Pup of the Week: Barney The Cat

I have never had a great relationship with kitties.  I tried to get along with them:  Honest I did.  But when we lived in the condo there were two kitties who sat on my deck.  I would bark at them so much my head would hurt, but they refused to recognize my authority and remained on my deck until on of my parents grabbed the door handle scaring the cat away.  Then there was the cat who I approached as pleasant as could be only to have that kittie bip me on the nose.   And there was one cat who accused me of being an anti-cattie.  That caused me a kibble bag full of trouble

Little did people know that a cat would be one of my very best friends.  His name is Barney.  When we were on DS, we would talk about what was in our back yard, and how we could both see all the way to each other’s houses.  We would make up stories about what we saw.  We shared many laughs.

Then I went to the Bridge, and then DS closed, and, while our moms still talked Barney and I didn’t have our long, playful conversations any longer.

I don’t know how Cotton found out that Barney and I were friends but when she learned that Barney was coming to the Bridge Cotton told me, and asked me to round up all of Barney’s pup siblings.  I found Gracie, Jondalar, and Keri.  They said they would find the other pups, and their cat family members, for Barney’s arrival.

Barney’s Bridge crossing seemed to come on all at once, then slow to a crawl.  On a Thursday he was fine, by the weekend, he became sick and went to the vets. Barney was dehydrated.  The doctor thought he might be in kidney failure.  A long series of tests would have to be performed on sweet Barney.

Barney stayed at the vet’s overnight.  He was doing better, but the vet said it was possible Barney was diabetic or had kidney problems, or diabetic problems, or liver problems, or no problems. Some of the tests would not be back until the following week.  Barney’s parents and his brother Andy were very worried and lost without their gentle, little friend.

The vet still could not pinpoint what was wrong with him.  It could have been kidney problems, diabetes, or something else.  Worse of all Barney would not eat.  He was sent home with medication and prayers.

Barney was not showing improvement and was back at the vets on Wednesday.  His mom was instructed to feed him via syringe until he got his strength back.  

When he got home that night, his mom found him lying by the water bowl.  When she picked him up, she discovered that he had peed where he lay.  He did not have the strength to get up.  He had lost power in his back legs, and he had even lost the ability to keep his tail erect.

On Thursday the vet gave Barney more fluids and sent him home to be with his parents, but on Friday his mom got the call that Barney could not be cured, and his parents had to send their perfect baby to us.

Cotton, who greets all the cats who arrive at the Bridge, came to me and we agreed to hold the ceremony between our spots at the Bridge because if there was ever a soul who belongs in both worlds, it is Barney.

I waited with his dog family, and his many dog friends, on one side of a semi-circle, while on the other side were the cat friends.  When Barney arrived, we all applauded his bravery, his devotion, and the love her showed every soul he ever met, even a cranky Yorkie like me.

After Barney gave the Rainbow Pledge Cotton invited all of us dogs to sit with the cats for the big welcome celebration for our newest Angel.  Between all the knowledge the dogs would teach Barney and all the secrets the cats would put forth he would be the smartest angel at the Bridge.  He quickly learned how to go back home and try to ease his parents and his brother Andy’s pain.  He was going to be a first rate, Angel.

We snuck away from the dinner and sat on a cliff looking over the window.

“I can see your house from here,” Barney said, sporting a grin.  I told him I could see his house too, just as we had all those years ago when we were young and healthy.   We put our paws on each other’s shoulders and watched the twinkling lights.

I felt so sad for his parents and loved one, but at this moment, as we sat under the moonlight, I was happy to have my friend back.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Jason and Reilly

For years we dogs have tried to hide the connection that we have with humans.  Our human companions understood the bond, but when they shared it with non-believers, their opinions were dismissed.  But now, with so many humans in need, we can no longer hide how we can improve on humans lives. 

I have written many blogs recently about how dogs can help children with learning disabilities.  I am very moved by these stories, and these heroic dogs make me proud.  So, if you would please indulge me, I would like to tell you about one heroic dog named Jason.

Before Jason came into the Brown family their son Reilly, who has autism, would become overwhelmed in public situations.  When the people and the noise became too much for Reilly, he ran.  When he was three years old this instinct to run nearly ended in tragedy.  

Reilly was being watched by his mom.  She turned to talk to a friend, and when she turned back, Reilly was gone.  He left the enclosure, walked across a path, down a hill, and into a creek.  Reilly was unable to understand that entering the creek put him in danger.  Luckily, another parent had seen him and rescued him before he was pulled under the water.

The Browns knew they needed assistance with Reilly in public situations.

It took a year, much research, and $20,000 before Jason became part of their family.  This beautiful dog instantly made his presence worth the wait.

The Browns received two dogs in one when Reilly became part of their family.  He was a happy, goofy black Lab, but, when he put on his service jacket, he became a gentle giant and Reilly best friend and protector.  

Reilly has a tether that is attached to Jason, but it is not to keep Jason from wandering away.  Jason is the one who keeps Reilly from being distracted and fleeing.  When Reilly becomes anxious and wants to run, Jason sits down and anchors him to the spot.  Reilly had become housebound after the incident at the creek, but now he can go shopping with the family and go to community outings.  He got to experience a normal childhood again.

At home, Jason is very good at reading Reilly’s mood.  If he gets anxious Jason will either sense it, or Reilly’s mother will say “Jason touch” and Jason will touch Reilly’s hand which will calm him.  Jason’s presence has even helped Reilly sleep.  While Mrs. Brown is reading Reilly a story, Jason will put his head on Reilly’s stomach until he is fast asleep.  Reilly has gone from waking up every few hours to sleeping through the night.  

Jason was trained by Katie Hunter, the founder of Dogs for Kids with Disabilities, who has trained several dogs in Victoria, Australia.  She said that dogs could change the lives of autistic children.  "There's always a chemical reaction in the body when you're feeling anxious or stressed or in fight-or-flight mode,” Hunter said,  “and dogs can smell that change, long before we can see it."

Jason has given Reilly a calm, independent life despite his diagnosis.  May many other dogs follow in Jason’s paw prints.

River Song and the Cold Kitty

We don’t have a big yard, but we do take a lot of pride in it. We make sure our humans keep the grass green and at a proper height. Our gardens are the highlight of the neighborhood. It is a small yard, but it is ours, and we don’t like souls entering it without permission
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But there is this cat: An orange tabby with a real attitude. She comes walking through my yard without permission. She attacks my innocent bird friends. My backyard has become a battlefield. Sometimes I will find a pile of feathers. The innocent bird’s body is gone, a victim of this horrible cat.

Other times, while Pocket and I are patrolling the yard with one of our parents, this orange tabby will come dashing out from under our fern tree, or just run across the yard, to taunt us. Pocket and I have sworn vengeance on this darn cat. 

On Sunday morning we awoke early. Daddy leashed us so we could do our business. It was very cold outside. The grass was frosted white until we melted it with our pee. We walked around the corner, and the three of us stopped dead in our tracks.

The orange tabby was huddled next to our HVAC until. Daddy had just turned the heat up, and warm air was blowing onto the cat’s fur. She was shivering. Generally Pocket and I would have charged at her, but on this morning we felt for her. She had been turned out from her home on a cold morning and was desperately seeking heat. How could we not give her aid?

I asked Daddy if we could bring her into the house, but Daddy said no. First, you cannot bring someone else’s pet into your home even in they are cold and secondly, while we had great sympathy for the kitty while she was outside and cold once we were all warm the memories of all our animosity would return. I had to admit he was right.

We agreed to go to the other side of the house and let the cold kitty warm up. We did our business and went back in the warm house, thankful that we had parents who cared enough not to leave us outside searching for a warm spot to keep us from freezing.

We don’t want the kitty in our yard, but if it is cold, we will give it the minimum amount of shelter, the discharge from our heater to keep warm, that we can. We animals must take care of one another in a time of need.

But when summer comes that kitty better stays on her paws because we will be on watch.

Barking Mad Wednesday

Beat This Caption

Honest Mom, that's what happened.  Some guy opened the locked door and drank your Smoothie.  Honest

Pups of the Week: Star, Jazzy and Abby

Since her arrival at Rainbow, Bridge Jazzy has spent most of her time either ghosting with her mom or visiting her in her dreams.  She carried her mom’s heartbreak with her every step she took.  Her friends gathered around Jazzy to try to cheer her up. She had all her energy back after the effects of a four-year battle with cancer had vanished, and sometimes we could get her to run and play, but then she would fly off into the sun to ghost with her mom.

We all knew what needed to happen.  Her mom needed a new dog.

We told Jazzy that she had to go into her mom’s dreams and tell her it was the time that she bring a new dog heartbeat into her house. Those who don’t understand missing a dog would say "it has only been two months since Jazzy passed,"  just as they say that one year equals seven dogs years.  That isn’t true.  But what is true is one month missing a pup equals seven months without a dog.

Jazzy’s sister Star also was very worried about their mom.  Star had watched over her mom for years, but she had never seen her so blue.  They decided to divide their efforts.  Star would visit their mom in her dreams and try to convince the only part of her brain which remembers dream conversations:  “the subconscious” to get a dog while Jazzy worked on finding a new pup.

It took one dream visit for Star to determine the problem.  It wasn’t her mom.  It was her dad.  So she slipped into his dreams and yelled: “get Mom a dog” over and over until it penetrated his subconscious.  When he awoke, he suggested to his wife that they should get another dog.  

And that brought them to Abby, a seven-year-old short haired Chihuahua, who needed to be rescued.  Jazzy visited Abby and determined that she was the perfect dog to help heal her mom’s heart. 

Now Abby is home walking on the same floors and sleeping on the same floor, laps, and couch that Star and Jazzy walked and slept upon, and filling their parents lives with love again.  And now Jazzy can run and play with her friends.

But I know she is spending a lot of time ghosting because she loves to see her mom smile.

As do we all.

Tails From Rainbow Bridge: A Glossary of Terms

I have been writing about Rainbow Bridge for a long time and have used terms that some dogs who have just begun to follow my blogs may not understand, so I want to provide this glossary of terms.

The River of Life:  This is the river that separates the mortal side from the immortal side.  When a soul runs of out of heartbeats, they cross the River of Life via Rainbow Bridge.  Souls can never use their Earthly form to cross back but can use other forms.

Rainbow Bridge:  The Bridge we use to cross the River.  There are a lot of Rainbow Bridges connecting the two side of life, but they are all referred to as Rainbow Bridge.  It is called Rainbow Bridge after rainbows.  Rainbows are created when someone on the Immortal side is missing someone on the mortal side so intensely that it creates a Rainbow from the mourning soul across the River of Life to the soul they are missing.

Enzo’s Escalator:  For a long time tired dogs, still in pain, had to climb from the Bridge to the high cliff where the land that we refer to as Rainbow Bridge begins.  Our mortal friend Enzo designed an elevator that lets dogs who cross the River of Life at our section of the Bridge ride instead of climb.  It is very appreciated.

Lovey’s spa:  Halfway up the elevator new angels can stop at Lovey’s spa to get their hair washed, have a drink, get a manicure, and enjoy a beverage as their body recovered so they when they reached the cliff they are fully recharged and have the energy of a puppy.

The Swearing In:  It is my duty to swear in all new Angels.  I have learned to do this very quickly because the new angel has family and friends very excited to greet them,

Scooby’s Wings:  Scooby has recently proven himself to be a first-rate wing designer.  He takes the time to learn important facts about the new Angel and then makes several pairs of wings for them.  

Ladybug’s Flight School:  Ladybug then teaches the new Angels how to fly.  She has been doing this since before I crossed the River of Life.  There is no better flight instructor at Rainbow Bridge.

Living Arrangements:  An Angel can live wherever, and it whatever the way.  I have a modest cottage on a cliff looking over the River; Tommy Tunes has a magnificent palace that is ever expanding making more room for his friends’ Chelsea lives on to the top floor of a high tower.  There are also Angels whose human parents have crossed over.   They get to live at the sweetest spot, at home with their parents.  The parents here always have their doors open for any dog, or stray that wants to live with them.

Weather:  We are usually at comfortable degrees with the sun, but we can fly up to the mountains to play in the snow, and there is one valley where it always rains for those strange dogs who likes to get wet.

The Big Guy:  He runs Rainbow Bridge.  When a mortal soul prays the prayers come to the Bridge, and we fly them up to the Big Guy.  Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he says no, and sometimes we have to argue and plead with him.  Right now we are flying up lots of prayers for Enzo, Molly, Hannah Banana and some other friends.  

Tear Clouds:  When a loved one dies mortal souls cry, and those tears are lifted into clouds that pass over the River to Rainbow Bridge where those tears fall and puddle on the ground.  We dogs then search the puddles to find our parents’ tears and take them to our gardens where they help our flowers grow.

Food:  We can eat anything here, either human or dog food, but who wants to eat dog food?  I love chocolate, and spaghetti, and everything bad for me on the mortal side.  And we never gain a pound.

Hunting:  We can hunt all the critters we want.  We chase them, catch them, shake them, and then they run off again.  The same critter can keep us amused for hours.

Age:  We can pick our ages like a human picks out clothing.  Every morning we get up and go through the bodies we had at certain ages and decide what to wear.  My favorite age is seven.  That is when I had it going on.  

Visits:  There are three ways we can visit our parents. The are:

Flying Creatures:  The only souls that can fly from the mortal side to the immortal side are birds and insects.  They are eager to switch bodies with us so they can play like dogs.  We then fly back to the mortal side to visit our families.  We can hang on the side of houses, fly through the air around our parents, or, my personal favorite, to become butterflies and flutter around them.  If you see a flying creature, who seems to know you it is one of your angels.

Dreams:  We can visit any soul in their dreams.  Unfortunately, our humans rarely remember our visits, but our animal friends do.

Ghosting:  Leo figured out how to fly straight into the sun and after passing through you end up near your parent as a ghost.  You get all the benefits of being with them, and they get the vague notion that you are there, and sometimes they see you, just out of the corner of their eye.  It takes a lot of energy to ghost, so most of us can only do it for a short amount of time, but some of us can do it for days.

Happily Ever After:  When all your loved ones have passed the River of Life to the Bridge then you move to Happily Ever After where there is never any worries, and you stayed safe and snuggled together ever after.

I hope this glossary has helped you better understand Rainbow Bridge.  Now, when you arrive, you will have the upper paw, or hand, on everyone else.