Pets On Wheels - Baltimore Metro & Harford County, Maryland: The Rainbow Bridge Story

In Memory Of...

Marley
December 29, 1998 --January 3, 2008

Marley gave us 9 years of faithful friendship. He was by nature a healer and everyone loved him. He was a big hearted dog with room in it for everyone. We will all miss him family, friends, pets Dylan & Bones, Simba & Nala. But some of his happy spirit stays with us forever.

Dusty Englund
July 21,1996 --September 5,2007

Dusty We adopted Dusty from the sheltie rescue in June 2005 when he was 9 years old. He was the most handsome sable and white sheltie we had ever seen and fell in love with him the first time we saw him. He adjusted very well to his new home and was very gentle and loving. I knew he would make a great Pets on Wheels volunteer. We visited the Brightview facility in White Marsh and everyone loved when he came in. Dusty was such a kind, loving, silly boy. He loved laying on the deck, playing in the yard with his sheltie brother Toby, and spending time with his family. He brought us much happiness and we cherished every moment of the two years and two months that we had him. We will always love our Dusty. Dusty with birthday hat

Caramel Eanet
Went to the bridge August 13, 2007
Beloved friend of Alan Eanet

Leo Moynihan
June 1995-March 2007

Leo has been my family- my best friend- my everything for almost 12 years. He has been the brightest sparkle in the beautiful shining life of which I live.

When I met Leo he was just a 9 pound little piglet of a pup. He was the biggest and most hard headed baby in a litter of 9. I picked him up in Connecticut from the Goldenjoy Kennel and made the trip back to Maryland with him. He wreaked havoc the entire way...lesson #1 learned- Puppy MUST be contained! :)

I brought him home and did everything the book said to do. Lesson #2 learned don't listen....when they bark and bark and bark for long periods at night DO NOT IGNORE.... your golden could end up dark brown and stink out the house at the first squeal!

As Leo got older I realized he was going to be an oversized golden....all 110 pounds of him at his full growth. I figured socialization in public places was going to be very important so he accompanied me everywhere until the manager at the bagel shop told me I could not carry in a 60 pound golden anymore- poor guy didn't have time to carry my food every morning! Lesson number 3: Find walk up food stands!

Leo and I went to school- and more school- and yes, more school. What can I say- I was a slow learner. We practiced constantly in hopes of being in the Westminster- at least those were my hopes.... At the first opportunity he bolted out of the ring and made for the door. Lesson number 4: Dogs can quickly see when you are not cut out for the big time!

I heard about Pets On Wheels when Leo and I took the Good Citizens test. He passed with flying colors and the Pets On Wheels Volunteer invited me to bring him for the screening so off we went to the department of Aging in Baltimore County to proudly take our test. Leo- gave the test.... All of him tried to climb into the Directors lap while he was sitting in a folding chair. Lesson number 5: Help your dog to understand that not everyone appreciates all 110 pounds of him in their lap- though for the life of me I cannot imagine why.

We began visiting at the Villa in Towson... Leo's first order of business was to secure as much of the snack on the rolling cart as possible then to try and look like he didn't do it as cookie crumbs fell from his overstuffed jaw. Lesson number 6- Always help people to see how talented your dog is!

Leo became very beloved to all of the nuns at the Villa and he was allowed to stroll around on his own from room to room. One day while I was talking with one of the sisters I heard someone call from the hall...."Help! Leo has my walker!" I ran down the hall in horror to find the poor woman pushed against the wall with Leo attached in frozen animation to the ball on the leg of the walker. Lesson number 7- There is a time and a place for everything!

After 6 1/2 years at the Villa we needed a break from nursing homes since we had lost so many friends. I decide that since I worked at Port Discovery, The Children's Museum in Baltimore- I would start a circle time for small children there. We would call it Circle Time with Leo The Library Dog. Well Leo didn't know too many tricks but he was a bundle of fun so I decided that we would do tooth brushing demonstrations and read books about oral health. It took off like I never could have dreamed. He became a weekly event at the museum. He would spend 8 hours every week meeting/ greeting/ and sharing his beautiful liver or chicken flavored breath with all who were willing to sample a whiff. One day I was in my office and Leo was working with his public and I heard a visitor say to their child, "Look at the nice doggie with a sandwich!" In horror I bolted out the door to find him running around the room with a tuna sub sticking out of his mouth like a cigar and he wasn't planning on giving it up. Lesson number 8: The sweetest of em' are the sneakiest!

Two years ago Leo had surgery and a very large tumor and his spleen had been removed. He was 10 at the time and older for such dramatic surgery. I was a wreck but opted for the procedure. he made it through and the vet told me in no uncertain terms that Leo would be able to go home but he needed to stay away from going up stairs or jumping up onto furniture since his incision was so large. That night I set up camp in the living room with him and slept on the floor. I had a rotation of neighbors who came in and out to check on him prepared for the week. I blocked off the furniture w/ throw pillows and closed off the stairs to the upstairs with a chair. I went to work and the first visiting pet nurse from the neighborhood called frantic. They came in and Leo was no where to be found and the chair on the landing had been knocked down. Yes- they found him upstairs and safely planted in my bed with the feather bead and quilt snugly around him. Lesson number 9: You really cannot teach a dog new tricks- they will do what they will do.

Yesterday -after an extra two years of life- I had to say goodbye to my beautiful friend. And in the end he taught me yet another lesson. That time flies so quickly. Just a minute ago he was a baby and somehow now almost 12 years had passed. As I have told many of you who have e-mailed me such sweet and heartfelt e-mails Leo lived up to his name whole heartedly- he was my Goldenjoy Leo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXSFkFH0ebY
(video memorial to Leo)

Berkeley Mator
March 5, 1998 - March 4, 2007

Berkeley was given to me as a birthday present from my parents when I turned 21. He immediately became our first baby and went everywhere with my husband and myself. Having been born in Florida, he learned to swim on the beach and with his biological father, in the pool next door. After moving to Pennsylvania, he continued his love for the outdoors. His hobbies included: swimming, canoeing, hiking, camping, finding rocks in streams, chasing squirrels and making snow angels. He had a great knack for retrieving rocks from the bottom of streams, holding his breath for up to twenty seconds. He had many friends and fathered 10 children. The runt of the litter, Daisy, became the apple of his eye and would visit and play with him often. Berkeley had many names that he would answer to: Berkeley, Misters, Mr. Lees and had a variety of songs that were composed just for him, mostly by his Dad. Although he had just begun volunteering with Pets on Wheels, if able to continue, he would have brought joy to everyone he met. Berkeley brought much happiness and love to our family and will be greatly missed.

Berkeley and friend in a canoe

The Rainbow Bridge Story

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...