I Miss You Already Pepper Girl

[Bonniebank]

Shelmanna Night Sky ("Pepper")

Bye my "smiley" girl

I miss you so much alraedy

After nearly 16 years that you've given me, it was the least I could do for you

I hope it was the "right" time

Please forgive me if I left it too long

[Coolibah Coolies]

Bye Bye sweet girl I am glad I got to meet you, I know you are much loved and were cared for like a queen of dogs. BB you gave her the ultimate gift we can give our loved old friends a painfree easy sleep

Ruth

Edited June 22, 2006 by Coolibah Coolies

[mavmon]

So sorry

After 16 years Peppers loss would leave a huge hole in your heart ... but her memory will live on ..

Treasure those Memories

[fido666]

Condolences BB , it's allways hard to let go of the oldies.

RIP dear Pepper

Regards,

Corine

[InspectorRex]

RIP dear girl and guide your Mum through these dreadfully sad times

Colleen

[Mjosa]

So sorry to hear of your loss of dear sweet Pepper, she looked to be a magic old lady, you knew when the time was right for her, she now will be your guardian angel.

Be all young and new again Pepper at the

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

BB

You will have known that the time was right and I am sure that Pepper appreciates all that you have done for her over the last few weeks as she was getting on in years. I lost my Sandy at 16 years and 2 months nearly two years ago. She will have many friends where she has gone to and we'll ask Sandy to look for her and show her around.

It is a very sad time for you, and I hope that these will help

Welcome. I am Laddie Braveheart, Second Year Resident of the Rainbow Bridge.

This is your introduction to the Rainbow Bridge. I have been a resident here

for a little over a year and am now a member of the Welcome and Orientation

Committee, Shetland Sheepdg and Scottish Breed Division. I have the extreme

honor of escorting you to the Scottish Ancrestral Section of the Rainbow Bridge where

those of our kind wait.

You have already received your Silver Harness, and it looks so good on you.

Now, let us begin our journey.

As you see there are fields of sheep and cows for the herding dogs, and over

there are the lakes, marshes and fields for the hounds and sporting dogs to

play. And here are Beau and Sam, the Goldens I lived with -- we visit often,

after all we have loved and are waiting for the same Humons. {See ya later,

me mates)

Oh, look! The agility games are going on. This is one of the newer areas at

the Bridge and they have just finished the Rally-O field--this time with the

directions for each station written in Dog.

All the areas at The Bridge are for all the animals here and we have a lot

of fun together. I have even seen some of the cats at the swimming ponds.

See that area over there? Where the sun shines bright and warm all the time,

and there is a gentle mist for a few hours each day? That is where all the

reptiles and amphibians are. They all have nice tree limbs and warm rocks to

lounge on.

But let's continue onwards.

Oh, check out those hedges and trees - that is where the bunnies and the

mice, rats, gerbils and ferrets are. I like to come down and watch them play

they just have so much fun -the flurry of activity and squeaking for joy

when one of their Humes is coming is a treasure.

Now watch your step, this is the Large Animal area. Occasionally all the

horses, mules, donkeys, even the cows and goats get a little carried away

with the Herd Running Game and can give a smaller critter like us quite a

surprise as they break the hill at full gallop. Even the pigs and chickens take part.

Here, the hills get a little steeper and woods a little thicker. It is so

much fun to run full speed, up and down the hills dodging the trees. Here

you will see the 'exotic' animals. The tigers and lions and bears and wolves,

all the animals thought of as wild but have hearts shared with humans. They, too

will cross the Rainbow Bridge with their special person.

But our journey carries us still further.

You feel the air getting crisper? And look, your coat is fuller and your

Silver Harness shines brighter. We are getting close.

Now, step carefully we are crossing the Crystal Bridge. Here, the weather is

always clear, the snow just the right depth and the tracks are, perfect.

Since we have arrived during the afternoon, I can show you some of the

activities we have.

The Scottish Breeds have many interests and enjoy many different games. I

know you are used to having your Humon hook your harness to the car or the

lead but your Silver Harness has magic and will hitch to what ever you want.

Over here are the sheep right next to the croft which has to be guarded and

over there is on the far side of the isle, are the fields of joy, where you

can run and play with your friends and share a ball or just laze away the

sunny afternoon.

And yes, there are a lot of other breeds up here all doing what they do

best, even though the Humes arnt there to see you, we all gather around to

watch you and enjoy your times as though they were ours.

The Sammies are over there herding reindeer, and there are open streams for

the Inuits and Greenlands to fish for salmon.

The Shelties came up with a great idea that has now become a tradition with

all the breeds. Each year during the National Breed Specialty there is a

Rainbow Bridge Specialty Show.

All the dogs who had show careers and those who just wanted to be a show dog go into the show ring

and go around one more time.

The Shelties have gotten permission to have visitors from Heaven during that

time.

Humes who have no dog with them are allowed to come visit and watch the

show.

Judges and Stewards come and take part. And the old breeders come to see how

the breeds are developing and visit with their great-great grandpuppies. All

the dogs participating the first time get their Silver Rosette.

You see, every dog here is perfect.

If you look around you see not only are there warm straw beds to rest on,

but houses with soft sofas and fireplaces to just lounge on and swap

stories.

Many of the residents wait here for the night.

That is the time all of the Scottish Breed dogs assemble.

Each night a shelties team is formed and they run and play and herd the

sheep and the cattle.

They can be seen from earth as the Southern Lights and now we are getting

members from the Northern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres, and they also

run and play sometimes as far as the North Pole of earth, to give them

lights too.

Each March is a special run. That is when the Iditarod is run on earth and

all the dogs who have raced and played and worked together, team up for a

special display.

Many of them are cheering on their Humes who are racing. Many of them have

family members in the fields. It seems the Collies and the Borders work

their hardest to make the most spectacular light display.

Well, I think you are pretty well acquainted with the Rainbow Bridge both

North and South, East and West.

There are just a couple of other things you should know.

You are able to see your Humes when you miss them most. They may have gotten

a new puppy. That is good.

It means they have started to heal from the loss

they felt when you left. But remember, a part of your heart remained with th

em to replace the part of their heart they gave to you.

Now, occasionally, your Human may be particularly sad and missing you. You

are able to send your love to them any time. They will feel your love. It

may be as a shadow in the corner of their sight, or the soft sound of your

voice, or a gentle breeze caressing their cheek. And it will bring them comfort.

And there is one special night, Christmas Eve. All the animals waiting for a

special person gather together and send their gift of love to that person.

That night we are able to see into that person's home and if the person

looks, there is a star shining particularly bright. Just for them from us.

Oh, I see the sun is setting and you are looking at all the dogs gathering

together.

Go, and run, play, run and jump, . It is your night.

Godspeed.

If it should be…

If it be I grow frail and weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what should be done,

For this last battle can’t be won.

You will be sad—I understand

Don’t let your grief then stay your hand.

For this day, more than all the rest,

Your love and friendship stand the test.

We’ve had so many happy years,

What is to come will hold no fears.

You’d not want me to suffer…so

When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where all my needs they’ll tend,

But stay with me until the end.

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you too will see,

It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I’ve been saved.

Do not grieve that it should be you

Who must decide this thing to do.

We’ve been so close-we two-these years,

Don’t let your heart hold any tears.

Rest easy, Pepper

[collie angel]

:D so sorry for your loss

nicky

[collieroughs]

So sorry. Take comfort in your memories.

Janice

[Bonniebank]

I'm so grateful to you guys for understanding. Thank you so much.

I don't have family and my in-laws don't like animals so I'm stuck with you lot!

Just kidding about the "stuck with you" part. Nowhere else I'd rather be at this time than with those who've been here too.

and thank you Hesapandabear for Laddie Braveheart. His introduction is beside my bed to read each night.

I hope Sandy will look out for her. I can't stand the thought of her being alone.

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Hey

We are here for you when you need us.

You bet Sandy has found her, he will introduce her and make sure she makes heaps of friends, so dont worry she's not alone.

[Cordelia]

Nope, Pepper is not alone at all.

My Shelby would have been there to bark hysterically at her (since Shelby believed if she was deaf... so was everyone else!) and help guide her to her special place.

I am so sorry for your loss but know that you never lose the love of a Sheltie.... it's just quieter (which I discovered is a good and bad thing ).

My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

[ReXy]

my thoughts are with you.. your dear old lady is in a specialmplace.. my lab boy is there for her and will give her lots of licky kisses she will never be alone...

[Bonniebank]

Thank you Jacq and ReXy,

It sounds as though Pepper's social calender will be a busy one!

Sam

[Perry's Mum]

I am sure my lovely Amberdog will be there looking after her. This is such a hard time - Ireally feel for you - it is over two years since Amber went to the bridge but not a day goes by when I don't miss her.

[kozpink]

Thankyou for your reply in our sweet Roos post

I'm so sad for your loss and it just doesn't seam fair does it

Don't be hard on yourself, you did what was right for her.

She looks like a very sweet girl, i'm sure our Roo would make her feel welcome.

I have a candle burning for your sweet Pepper, as well as our darling Roo.

Don't know when it will get any easier maybe we can chat to each other?

I will pm you my number, if you'd like to have a chat ;) Jodie

[Bonniebank]

Thank you so much Perry's Mum and Jodie.

I'd like that Jodie.

Did a few silly things today.

I was feeding the dogs and dished out Pepper's dinner too. ;)

You'd have thought the fact that her name is engraved on her bowl might have stopped me. I just wasn't thinking.

Then I was cleaning off all her special instructions I had on a white board for my OH in case I got hit by a bus or something.

They were her feeding and medications instructions etc.

I was cleaning them off with metho and drinking a bottle of mineral water at the same time.

Yep, you guessed it, I picked up the bottle of metho instead of the water and took a swig!!!

Thankfully I didn't swallow and spat it out everywhere! It took several mouth washes to remove the taste from my mouth.

That'll teach me to keep my mind on what I'm doing.

During the afternoon I'd driven all the dogs to the dog park. Some locals asked after Pepper and I drove home crying and nearly had an accident.

I'm going to try to keep my mind on the driving as it would be terrible if my others got hurt in an accident.

Hopefully, I'll be picking up her ashes this week and bringing her home. I'll feel much better once I have her back home with us.

I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for the other dogs and my cats.

I don't know about you but I find that getting involved in other threads helps to distract me a bit and apart from that, others here need help, not just me.

Oh well, here we go. Bed time and the time I hate laying there awake. I think I'll sleep better when she comes home.

I have her collar in bed with me (their "jewellery" I always tell them).

Thank you again everyone.

Sam

[kozpink]

Yes Sam

Bedtime is hard

I'm sure you will feel better when she's back home with you.

And your right got to keep busy, we helped rescue a lab this week, its the first thing that

i've been happy about in weeks.

Thinking of you in these hard times, I know i'm not the only one trying to deal with the loss

of a loved one

;) Jodie

[Sezy]

You will call you girl and do lost of silly things, we all have at some time. As the others have said she is not alone and neither are you. I have a wonderful cocker spanial and a maltese, also a cranky cat that did know to be kind when it was needed. I still often talk to them and I will tell them to find your Pepper girl and Roo and show them the ropes, but don't keep them too busy because there mummies still need them close as it still hurts to much.

When the pain starts to ease and it will spend some quiet time and I would be that you will feel her near. My girl has been here tonight but she is gone at the moment.

[AkitaSam]

She reminds me of our dear collie Jess who also left us at age 16.

So sorry for your loss Sam.

Edited June 29, 2006 by AkitaSam