Hello and Welcome!

This is the Cottage Realms
Pet Memorial Garden. We offer you
a place to come and visit your
little furry family member.

We hope to offer a place to find
comfort and peace through poetry
and showing you that they are not gone
they have just crossed
"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 who 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..

Author unknown...

Here are my little ones that have
Crossed Over. I am so looking forward
to seeing them at the bridge.

Sometimes there is are little ones
that pass, that did not have a home.
No-one to love them.. But never fear
there in the garden just past the
"Rainbow Bridge" there is a plan..

" Special Rainbow Bridge Welcome!"

(Adapted from the original)
by Alexander Theodore, Bouvier,
Fourth Year Resident

There was an unprecedented amount of
activity at the Rainbow Bridge.
This had happened once before, and
was prayed it would never happen
again. On the morning of September
11, 2001. And now something has
happened again. There are alot of
people dressed in regular clothes
but there are also some dressed in
what looks like Uniforms..
Decisions had to be made. They had
to be made quickly. And, they were.

An issue, not often addressed here,
is the fact that many residents
really have no loved one for whom
to wait. And, the ones who were
abused. Who are they to wait for?

We don't talk about that much up here.
We share ones as they arrive, happy
to do so. But we all know there is
nothing like having your very own
person who thinks you are the most
special kittens, and puppies in the
Heavens.

On this morning a request rang
out for kittens and puppies not
waiting for specific persons to
volunteer for special assignment..

An eager, curious crowd surged
excitedly forward, each kitten
and puppy wondering what the
assignment would be.

They were told by a solemn voice
that unexpectedly, all at once,
hundreds of people died on Earth
long before they were ready.

All the kittens, and puppies ,
as all kittens and puppies do,
felt the humans' pain deep in their
own hearts. Without hearing more,
there was a clamoring among them -
"May I have one to comfort?"
"I'll take two, I have a big heart."
"I have been saving tail-swishes forever."
One after another they came
forward begging for assignment.

Two little babies, one cozy-looking
fluffy kitten, and one plump little
puppy hesitantly asked,
"Are there any children coming?
We would be very comforting for a child
'cause were soft and squishy and we
always wanted to be hugged."

Little cats , small dogs volunteered
to do what they do best, cuddle and
rub against legs, and nestles at their
feet..

Cats and Dogs who on Earth had never had a
kind word or a pat on the head,
stepped forward and said, "I will
love any human who needs love."

Then all the cats, and dogs, wherever on
Earth they originally came from,
rushed to the Rainbow Bridge and
stood waiting, overflowing with
love to share. .

I have always believed that there must
be special Angels for animals. I found
this prayer, and now I am sure of it..

*~*This is an copyright update*~*
The woman that wrote this poem is
*~*~* Leslie Whalen *~*~*
Written for an Elderly Minpin
that she rescued.
His name was"Tray"

So I am ammending the name of this
poem to it's original name.

First let me thank Leslie for giving
me permission to use it here on this
site..

"Trays Poem!"

One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
Way past his time, he can't run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and
go on their way.

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I
was fed.

Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes
slowly fail. Who wants a dog so old
and so frail? My family decided I
didn't belong, I got in their way,
my attitude was wrong.

Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of
my rope, You saw my face, and I finally
had hope. You saw thru the grey, and the
legs bent with age, And felt I still had
life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor
tired head. We snuggle and play, and you
talk to me low, You love me so dearly, you
want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with
another, But you outshine them with a
love so much stronger. And I promise to
return all the love I can give, To you,
my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt
shed tears. And when the time comes that
God deems I must leave, I know you will cry
and your heart, it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand
new, My thoughts and my heart will still be
with you. And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

Written by: Leslie Whalen 2/01

We would like very much to start a
Pet Memorial Quilt", if you would like
to add your pet, please contact me by
email. If you do graphics, the square
needs to be 150 X 150 pixels.

If you do not do graphics, just send
me a picture of your pet, and a brief
bio and I will make one for you.

Please go and visit our Memorial Quilt!

We hope you will take some time and look
around our Realm. We need for you to pass
this along, as it is our goal to reach as
many people as we can to educate and inform
the World about Mixed Connective Tissue
Diseases. We have many Sections of the Realm
with resources and helpful sites.

We have a "Cottage Realm Causes" section that
I highly recommend you visit.. You can navigate
all the pages from our Index site.. Or home page.

I hope to see you there. Thank you for coming!
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*~* © 2003 *~*

Graphics Acknowledgments:

Please see my Graphics Page..