Waiting At Rainbow Bridge

The following pictures were all taken of our pet cemetery that we had when we lived in Winter Haven. Fortunately when we moved to Cape Coral, we were able to remove all the caskets and bring them with us. This was the first cemetery.














(Read the Complete Poem at the End of This Page)







MAGGIE’S HEADSTONE HAS NOW BEEN ADDED TO THE CEMETERY. HER PICTURE WAS HAND DRAWN FROM AN ACTUAL PICTURE AND ENGRAVED INTO THE STONE.

I DEDICATE THIS PAGE OF THE WEBSITE TO MY MOM. I AM SURE HER LOVE OF ANIMALS, AND OF DOGS IN PARTICULAR, WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION TO ME AS I WAS GROWING UP.

1920 – 2003
THE YEAR 2003 WAS A YEAR OF GREAT LOSS FOR ME AND FOR MY FAMILY. IT BEGAN WITH THE LOSS OF MY BELOVED MOTHER ON APRIL 6, FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF SANDY ON APRIL 11 AND THEN MOM’S BELOVED DOG, GYPSY, ON APRIL 26.
ON JULY 7 OF THAT YEAR I LOST MY FIRST LITTLE “HOT DOG”, TIFFANY, AFTER A 9-MONTH BATTLE WITH CANCER. TIFFANY’S MOTHER, GINGER, FOLLOWED HER DAUGHTER TO RAINBOW BRIDGE ON OCTOBER 5. THEN SUDDENLY ON DECEMBER 4, BART JOINED HIS MOTHER AND SISTER.
AFTER THE LOSS OF BART, JOHN AND I DECIDED THAT A LIVING MEMORIAL SHOULD BE PLANTED TO HONOR ALL OF THOSE LOST IN 2003. AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE PLANTED A SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA TREE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL THRIVE AND BE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THOSE WE LOVED AND LOST IN 2003. WE WILL ALSO BE PLACING A GRANITE PLAQUE AT THE BASE OF THE TREE IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS A PERMANENT MEMORIAL.
THE TREE IS STANDING IN WINTER HAVEN, TALL AND UNHARMED. EVEN AFTER THE SEVERE HURRICANES OF 2004, ITS TOP BRANCHES STILL POINT TOWARD THE HEAVENS.

DEDICATION OF THE TREE MEMORIAL RING
MAY 1, 2005
On May 1, 2005, a Memorial Tree Ring was dedicated to those beloved pets we lost in 2003. The Ring was placed at the base of the Magnolia tree that was planted at the end of 2003 to remember them. Here are pictures taken at the dedication.





Exactly 2 weeks after the Memorial Ring was put down, the Magnolia Tree presented us with its very first flower. I do believe this flower was sent directly from Rainbow Bridge.


The fountains in the cemetery are once again in operating condition following the hurricanes of 2004. Additional improvements are being planned for this year.



NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CEMETERY DURING THE SUMMER OF 2005




WITH OF LOSS OF DEE DEE AND TARA DURING 2009, SOME ADDITIONS AND CHANGES WERE MADE IN THE CEMETERY IN THE FALL OF 2009




DEE DEE’S FINAL RESTING PLACE. THANK YOU, CHERYL, FOR THE PLAQUE. THE WORDS ARE SO TRUE AS WE DON’T KNOW THE REASON DEE DEE WAS TAKEN FROM US SO SOON.


TARA’S FINAL RESTING PLACE WITH THE OTHER DOXIE’S, GINGER, BART, AND TIFFANY. MAGGIE IS ALSO WITH THEM IN THEIR SECTION.



A BUTTERFLY WINDCHIME HAS BEEN ADDED ABOVE DEE DEE’S GRAVE
In 2016 we moved to our new home in Cape Coral. Fortunately we were able to remove the caskets and the memorial stones from our home in Winter Haven and bring our furbabies with us to our new home. Below are some pictures of our new cemetery location. Our last three furbabies that have started their journey to Rainbow Bridge (Amber, Jennie, and Autumn) have been cremated and now reside on our memory shelf in our office.






This is our Memory Shelf in our office. Each dog has a keepsake box which contains their collar and leash and a plastic bag with some of their fur. Amber, Jennie, and Autumn were cremated. Their remains are in wooden boxes on the shelf.




If Tears Could Build A Stairway
If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why.
Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one can ever know.
But now we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store.
Since you’ll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you’ll always stay.
CLICK BELOW FOR “LIVING LOVE” AND A SUMMARY OF THE BRIDGE DOGS