ARF SEPA - Rainbow Bridge

If you have ever lost a pet, you understand the profound sense of loss you experience. We've established this page as a place where you can permanently memorialize your pet. Please send us your story, plus a photo of your pet if you'd like, and we'll post a memorial to your furry friend. Email your information to: info@arfsepa.com

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....

Arlene Miller - Our deepest gratitude to Arlene and her son for arranging for a memorial donation to ARF upon her passing...

During the summer of 2007, a young grey and white cat wandered into our neighborhod. He immediately adopted our street as his new home! The young girls on our street named him "Timmy", another family named him "Buddy" and we named him "Sid" after the cat in the children's book Six Dinner Sid.

Sid meandered from house to house looking for food and affection. The neighborhood took care of him the best we could - one family provided him with a heating pad and blankets during the cold weather! Many days you could see a leg or paw hanging out of the box as he slept in his cozy winter home.

Last June was a tough month for Sid. He either got into a fight with an animal and the wound became infected or he developed an abcess for another reason. I brought him to a local vet and she cleaned him up. She told me that he would be ok and gave me antibiotics and cream for the wound. She asked me if I wanted to test Sid for Feline leukemia and Feline HIV. I agreed. Unfortunately the results were not good - Sid tested positive for Feline HIV. This information made things more complicated for Sid. The families who cared for Sid wanted to take him in. But we all had cats and we could not expose them to the FIV. We all felt sad for Sid.

Sid spent the month of June recuperating in a large dog crate on my porch. When the weather became too hot, we put him in a smaller crate in my bedroom away from my 2 cats. He enjoyed rolling around in my laundry pile when I let him out of the crate for exercise.

I luckily found a shelter near Harrisburgh that would take Sid - the only catch was that a space would not be available until July 13th. I told the people at The Best Little Cathouse in PA to save that space for him! I was heading that way on that date because I was attending a week-long educational program at Juniata College. They sent me the information and I began planning for Sid's big move in 3 weeks.

Leaving Sid at the hospice was the best thing I could have done for him - but also the hardest! The staff at the Best Little Cathouse were so kind and helpful! I was happy that Sid would be living with such caring people. It was so hard saying good-bye to him! It was sad too because all the cats at the hospice were in the same situation - dying of FIV and leukemia. However in the midst of all that sadness and illness, the staff made the days fun and worry free for all the kitties.

Throughout the year, I heard from the director, Lyn, about Sid and his adjustment to his new home. They also enjoyed Sid - he loved to eat, he loved laying on the screened-in porch and he loved watching birds. Many of our neighbors with members of my family made donations to the hospice in Sid's name.

I am returning to Juniata Ciolege in 2 weeks. I was hoping to visit Sid and his friends at the hospice. But it wasn't meant to be. I received a call today from Lyn. She did not want to be the bearer of bad news and she apologized several times. Sid passed away on July 1, 2009. Lyn said that he loved to greet people at the door and he never missed a meal - even when his mouth was covered with abcesses. She told me they buried Sid with his buddies. I thanked her over and over for caring for Sid and for all the kitties at the hospice. I told her that we would never forget The Best Little Cathouse in PA!

On March 14, 2008, one of our most special ARF pets passed away and crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Lucy was a completely blind 16-year old beagle who was taken in by ARF SEPA volunteers from an area public shelter. Most shelters will keep a dog for a mandatory period of time, but often 'old' and 'sick' dogs can get put down first. Lucy was about 10 years old when she was brought to the public shelter as a stray, and she had cataracts so severe that her eyes were the size of ping-pong balls and she was completely blind. A shelter worker contacted ARF SEPA volunteers to ask for assistance to save this little girl, and we're so glad we did. Lucy was examined by an area veterinarian, where it was determined that the pressure in her eyes was so great that they be removed.

After surgery, Lucy rebounded to live a life filled with love in an ARF SEPA volunteers' home. She had a fenced-in yard so she couldn't accidentally wander off, and a doggie door so she could come and go as she pleased. She went for leash walks around the neighborhood and followed the sound of her person's footsteps so she'd know where to step. Everyone who met
Lucy loved her, from grumpy old men to women who professed that they didn't like dogs. She won over kids of all ages who always came over
to pet Lucy. Lucy lived for 6 years with her adoptive family and we are thankful for every single day of joy that she brought to our
lives.

ARF SEPA named its Senior Pet Adoption program in Lucy's honor, in the hope that other homes in our area can discover the rewards and joy that come with adopting a senior cat or dog.

Bella along with her two sisters Emma and Abbey were rescued at 6 weeks of age from a field where they were found abandoned, cold, and all alone. The kittens were fostered by and ARF volunteer and in only three short weeks were adopted together by a wonderful and compassionate family. Unfortunately only a few short days after finding her forever home Bella became ill and passed away. Bella stole the heart of everyone who met her. She was such a sweet and loving kitten who would seek out your attention. There was nothing she loved more than to snuggle up and put her head on your shoulder and purr herself to sleep. Bella will be dearly missed by her foster and adopted parents and she will remain in our hearts forever.

Spencer along with his brother Brody were found at the tender age of 3-weeks living beneath an abandoned house. Both kittens needed a lot of attention, they were dirty and full of fleas, they were tiny- they only weighed about 8 ounces- and they had an Upper Respiratory Infection. My family and I provided Spencer and Brody with a warm and loving environment where they began to thrive and get well again. Unfortunately the kittens took a sudden turn for the worse and passed away within two short days of each other. Even though we were saddened by the loss of these two precious kittens, we found comfort in knowing that their final weeks were spent in comfort and they were given the opportunity to feel compassion and adoration from a family who truly loved them.

BooBoo was rescued from a shelter in southern Virginia, where she must have ingested some rather large acorns for which she had surgery up here in PA.

All the volunteers at ARF thank Media Vet and Veterinary Referral Center for such great care and compassion in helping BooBoo. Sadly, she passed away and our hearts have a hole in them....we'll see you at the bridge, BooBoo.

Moira was a bunny abandoned by her owners just weeks after Easter when the novelty had worn off. Her owners said they could not "give her enough time" so they left her at a shelter already overrun with "Easter Bunnies." ARF took her into foster care.

She was sweet and curious and loved to play in boxes, bags, with towels or toys. Her new home showed her a world she had never known and she showed how happy she was with her jumps, leaps, body shivers and silly antics. Unfortunately, Moira's little heart gave out during her spay and she crossed over the rainbow bridge. We are so happy we were able to give her a few months of freedom and love - which she returned many times over. She touched our hearts and will always be remembered. Our greatest joy is knowing her final months were filled with nothing but love and fun.

Emily - Missed by Alan

Bonnie and Terri - I'll see you at the bridge...

Nubbins - A sweet, loving bunny loved and very much missed.

"The day this little six-ounce, two-handed scoop of fur came into our lives, we couldn't tell which end was front or back until she moved! Originally named Crystal, I felt she most resembled a pill, or "nub", on your sweater, and so she became Nubbins."
Read Nubbins story...