Rainbow Bridge

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There is a mythological place called Rainbow Bridge where dearly loved pet animals are said to go when they pass away from this earthly life. At the foot of that bridge on this side of eternity is a beautiful grassland with rolling hills, flowery meadows, and rippling brooks. All the animals who had been ill, or old, or suffered neglect or injury, are restored to full health and vigor there. They have enough to eat, and are happy and content there, except for one thing: each of them remembers and misses a special someone who had to be left on earth when they moved to this place. But the day comes when that someone shows up in the distance, and the beloved pet runs to meet you, and in joyous reunion, you and your pet cross the bridge and enter heaven together... never to be separated again for all eternity.

This is a story that most pet owners know and secretly believe to be true.

I am not sure if theologians will find a Biblical basis for such a story. However, I do believe there is such a place.

Today at 7:15 p.m., my beloved pet dachshund Patches breathed her last and went to Rainbow Bridge.

She was nine years old, turning ten this coming June.

I have had several pet dogs in my 60 years of life and each one of them has a special place in my heart.

But the story of Patches is a beautiful one that needs to be told.

I arrived in my home city of Bacolod on January 16 after being away for four months and a half. On the day I arrived, my daughter in law's pet pug, Mei-mei, had just become ill. I was kept awake all night because the poor dog was moaning in pain. Mei-mei was brought to the vet in hopes that she could be confined and given medication, but the animal hospital could not admit her because she was diagnosed with canine distemper virus, a highly infectious condition that could put the entire hospital at risk. Mei-mei died about ten days later.

Naturally, I was concerned about my two dogs Sammy and Patches because they had not been up to date with their immunizations. A few days after Mei-mei died, I noticed that Patches had runny eyes and a cold.

But since she still had a good appetite and was as vigorous as before, I thought that she would be okay. A week later however, Patches began to lose her appetite. The vet didn't rule out canine distemper, but she said that more urgent was my dog's inner ear infection and skin parasitism. Bloodwork was also done. 

White blood cells were just slightly below normal values, indicating a possible viral infection. An injection for the skin issues was given; ear drops, two kinds of antibiotics and immune system boosters were prescribed. 

Because Patches was no longer eating by Thursday, and was having difficulty breathing, I decided to have her hospitalized by Friday. I was hoping that her condition could be reversed by intravenous therapy through which my dog could be given hydration and medication.

I was coordinating an Ancient Paths seminar last weekend but was able to visit Patches for one hour last Saturday, one day after she was admitted. When I saw her, my heart broke to realize that she was not improving at all (after all it had only been one day), so I determined to bring her back home Sunday morning. 

Somehow, in my heart of hearts, I knew that Patches was going to leave us very soon. It was a very sad feeling but I pushed the feelings down and just did my very best to keep her comfortable and make her feel my love. I kept praying for a miracle for her, and was still hoping to slowly nurse her back to health.

For two mornings, yesterday and today, I sat in my garden with her on my lap, stroking her fur, and praying for her. 

I spoon fed her several times during the day, and she would open her mouth to eat the liquefied food I would prepare for her. She particularly loved mashed rice and vegetables in beef broth, so I gave her lots of that. I also gave her some freshly squeezed vegetable juice, as much as she could take.

As I was also doing some reading and journaling in my prayer room since yesterday, I carried her to her favorite rocking chair where she slept peacefully by my side. Her breathing was fast and labored, so I suspected she was already suffering from pneumonia, which is one complication of canine distemper.

All along, I was still somehow hoping that the mega-doses of antibiotics would work, on top of the round the clock prayers that I was offering for her.

But just this evening, our helper was spoon feeding her when Patches suddenly gasped.

I ran to her side, and a few seconds after I got there, she breathed her last, and was gone.

I appreciate that she waited for me.

She left so quietly and peacefully.

She gave us love, gentleness, and loyalty for nine years.

Nine years doesn't really seem too long, come to think of it. And, since I had been away for nearly five months, I really would have wanted to have Patches around me just a little bit longer. After all, I arrived here in Bacolod only three weeks ago.

However, it does make me feel very good that I was able to make Patches feel my love during the last remaining days of her life. She never lost consciousness till the very end.

I wrapped her body in her blanket and we will bury her tomorrow. My first born son requested that we bury her in a spot in our garden, the garden that Patches really loved. I will have a little stone marker made for her.

Patches was Ernie's dog. This is one reason why she has a special place in my heart.

How she became Ernie's dog is a heartwarming story.

My dog Sammy was really lonely, after my dog Kiwi, also a dachshund, died in 2002. I brought up the idea to my husband about getting another dog to keep her company.

In June 2004, my friend Jenny mentioned that her neighbor's dachshund had just given birth and was willing to sell them. At that time, we had just acquired the house next door and was planning to prepare one of the bedrooms for our second son, Worshiper. He said he wanted a dog of his own.

By October, we were ready to pick up the puppy I had agreed to purchase. When Ernie asked me if I had already seen the pups, I told him that I hadn't, but that there were three available to choose from. 

"How sure are you that the dog you get will be a beautiful one if you hadn't even seen them yet?" He was scolding me for agreeing to buy something I had not checked out before hand.

"Well, it is too late to back out on this deal," was all I told him.

"Well, she had better be pretty," were his parting words to me as my son and I got into the car.

When we reached Flor's house, she showed us the puppies, who were already four months old at that time. I told her that I wanted a female dachshund, and could I choose which one I would like to have?

"Oh, there is only one female puppy. The other two are males."

I didn't have a choice. The only female pup was a black, grey, white, and brown dapple dachshund. She was thin, and very long... and without going into details, she wasn't really pretty.

Flor was teary eyed as she said good-bye to her puppy. "Her name is Princess," she told me.

I took her in my arms and we headed back home. Worshiper was quiet, but at one point he said, "Mom, you will have some explaining to do when Papa sees that puppy."

"Yes, I know."

Well, when we reached home, Ernie was waiting at the gate, eager to take a look at our new pet dog.

He took one look at the furry creature in my arms, and being the expressive man that he is, cried out, "Oh no! It's just as I feared... What is her name?"

"Flor said her name is Princess," I replied.

"Princess!? I don't think so. Patches... that's more like it." He didn't even hide his sarcasm.

So that was how Princess became Patches.

But I had a soft spot in my heart for the puppy. I knew that with TLC, she would become beautiful.

It was Ernie who fed the dogs every morning, and from Day One, he gave Patches a double portion, to fatten her up. We found out soon enough that Patches was a very fast eater, gobbling up her bowl of food without chewing it. Sometimes, Ernie would be so amused that he would add more food to her bowl, and she would also eat it all up, while Sammy was still slowly and quietly eating her portion.

I later found out that Patches had not been getting enough to eat at her previous owner, because her two brothers would always end up eating her food. That explains why Patches would eat very fast, to our amazement.

My son Worshiper did enjoy having his own dog, and for two weeks, Patches slept in his room.

Towards the end of October, Worshiper and I had to leave for Manila to be part of the Jesus Revolution Convergence in Baguio City. Worshiper was the keyboardist for one of the worship bands for the three day event. 

"So, where will Patches sleep while you are away?" Ernie asked Worshiper.

I suggested that we could bring her back to Flor and request her take care of Patches for three weeks while we were away. In the end, Ernie agreed to just let Patches sleep with our dog Sammy in our room.

It was easy to understand why Ernie loved our other dog Sammy. A half-dachshund and half Basset hound, she was beautiful. With her droopy eyes, and long ears, and soft folds under the chin, she really was quite lovable. Her real name was Samantha, and she lived up to it. The name Samantha means "Listener." She was very observant. She was classy, refined, well-mannered... almost snobbish. She would always make it a point to sit down before eating, and ate her food methodically, without haste.

Patches on the other hand was unrefined, and rather coarse in her behavior. Her movements were jerky. She would leave a mess on the floor around her bowl as she noisily slurped and gobbled up her food. She always ate standing up on all fours, oftentimes attempting to eat Sammy's food as well. She was also quite aggressive, barking at all passersby whenever we were in the garden. She barked often, and would be sure to awaken the entire household when she heard other dogs in the neighborhood barking.

Patches and Sammy after an early morning walk, in 2007

When Worshiper and I returned in mid November from Manila after three weeks of being away, Ernie's attitude toward Patches had completely changed.

"She's my dog now," Ernie announced as soon as we entered the house.

Patches adored Ernie. Every evening after supper we would sit in the garden to sip tea or coffee, and our dogs would join us. Patches would immediately jump and sit on his lap. When bedtime came, Patches would quickly follow Ernie and sleep beside him.

Patches eventually learned some good manners from Sammy. She turned out to be such a sweet, unassuming dog without any demands. She knew that Sammy was the alpha female, and she was quite willing to live with that.

She grew old with so much grace, that she even became the more lovable one.

During mealtimes, she would always be under the table, in front of my knees, while Sammy would be at my right side. While Sammy would whine and beg for a few morsels from the table, Patches would sit quietly and just look up at me with pleading eyes.

Although Patches was born with a lot of skin allergies, she was uncomplaining about it all. We had consulted several vets, hoping to find the ultimate cure for her chronic dry and itchy skin.

We were always trying out medicated baths, moisturizing creams, lamb and rice pellets, fish oil, and vitamin E supplements.

There were months when her fur would become so beautiful and shiny. But it was always short lived. Eventually, we gave up on vets and just gave her extra doses of stroking, and cuddling, which she loved.

She would have bald patches on the upper portion of her body, but she was beautiful on the inside, and it flowed out and touched those of us who truly cared about her.

Sammy and Patches, getting a bit too old and too heavy 

to jump onto the bed by themselves...

March 2013

Patches had won my heart right from the start.

Even up to the last week of her life, Patches was gentle and uncomplaining. She had gained weight, and one week after I arrived her fur had gone back to being thick and shiny.

What I have realized is that Patches was a indeed a true princess at heart. 

She was beautiful in death, looking so peaceful and dignified, as if she was just sleeping.

I will miss her very much, for she has been a special part of my life. There will be a void that will be reserved for her alone. Of course I will shed tears for my beloved pet dachshund. But after seeing her suffer this past days, I am happy and relieved that her pain has come to an end. Because I gave her as much care as I could, my heart is also at peace and thankful for how things have turned out so beautifully.

Even in this, I have much to thank Abba Father for.

In 2002, after my first dachshund died, I would cry for many nights over his death. Comfort was long in coming. Until one early morning, a few months later, I woke up with this passage of Scripture on my heart:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

- Romans 8:18-21 (emphasis added)

I sensed the strong comfort of the Lord that morning, as if He was telling me that I would see my beloved pet again in eternity. 

Creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

That verse alone was a powerful message for me. In fact, I received the assurance that Kiwi would be with me in my mansion in heaven... for all eternity.That provided the closure to my grieving season for my pet dog Kiwi when I received that verse and that specific promise.

It does make perfect sense to believe so.

Noah was instructed by God to bring two of every kind of animal into the Ark with him.

In Jonah 4:11, God explains to Jonah that He has great concern for the one hundred twenty thousand lost people in Nineveh, and also "many animals."

The prophet Isaiah foretells that animals will be in heaven: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat... and a little child will lead them" (Isa. 11:6).

Karen Prior writes these insightful words:

God not only saves animals. At times, his covenants include them. God's covenant with Noah included 'every living thing of all flesh' (Gen. 6:18-19 KJV). In Hosea, God proclaimed a covenant 'with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky, and the creatures that move along the ground' (Gen 2:18 NIV).
When God made a covenant with one of His chosen ones, He often marked it by assigning them a particular name: Abraham, Sarah, Israel, Jesus, Paul. God told Adam to name the animals and, in so doing, Adam reflected God's acts of naming. When we choose to take into our household creatures that share with us the breath of life and bestow them with names, perhaps we enter into a kind of covenantal relationship with them too. To echo C.S. Lewis in The Great Divorce, perhaps when we name animals. they "become themselves" and our salvation "flows over into them." (from Via the Covenant, by Karen Swallow Prior)

my last photo of Patches

taken yesterday afternoon, February 9, 2014

sweetly sleeping on the rocking chair beside me in my prayer room

Farewell, Patches... enjoy your full healing at Rainbow Bridge.

I thank God for the gift He gave our family when He brought Patches into our lives. We have all been blessed by her sweet and gentle ways.

In heaven I believe I will enjoy Patches, together with all my other pets... for all eternity!


Shown below is the kind of sitting room that I would like to have in my own house in heaven...

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