

There is the first shelter.  Pintus, we are coming up on it too fast, slow down!  Oh no, we are going to crash.  Wait, we stopped in a hurry.  Oh look, Brutus grabbed the back of the sleigh as slowed us down.  Thank you, Brutus.  You kept us from crashing into the shelter.

Okay, Cocoa Puff it is time for you.  Wow, look at her run across the snow.  Her black fur looks stunning against the white.  Look at her leap; she got right through the window.  Now she is opening the door.   Way to go Cocoa!  They really need to put chimneys on shelters.

Now we need to get the cage doors open.  Where is Tiny?   Hello, there my little friend.  That’s it, get under the door and let all those pups out.  When you need a jailbreak, you always get a Yorkie.

Hi Janey.  Do you have the cookies?  Your Mom made thousands of cookies for all the dogs.  We have to thank her when we get back.  If my Mom ever comes to the Bridge, she will help your Mom, so she doesn’t spend the whole month baking.

We have to get all the dogs lined up to get their presents and….wait!   The dogs are all taking off! 

 Who is leading them?    Beaux Jangles!  You come back here with those dogs right now.  Stop laughing at me, young man!  Now we are going to have to wait until Beaux is done running.   We are going to be way behind schedule.

Nora, get Beaux and bring him back here.  I know you are a good and responsible dog  Look, Nora has them.  Beaux, stop laughing at me.  You are going to have to sit in the back of the sleigh.

We have to get these cages looking beautiful for the holiday.  Don’t worry; I think the shelter workers are getting used to these Christmas miracles.  Here come Dory and Bilbo with beautiful flowers and decorations to make the dogs’ surrounding look homey, at least on Christmas.  Thank the Big Guy what we were blessed with these two wonderful dogs who have made a cold shelter look like Christmas.

Bailey, thank you for getting the dogs lined up again.  You are very good at keeping dogs organized  You had to do that with your pack, and you are a natural.   I am going to make sure Santa knows you have been a very good dog, unlike other dogs.  That’s right I am looking at you Beaux.

Thank you for getting the dogs calmed down Pancho.  I know you have been in a shelter too.  It is very kind of you to tell them that even if they don’t get out of the shelter, they will find marvelous, loving homes at the Bridge.

Now dogs, you are lucky this year.  Here comes Hannah Banana with trays and trays of the most delicious treats you have ever tasted.  She is so sweet to kiss them all on the nose.  I think some of these boys are blushing, but not for long.  You can’t blush and eat at the same time.

Thank you for passing out the napkins Minnie.  You don’t have to clean their whiskers yourself.  I know, this is the night the shelter dogs are treated like royalty.  That is very sweet of you.
Deuce you tell the elves that the dogs are ready for their presents.  I know you will.  You are a good boy.  You deserved better from the mortal world.

And look who is leading the sleigh with all the presents?  It’s Junior Johnson!  Of course Junior would be in charge of giving away the gifts, he is the kindest hearted dog in the world.  Look at his big smile.  He loves making others happy and running through the snow.

Hi Jazzmin!  I see you there on to the top of the sleigh.  Start throwing the gifts of the pups. 

 Remember don’t give them all the gifts because we have a lot of shelters to go to.  What’s that?  Santa said it like a bottomless bag.  Well then share as many gifts as you want.

Thank you for making sure the little ones get their gifts, Otis.  You are very thoughtful, and you do a great job of taking care of little dogs
.
Cappy, we need you now.  We have to start getting organized for the next shelter.  While we do that Cappy is going to keep the dogs enthralled by singing beautiful Christmas carols for them.  They can hear how much spirit Cappy has with every note.

Sorry shelter pups but it is time for you to back inside.  We wish we could keep you with us all year round, but we are sure there are good parents out there looking for you to make their lives complete.  Dixie has been working inside the shelter to make sure you have lots of blankets and toys for next year and that you have enough food for months.

Before you go back to your cages, Pepper is going to give you each a sweet kiss.  It is going to fill your heart with warmth for months to come.  Thank you for giving them all hugs to Pepper.  That will keep their coats warm too.

Now come Jasper and Sophie Rae with a magic dust that they have created just for you.  They are going to sprinkle it on you. It is called hope.  It will give you the strength you need to survive whatever comes your way and not lose spirit.  No dogs have more spirit than Jasper and Sophie, and they are happy to share it with dogs who live without hope.

Here is sweet Abbie with the gift of wisdom.  Many dogs have trouble getting adopted because they don’t know how to react.  With Abbie’s gift, you will become smarter, do better on walks, and be more appealing to humans.  Wisdom is a marvelous gift.

Lily has left you all a wonderful treat under your pillows for the morning.  When you wake up, you will see the treat, and you will smile just like Lily made her parents smile every morning.

Before we go, MacDougal is going to give you the greatest gift, the one he gave his entire life, joy.  It will keep you happy through the tough times ahead.  MacDougal is sprinkling you with joy power now.  We can see the smiles on your faces.  That makes it all worthwhile.

All right Pintus, lead us out of here, we have lots more shelters to go to tonight.  He we go.

Oh no!  Beaux Jangles, stop playing with those dogs and fly up here.

Boy, this is going to be a hard night.

Before we go, we want to wish all our parents and friends a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year  They know your hearts have been broken this year and the wish you much healing and love in 2018.

Look to the sky tonight.  If you see anything moving that is us flying over you to the nearest shelter.  We would love if you gave us a wave.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: The True Story of the Hattie Mae Chrisrmas Tree Hat

I popped into my good friend Hattie Mae’s dreams this week.  I wanted to give her my fondest Christmas wishes.  Hattie was one the most famous dog models in the world.  But she has retired from public life and now lives on her fabulous Virginia estate where she is waited on by her many minions.

During her prime, which spanned more than a decade, the masses anxiously awaited to see what creation Hattie had designed and modeled.  One fashion post from Hattie would send the entire dog community abuzz.  We simply had to have what she wore.

  Until the Christmas Hat.

Hattie debuted the look one December afternoon.  She paraded it in front of us and waited for the usual praise.  There was stunned silence.  Brody broke the tension by blurting “Hattie Mae you look ridiculous.”  The diva had never heard a word of criticism in her life.  Humiliated she ran off the runway.

Josie told Brody that he should not have been so blunt.  “You’re laughing too!” Brody said.  Josie put a paw to her mouth to cover her smile.

“We should go talk to her,” Lou said.  

Smoochy stood and said he would lead the way

I joined them as we walked down the hallway to her dressing room.  We could hear the sound of glass shattering against the wall.  Brody knocked on the door and opened it.   A vase shattered inches from his face.  He shut the door.  “She’s busy,” he said sheepishly.

“Don’t be foolish,” Smoochy said.  He knocked on the door and entered.  Hattie was sitting at her dressing table with her head in her paws.

“I am ruined!” she said.  

Josie stepped into the dressing room cautiously.  “Don’t be silly Hattie,” she said putting a paw on Hattie’s shoulder.  “It is just one design.”

Hattie picked up the hat with her mouth and flung it across the room.  “It isn’t even mine.  It is from the House of Etsy.  I only modeled it because they offered me enough kibble to buy my mom a new sewing machine.  She really wanted one.  But now I will never work again.”

“You are being overly dramatic,” Smoochy told her.  “No one will notice.”

Brody giggled.  “The picture I put on Twitter of Hattie’s in her hat has been retweeted 100,000 times.”

We all groaned.  

“Ruined!” Hattie Mae said  She climbed down and hid under her table.

“You are only ruined if the hats don’t sell and are never seen again,” Lou said.  “We all have a following on social networking.  If we wear the hats and promote them, I am sure they will become popular, and Hattie Mae’s reputation as a top model will be maintained.”

Brody’s paws were working his phone.  “I just ordered five,” he said.  “Or fifty, it is hard working an I-Phone without opposable thumbs.”

And that is when we got to work ordering hats and getting our friends to do the same.  The hats sold out.  Hattie was given all the credit.  Her Mom got a new sewing machine, and the wearing of Hattie Mae Hats on Christmas became a tradition that has gone on for years.

Hattie is retired, and several of us who were there that day, namely Smoochy, Brody and myself are at the Bridge, but we gladly wear the hats each year even if we look foolish.

Because looking like a fool is what we do for a friend, especially at Christmas.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Welcoming Penny, Charlotte and Noelle

When a pup comes to Rainbow Bridge, they don’t come empty-pawed.  They bring their parent’s hearts with them.  This is unfortunate because humans need their hearts.  Without them they stumble through the day, tears flowing from their eyes, they lose interest in life, barely eating and are in constant pain.  It isn’t our fault that we take their hearts.  They are just returning what they received.

There are three ways for our parents to get their hearts back.  Hearts will slowly grow inside of them unaided, but it can take months or even years.  If the pup who went to the Bridge left a sibling behind, they could help with the rebuilding.  The quickest way is to get a heart transplant is a new pup.

When a dog comes to the Bridge, they immediately begin looking for a new pup for their parents.  The hard part is getting mom and dad to open their lives to a new dog because they know at the end of the road their hearts will be ripped out again.  They have to be reminded that sharing your life with a dog is a ride that is so thrilling, joyous, and full of love it is well worth taking, even knowing that the heart beating inside of them will be gone when the loving little soul sharing their life disappears.

Angel Pepper knew when her mom, Aunt Cathy,  makes up her mind she moves quickly so she could not waste time.  She was doing interviews her first full day at the Bridge, and by her second she found Penny.  Then she pointed her mom in Penny’s direction and when they met Aunt Cathy felt her chest filling with love again.  The pain from the absence of Pepper’s heart could still be felt, but the hole in Aunt Cathy’s chest was gone.

While Aunt Cathy was broken hearted she still had Pepper’s sister Juju living with her, so there was puppy love in her heart.  When Hannah Banana went to the Bridge there was not a shred of her mom’s, Aunt Kim’s heart left.  Hannah also immediately got to work finding Aunt Kim a new pup, but the timing had to be right for her to receive her new heart.  Hannah had to wait five months until Aunt Kim was ready.  When she was, Hannah found little Charlotte.  Aunt Kim, when she went to see Charlotte, was worried the pup would not choose her, which was silly, because Hannah had told Charlotte all about her wonderful mom, and when Charlotte saw her she knew Aunt Kim would be her forever mom.  Another heart transplant was completed.

After living for years with two dogs Aunt Kristi, within eight-month, lost both parts of her heart, which were taken by Junior in December of last year and Chelsea in August.  They were both very anxious to find a new heart for their mom, but she needed time.  Junior and Chelsea strenuously interviewed dogs and even allowed some to meet their mom before vetoing the choice.  It had to be the perfect dog.    Recently they found Noelle, and they made sure Aunt Kristi located her.   When Aunt Kristi and Noelle met Junior and Chelsea held one another tightly as they saw their mom smile in a way she had not smiled in a year.  It was a full-hearted smile full of love.

Welcome to Noelle, Charlotte, and Penny.  You are very lucky dogs.  You have the best dog parents in the world.  I know you will give them beautiful hearts for them that will sustain them for years.



Thank you for saving our friends.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Saving Private Enzo with Totti, Chelsea and Queenie

I was lazing in the sun when my emergency angel beacon went off.  “Angels, oh Angels, please help me!”  I picked it up.  I could see my dear friend Enzo standing in a vast cornfield.  At first, I thought he was his usual joking self but then I realized he was terrified.

“Angels,”: Enzo yelled.  “I was hunting with my parents and chased a bird into this cornfield.  I saw another bird and ran after it, and now I am hopelessly lost.  Please, angels, help me find my way back to my parents.

We needed an Angel Rescue Squad.  I checked who was on call for emergencies:  Queenie, Chelsea, and Totti.  I could not assemble a better group.  I told them to assemble by the river bank.  

We held one another’s paws and flew into the sun.  We emerged over the dense cornfield.  Enzo’s dad was walking around the perimeter calling his name.  His mom was standing by the truck praying for a miracle.  She did not know it, but her miracle had arrived.  Queenie, Chelsea, Totti each took a side of the field and began calling Enzo’s name.

I heard Enzo whining on the south side of the corn.  I flew down and saw Enzo huddled under a stalk.  I called his name several times until he looked up and saw me.  “Oh Angel Foley, I knew you would come.  You have to help me out of the corn.”  I called for Queenie, Chelsea, and Totti to come to me and then had them go to the edge of the corn and call him.

Enzo tried to reach them, but the corn became too thick.  He kept getting blocked.  He begged me to come into the corn with him.  I hesitated.  My Mommy told me never to go into the corn.  I didn’t want to get hopelessly lost too.  But, if I had to get hopelessly lost at least I could do it with Enzo.  I flew into the corn.

It was dark and thick.  I asked for Quennie to fly over us and direct us to the end of the corn.  Every way she tried to direct us we got stuck.  It looked hopeless.  Enzo asked if I could try to fly him out.  I got underneath him, but he’s a big boy, and I’m a little girl.  I only got him a foot off the ground.

We both fell backward.  Enzo hit the stalk hard.  I had tucked my wings in, but they popped out as I fell and they sliced a stalk in two  Enzo said:  “Yummy, corn!” and started eating an ear before I realized that our wings were the way out.

I called to Queenie, Chelsea, and Totti to come into the corn.  Queenie and Totti flew right down, but Chelsea, being a cautious Yorkie, like me, said she would guide us with her voice.  Smart dog. Queenie, Totti and I began walking backward and flapping our wings as we cut through the corn.  Chelsea guided us towards Enzo’s dad.  Once we could see light through the field, Enzo ran off to his dad, and we gathered above the corn to see the tearful reunion.

As Enzo walked back to the truck, and his mom ran to him, they turned and gave us a tip of the tail and a big smile for helping us guide him out of the corn.

But that is what angels are for.

If you are ever get lost in the corn, thinks of us, and we will be there to help you.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Visiting My Home with Pintus

Sometimes the afterlife really does seem like an eternity.  I have so few souls here I had met during my mortal life:  My Dad’s parents (thankfully Nana has grown to like dogs in the  afterlife and no longer complains when I growl and show my teeth); his Uncle Bob and Aunt Bev, who I met the day after my Gotcha night; our neighbor Mrs. McAloon who was always happy to see me; and my sibling dogs Blake, Copper, Jax and Skye.

I know that may seem like a lot, but they all have their own lives and adventures. Somedays I do get lonely.  I was feeling quite melancholy, looking over the river, when my friend Pintus came over and asked me why I was glum.  I told him about my loneliness.

“Let’s go visit your last home as angels,” he said.  “I would really like to see it.”

He was being kind.  He knew that sometimes an angel needs to fly home.  He took me by the paw, and we flew off.

It was nighttime.  There are no streetlights in our neighborhood.  There is nary a pole.  Just solar lights on poles at the end of the driveways that casts a soft glow across the lawn.  The gardens were asleep.  I told Pintus how I loved visiting there in the summer as a butterfly, smelling every flower, delicately landing on each petal.  But now it was cold, dark and raw.

I told Pintus about when we lived in the condo across from the state mental institution, and my parents were committed to walking Blake and me when they got home from work.  There was six inches of snow on the ground as we hiked around the abandoned softball field at the institution.  My parents sludged through while Blake and I walked on top of the frozen accumulation until I hit a soft spot and disappeared.  My parents frantically dug me out.  I shook off the snow and continued.

Pintus had a good chuckle about that.

We passed through a wall into the front room.  We stopped by the bed where the grandbabies used to sleep.  I loved when they came over.  Now they are too old to sleep at Grammy’s.  There are so few benefits to getting older.

I also showed Pintus my famous Leopard Skin Vagina Kitty Condo.  It is the home to the stuffed animals who manage my museum.  Pintus and I entered, and I showed him the artifacts of my life.

We passed into the hallway and over River’s pee pads which are so unprofessional.  We went into the kitchen.   I showed Pintus the cabinet where the kibble is stored.  We both took a deep, heavenly breath.  Then we went to the treat jar in the corner.  I opened it, and we shared a bacon treat.  He then studied the many drawings of Pocket and me on the walls drawn by our friends Connie Gross and Eileen Kohler.

We flew into the living room.  Pintus stopped at my table top, looking at my pictures, my gifts, my books, and the box that I don’t like:  The box that holds my remains.  It freaks me out.

Then we flew into the bedroom where my parents, Pocket, and River were sleeping.  My mom looked as beautiful as she did the day I departed.  River and Pocket were sleeping between them, leaning against them, sharing body heat during the cold night.  This is what I loved most of all.  There is nothing more comforting than sleeping in a pack.  Pintus asked if we could snuggle with them, and I said yes.

We both flew down with my parents and cuddled with my sisters.  River and Pocket saw us.  They gave Pintus kisses then I gave River’s allergic paw, which my parents were worried about, a kiss, and Pocket’s everything, because Pocket always gives my parents reason to worry, a kiss, and we settled down.  It was heavenly.  The warm smell of a pack huddled together, the sweet sound of humans deeply breathing, the hum of the ceiling fan.  I was home and sharing it with Pintus, one of my very best friends.

The visit was brief.  My mom stirred, her bladder full again, and when she did Pintus and I were required to leave.  We were soon back the the Bridge.  I kissed my good friend and thanks him for suggesting the trip.

I went to sleep.  When I awoke, I couldn’t remember if it was a dream or not.  Then I saw Pintus walking around with one of the stuffed animals from my Leopard Skin Vagina  Kitty Condo, and I knew it was very real.

Thanks for the great night Pintus.  Sometimes an angel just needs to return home.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Can a Good Dog Save a Bad Man

It seems that every week there is a story of an angry man whose life has gone wickedly wrong, and who becomes violent resulting in a wake of death behind him.  It is too simple to say if these men had dogs they would never have become violent but a dog did help one violent man  

Budhi Bryant grew up in a horrific home where the seeds for the abusive man he would become were planted.  His mother was addicted to drugs.  To pay off her debts, she gave Budhi to her drug dealer.  When that transaction occurred Budhi’s father was in jail,  HIs grandfather tracked Budhi down, and he moved in with his aunt and uncle.

When  Budhi was five, his father was released from prison.  He found his son with his grandmother, beat her, and took him.  Budhi’s father abused him for years.  Budhi took comfort in his dog until his father, during a violent episode, beat the dog to death in front of him.

Budhi was removed from his father’s home and put in the foster care system.  He was then returned to his aunt and uncle, but he was unhappy there.  At 16 he joined the Navy.  He made a good friend with a shipmate, but that man was murdered on board, and Budhi was assigned to scrub the scene clean.

He went to Penn State, got a good job, and it looked like he had escaped his violent past, but he was still in the reserves, and he was called up to serve one year in the Middle East as part of a combat search and rescue unit.

He returned home suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which he treated with alcohol.  His work did not suffer, but when he got home, he drank until he passed out.

He was married and had a daughter, who he loved, but the disease, and the drinking pushed him into the past where he became his father.  He got drunk at a wedding, nearly beat his wife to death, and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

While in prison he struggled with the knowledge that he had become who he hated.  His wife divorced him.  He gave up on himself and attempted suicide.

He discovered salvation when the prison administration began a program where prisoners would train rescue dogs to become service dogs.  He was given a pit bull named Layla who had been hit by a car and had scars covering her body.  Layla hid under a table when she entered the prison and could have been deemed a failure but, perhaps remembering the dog he had lost as a boy, Budhi refused to leave Layla side until she crawled out from under the table.

Layla was saved and rehabilitated by Budhi, and she did the same for him.  When Layla was placed Budhi got more dogs to train, taking those who had been used for fighting, or had been abused, and got them ready to re-enter society and they did the same for him.

Budhi got a nine to five job when he left prison, but he soon began his own business, Training Buddy, and he dreams of opening his own training center operated by vets and former inmates.

Recently Budhi was challenged by a Labrador-Brittany mix named Ryder and his overmatched owner.  Budhi worked with Ryder but the overactive dog made his owner crazy, and he wanted to surrender Ryder.  Having been given up on several times in his life, Budhi would not do that with Ryder.

Budhi brought Ryder home to live with the abused pitbull who he had adopted and named Layla after the first dog he had saved.  The three of them recently hiked along the Appalachian Trail, three rehabilitated souls with the wide open country lying before them and their limitless future before them.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Why You Can Treat Your Dog Like a Human But Not Your Human Like a Dog

“You treat that dog like it’s a person!”  That is what we hear the anti-dogdite people say to our parents who are doting on us.  I don’t think that is true.  We are much nicer to people than other humans are, and all that love should be reciprocated.  But what if humans began to treat each other the way they treat dogs?

If a dog walking in the park takes a poop and the human cleans it up, everyone thinks the human is a good citizen.  If two people walk through the park and one of them takes a poop and the other cleans it up everyone thinks it’s weird and someone calls the police.

A human can give their dog a belly rub in the warm sun, but if a human lies on it’s back, and another begins to vigorously rub their stomach, they are told in it inappropriate.  

Humans can dress dogs in clothes and walk us down the street, which might raise a skeptical eyebrow.  We can walk naked too.  A human walking naked raises the certainty of bail.

A human can bathe a dog in public, but one human bathing another human in public is naughty.

Humans and dogs can both ride in the passenger side of the car.  Dogs can hang their head out the window and feel the cool breeze.  A human sticks his head out the window, and someone is getting a ticket.

A dog can lick his down under in public, and people politely look away.  If a man does it, no one can look away.  

Everyone loves to see a human throw a frisbee and a dog catch it in his mouth but hit one human in the mouth with a frisbee and fists are going to fly.

Some people find a dog licking its human’s face to be lovely, other people find it disgusting, but if one person is heavily licking another person’s face in public everyone finds it disgusting.

If your dog can do a few tricks, everyone thinks you are a good parent but if your daughter is turning a few tricks no one thinks you were a good parent.

So remember humans you can treat you your dog like a human but never treat your human like a dog.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Visiting the Country Vet with Brooklyn

I saw several vets during the course of my mortal life, none of which suited either my, or my parent’s needs.  There was the doctor who was always running late; the doctor who messed up my brother Jax’s diagnosis; the large animal hospital that was too impersonal, the doctor who was too far away, the doctor who retired, the doctor who held me up by my paws which upset me, the doctor who was too expensive and the doctor who was only open mornings.  My parents think they have finally good doctor now, but it was a couple of years past my expiration date.

I think we all missed out on the great vets.  The kind that would come to your house with a little black bag, sit with your parents, have tea, mix some medicines and make you feel better.  Sure, lifespans were shorter, and cancer incurable, but no one was forcing overpriced food on you because they had sold themselves out to a food company, or insisted on unwanted vaccinations.

There is little need for veterinarians at the Bridge.  Being immortal puts a damper on the healthcare profession.  But there are still reasons for their existence.  We can’t die (again) or get ill, but we can get injured and feel pain.  When that happens, who is better to tend to you than a kind country vet?

My amazing friend Brooklyn, when she is not spending time visiting, ghosting or watching over her mom, loves to chase tennis balls.  I appointed two of my minions to throw balls for her as long as she wants, and she can run for a very long time.  One day this week Brooklyn was playing fetch with a minion in the park when the minion threw the ball into a rose bush.  

Brooklyn gave out a yip and came out of the bushes with a thorn in her paw.  I ran down to her while I barked at the minion chastising him for the poor throw.  Brooklyn was trying to bite the thorn out but could not get her mouth angled correctly.  I bit the thorn too but did not have the strength to pull it

Suddenly a kindly man appeared with a black bag.  He slowly walked to us, then bent down and opened his bag.  “Don’t worry Brooklyn,” he said. “I did this a hundred times as a vet in England between the wars.”  He delicately put a hand on Brooklyn’s head and slipped out the thorne.  Brooklyn compensated him with a kiss.  “That is what I missed the most,” the kindly gentleman said.  “So much better than money.”

We spent the day listening to his stories about being a country vet.  While we were talking hundreds of animals, he had treated gathered behind him.  When he turned and saw them, he gave out a jolly laugh.  “My friends are here,” he told us.  He stood and now moved gracefully towards his friends, and with a laugh, he ran off with the animals.

I wish I had a vet who I could visit and thank like that.  Maybe Pocket and River finally do.  I hope you do.

There is nothing better on heaven or Earth than a good vet.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: For Odin who will not Leave A Friend

Everyone knows that we dogs will do anything for the humans that we love, but the same is accurate for animals we adore too.  No one proved that more than Odin.

Odin resides with the Hendel family in Santa Rosa California.  Their homestead, located in Sonoma County was in the path of the Tubbs fire.  On Sunday, October 8, Odin’s father Roland made the heartbreaking decision that he, his daughter and their pets had to abandon their home to the fire.  

The Hendels would never leave a pet behind, but they had no choice but to abandon the eight bottle-fed rescue goats they recently adopted.  When Odin saw that the goats would not be escaping with them, he refused to leave their side.

Around them propane tanks were exploding, metal was being twisted from the intense heat, the winds were hot and swirling powering the fire.  Roland hated leaving his loyal friend, but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.  The Hendels left Odin behind to what he knew would be a horrific and agonizing death.

Not only did Odin leave his dad behind but his sister Tessa as well.  Roland had rescued them together as puppies, and they had never spent a day apart.  The reality was now they would be spending a lifetime apart.  

The following morning one of Roland’s neighbors told him that both their properties had been destroyed, but Odin and the goats were still miraculously alive.

The next day Roland dodged roadblocks driving through his still-burning neighborhood to get to Odin.  Roland found Odin still guarding his goats as well as a few baby deer who had joined them.  Odin fur was burned, his whiskers gone and he was walking with a limp.  Behind them, the Hendel home was burned to the ground.

Roland had to leave them on the property, but he made sure they had plenty of food and water.  The next day he brought Tessa to visit Odin.  The two were overjoyed to see one another.

Despite surviving the fire the pack is still in danger.  The family’s pumphouse was destroyed, so they have no water, and the barn had burned down, so the goats had no shelter with winter approaching.  The family created a You Caring https://www.youcaring.com/odintessaandtheirfamilyofmisfitrescuegoats-978792  site to raise money so Odin, Tessa, and the goats can stay together and Odin’s sacrifice would not be in vain.  

Odin, Tessa, and the goats are at a temporary shelter as the Hendels prepare to rebuild  Odin is healed and happy.  

Odin won’t tell anyone the miracle he created to save himself and his goats.  We angels aren’t saying if we helped either.  Someday you humans are just going to have to accept that miracles happen and never to stop believing.

Then you will become a perfect being like a dog.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Chloe the Miracle Mountain Dog

This is the story of a 14-year-old-lab-pittie mix named Chloe who, on a hot August day decided to hike up a 14 er Mount Bross, ran into a speck of trouble, and came down six weeks later

Chloe was a mountain dog, and she was experienced in finding her way home.  But she also had gotten older, and her body did not respond the way it used to.  

On this beautiful summer day, Chloe kept going up and up.  She felt young again.  She knew she should turn around but the sun was warm, the scents were heavenly, and time slipped away.  She saw a large rock and knew if she could get on it she could see everywhere.  It took a mighty leap, but Chloe made it.

Here is something about dogs that humans have trouble understanding.  We have tremendous confidence going up, but not so much going done.  Chloe was stranded on a rock in the middle of Nowhere Colorado.

Chloe nervously padded to the side of the rock but her instinct told her if she jumped she would land on the steep slope, her paws would not gain traction, and she would fall into the trees and rocks.  An impulsive dog may get hurt by running in the street or at a wild animal but a pensive dog studies the situation and understands that sometimes it is better to wait even if it is over night.  Or night after night after night.

Her Dad, Larry Osborne expected Chloe to come back from her hike, but one night turned to two, and then a week.  Chloe was an older dog,  there were many wild animals on the mountain, and her dad slowly began to lose hope.

Chloe, through hot days, cold nights, and the rain stayed alive on top of that rock.  She won’t tell me how.  She just believed someone would find her, and day after day she never lost hope as she survived on rainwater and miracles.

Larry owned a Saloon, and he made sure that every one of the town’s 300 people was on the lookout for Chloe but no one saw her.  In late September Larry told his son that Chloe would not be coming home, and the family had a memorial service for her.

Meanwhile, Chloe stayed on the rocks using all she had left.  Her bark.  

Mountain hikers had reported while they were on Mount Bross they heard a dog barking but no one could find the source of the barking.  Trinity Smith and her boyfriend Sean Nichols, who were visiting the area after moving two years earlier, decided to conduct a search.

They searched the mountain all day with no findings but before nightfall, Trinity heard a slight whimpering.  She posted her discovery on Facebook and a Breckenridge resident Mark Whiteside joined her on the mountain.  Unfortunately they did not hear anything the rest of the evening.

A desperate Chloe knew there were humans near, but she was so tired, and thirsty.  Working up a single whimper used all of her energy.  She decided to keep quiet and hope the came nearer.  

Smith and Nichols returned the next day searched for four hours with no success.   The weather turned cold, and clouds covered the sun.  They kept going, calling out for a response.  It started to snow.   They knew if the sound were from a dog he would not survive the storm.  Nichols, exhausted and losing faith, sat down and cried.  

Chloe knew she would not survive the night.  She worked up all the energy she had, and she let out one loud bark.  Nichols heard it and shimmied up the scree field towards the noise.  Chloe found the residual spark to produce more barks.  Nichols kept heading towards the sounds.  Chloe poked her head up, and Nichols saw her stuck on the rock.

Nichols reached the rock and grabbed Chloe.  He held her to his chest, and he slid down the steep chute.  While they were siding Chloe’s collar was ripped off.  

They got Chloe off the mountain and drove to the Al-Mart where Nichols worked.  They were planning to rush Chloe to the vet when one of Nichols’ coworkers said she knew who Chloe belonged to.

The woman found Larry Osborne who was stunned to see Chloe standing next to Nichols.  He broke down when he saw his wonderful friend he was sure had perished six weeks before.   

Chloe was thrilled to see her Dad.  He took her to the vet.  Chloe was very dehydrated and malnourished, her nose had turned white, her coat pale and she suffered a minor injury down the mountain, but otherwise she was fine.  She had lost two-thirds of her body weight but had gained ten pounds back the first weekend living every dog’s dream of being able to eat however much she wanted.

The entire town turned out to celebrate Chloe’s return.  Her Dad said he did not know how she managed to survive.

The truth is that Chloe refused to go to the Bridge and never gave up the belief that she would be found.

That is an essential lesson for dogs and humans.  A lot can be accomplished if you never give up hope.