Ailea's Place - Ailea's 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, someone who was 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 begins to quiver. Suddenly he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

More than anything in the world, my friend, I would have had you live forever
Forever healthy, forever young, forever happy
I would have given you a meadow to play in, butterflies to chase
A cozy, warm bed in which to nap
And the warm, loving arms of your Special Person
To wrap about your neck
You were a gentleman of the highest caliber
And deserved nothing but the best

As you faded before my very eyes I knew my wishes for you
Could not come true
And even without your failing health to consider
I know your heart grieved for your Special Person
I could see your pain in your eyes
Each time you gazed through your clouds into the distant woods
Watching, always watching, vainly, for her return

So we said our goodbyes and you left in dignity
(while I sobbed, wetting your neck)
United once again with the love I could never replace
Released at last
From the existence which I knew had become a great burden
To your huge, gentle heart
Rest easy, my friend

Ailea Solitaire
"Tara"

September 22, 2000

November 2, 2000

How I wish it could have been different,
Tara Baby Girl,
you were too sweet to endure the suffering
visited upon you for unexplained reasons.
Though only forty-six days old
and barely seeing the world on your own yet
You had captured my heart and my dreams
but were simply not mean tot be.
You are now at peace, Tara Baby Girl
and suffer no more.
Bring smiles in your Heaven,
and Sweet Dreams.

A Sheltie Good Morning
Amy Butcher, 1996
Written in honor of our Rookie, Willows Shadow Dresed In Blu

When I awake each morning she is there
Her warm tongue, satiny smooth,
Strokes my cheek in daybreak greeting
The happiest "hello" I will ever receive

Her paws rest upon my chest in quiet patience
Her eyes already a-gleam with mischief
Her tail twitching like a cat's

The moment I stir she bounds from the bed and dances
Laughing at my morning cobwebs
And chases me through the house and to the door
A madcap race

The door I open for her happy body
And she bounds through the gap
Racing down the steps to pause and glance back

She speaks to me once
An invitation to join her in her frolic on the wet grass
And then she is gone in a dash
Exploring the secrets of the early morning garden

There are not words sufficient to describe exactly what Rookie meant to us over the years she graced our lives. Barely four years old when she came to Ailea to stay, everything that eventually became Ailea came directly from Rookie.

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Born October 31, 1991, Rookie lived with us nearly twelve years. Not just our foundation, Rookie was also the best puppy nanny anyone could have possibly hoped to find. During the time she was with us, she raised two litters of puppies of her own, and then nannied every other puppy we ever had. In 1997, when Taylor whelped a litter of nine the day after Christmas, Rookie was there, helping all the way. As her best girlfriend, Taylor, labored with delivering the whelps, Rookie kept vigil and assisted in clean-up and stimulation as each new puppy arrived.

For the most part anyone visiting would have mistaken Rookie for a much younger Sheltie. Right up until her last couple of days Rookie was active, and actively participated in the race to the back door, or investigation of unfamiliar disturbances with the other Shelties. Though completely deaf by the time she was thirteen, she sure responded to the other Shelties' activities as they raced through the house on sundry errands.

It never occurred to me Rookie might suffer some sort of life-altering event which would be the cause of or reason for her trip to Rainbow Bridge. I foolishly thought I would come home one day and find her lying comfortably in 'her' chair, having passed peacefully in her sleep. How shocked I was, to come home from work one afternoon and find her shuffling across the floor. She could not maneuver the steps so I lifted her to the ground, and had to steady her balance. She began to wander aimlessly with a faltering gate - no more happy bounding off the steps! - and was bumping into things. The difficult walking and aimless wandering was an obvious sign she had suddenly gone completely blind.

Within hours she had deteriorated further, unable to lift herself from the floor. And I think the one thing that put everything in painful perspective was the fact she seemed to no longer recognize who we were, where she was, or indeed, who she, herself, was. Rookie had suffered a series of strokes which at first took her eyesight, then her balance, then, ultimately, her recognition of us and all semblance of the Rookie we had cared for and loved all those years. She was, for all intents and purposes gone, her body left as a limp dishrag. No more snuffles of her nose in my hand; she tolerated rubbing her head and ears with quiet disinterest. That we had become perfect strangers was very disconcerting. How can I comfort this beautiful girl if she no longer remembers who I am, or the comfort to be found in my arms?

So even as my heart refused to accept what my mind knew was happening right before my very eyes, I kissed her face and then clipped a bit of the soft hair from near her ear to tuck into a bag for safekeeping. Then I drove her out of our driveway for the last time, and she rested quietly in my arms as she gently lay her head to rest one last time, with one final gentle sigh. No longer confused, no longer blind, no longer deaf, Rookie is in her Heaven with worlds of puppies to nanny, and we are left to wonder, how will we get through these next days, weeks, years, without her?

Ailea Soley Remembered
"Token" - "Tokey-Girl"

Jan 9, 2002 - Nov 16, 2008

How do I begin yet another?

Must I?

Ahhhh, Token!

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You were born into my hands that cold January day, along with Jax, Gracie and Emilu, a tiny wet whelp crying out at the rudeness of birth and immediately, magically, searching for the teat which would provide the strength you needed to grow. Your face was nearly completely black, with only the faintest hint of tan eyebrows and cheeks. There was never a question which puppy was you... Your coloring - and your very fun-loving attitude - were your signature, your fingerprint.

From the young puppy of three weeks, to that of ten weeks, then seventeen weeks, then 20 weeks, it was always clear who you were - the same puppy with almost no tan on her face that you were from the beginning.

From my hands to Karen's and back again you were one of the most precious few. I do know you gave Karen, DiGio, a wonderful bitch against which to stand, and that, added to Copyright (c) Ailea's Place. All rigths reserved.

the love you have always given, paid every due you could possibly owe for this lifetime and ten more yet to come.

Then to Florida you went, where you scratched out your niche, fitting in. One thing led to another, though, and the choice to sell you as a pet was made. And though it took you some time to find Charlotte, when she finally took you home with her I am sure your angels were singing sweetly and continued to sing all the way to California where your new life began in earnest.

I know you could never have guessed just how much you were loved by the many souls who knew you. You had more important things to think about than those things, what with staying busy singing and dancing and polishing your Copyright (c) Ailea's Place. All rigths reserved.

pirouette to perfection. Anyone with half a (sheltie) brain knows these other things are far more important than counting love received... heck, you even told me once love GIVEN was far more than any love received...

And so I cannot but wonder, do you see us quizzically now, wondering why we are so sad when you are just as happy today as you have ever been?

Sweet comfort to you, Tokey girl, you will certainly be most sorely missed by all who ever knew you.