Maddie's Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Memorial

Welcome to Maddie's Rainbow Bridge Memorial Residency

Memories of Maddie

When "papa" and I first picked you up, you were just a tiny fluff ball. You were the last puppy left and I'm not sure why, because you were the most adorable thing I've ever seen. You used to hangout on top of the couch like a cat and watch Hannah Montana with your 17 year old parents. You used to HATE when your butt was touched and would snap at us (you would never bite, though). You used to annoy your older sister, fatso, because of your endless energy. You would always steal her bed and sometimes pee on it haha. Your papa and I got our first apartment and the maintenance man would get mad at us because you always sprinted out of the sliding glass door and chased children. I remember your papa and I screaming your name to get you to stop but you wouldn't listen. Your Papa threw his hat at you and for some reason, that worked. You were a terrorist puppy. You chewed up our carpet in our first apartment. I had to spray bitter apple all over, but that didn't stop you. You still ate the carpet and threw it up. I taught you a lot of tricks. You were so smart. You would sit, shake, speak, stand up on your hind legs and hop, and you would spin. All I had to do was open my eyes really big and stare at you and you would bark. We taught you to howl like a wolf. Your "papa" would ask for kisses before giving you a treat. All he had to do was say, "kiss" and you would lick his face before getting a treat. You were there for all of our crazy teenage parties. You grew up and matured right alongside us. I never owned a dog as a kid because my family had allergies. I didn't know a true, unconditional love until you came into my life. I remember watching "Marley and Me" before I had you, not one tear. Watched it after you came into our lives and could not stop crying. Your papa and I watched it during Valentine's Day on a little boat to key west. We both teared up and thought of you and I said, "I wouldn't be able to survive if this happened to Maddie." Here I am. Barely hanging on. This is the most unimaginable pain. I feel alone in my grief because it's so embedded and unbearable. Anyways, onto more memories. When we got our first house in Fort Myers, we had a spider problem. These things were huge and we knew when one was around because you would stand up, creep forward and just stare. Also, our neighbor who fed you a corn in the cob and your papa and I couldn't stop laughing because you were nowhere to be found and once we found you, you were hanging out with this complete stranger and eating an entire corn in the cob. You loved little dream bones. You would toss them up and try to catch them. You also loved tiny tennis balls. When you were a puppy, your papa told us both that you would not be sleeping with us, but that quickly changed after you whined for us while in your little pink princess bed. After that, you slept in our bed every single night. Your papa and I moved to colorado and that's when your adventure truly began. The hikes that we went on. SO. MANY. HIKES. You loved to explore. I remember your papa and I took you to Waldo Canyon, and you chased a squirrel up the mountain and we couldn't find you for what felt like hours. We thought you got eaten by a mountain Lion and I was screaming and crying and your papa was crying yelling, "Maddie!" You came back 15 minutes later huffing and puffing like you'd just been in quite the adventure. We tried Waldo canyon again a few years later with your aunt jewels and we got lost as it was starting to get dark. We had to call rescue, but we eventually made it down because you lead us toward the correct path. You went with us on our first camper camping trip to Las Vegas, Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico and California! We went to Zion and the Arches. You had the best time. Before your papa deployed, you came with us on our 30 day camping adventure to Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Montana and Wyoming. You hated car rides, but you thoroughly enjoyed all of our adventures. I bet you are telling all of your doggy friends in the meadow just how much fun your time on earth was. That's my hope. I'm sorry we didn't give you the attention we used to give you once we had kids, but you were still our world and did so much with us. Sucks that Beckham couldn't see your good side. The twins only remember you old and sick. Your Cushing's and kidney disease definitely slowed you down. You began to get a form of dog dementia and you weren't the same. You began slowly declining. It just wasn't fair to you anymore to have you live the way you were. Constantly anxious. Unable to hold your pee/poop. Constant diapers. Confusion. Your very last hike was so special. You weren't the same hiker as you were in the past, but I could tell you were back in your element. Your last few days were filled with love. Aunt Melissa brought you a steak and served it to you. She loved on you until she had to head back to Denver. Aunt Andrea, Uncle Casey and Caiden brought you in and out burger. Auntie Melee had ice cream delivered. Miss Brittany and Penny ordered you pizza for your last meal. Miss Beci gave you a cupcake. We celebrated your 16th birthday and you wore a pretty pink dress and had a birthday cake and goodies. I remember taking you into your appointment and hoping the vet would say you were too healthy to be euthanized. Instead, she said we were being kind and doing the right thing by putting you down and that you were going down with dignity. When you were given the sedation medicine, you were finally peaceful. It had been a long time since we saw you so relaxed. Then, the euthanasia medicine. You took a big breath and rested forever. Before you went to heaven, I whispered in your ear, "squirrel!" To see if you would have any reaction, but you couldn't hear anymore. You gave both your papa and I kisses whike in the waiting room and it had also been a while since you had done that. You wagged your tail. You were ready. We weren't, of course, but we would never be. This thanksgiving will not be the same. We used to yell, "TURKEYYYY" and you knew exactly what they meant. You always got leftover turkey for a week after thanksgiving. Christmas won't be the same. You always got presents and knew how to open them. You would sniff he ones under the tree until you found yours. You always got a stocking and also knew how to get your items out of it. My heart hurts immensely and I don't think it will ever go back to normal. There's a huge void. I miss you so much. I miss your dolphin smile. I just really miss you. I know it'll take time for this hurt to dissipate a bit. Please send me signs and let me know you're ok. Until we meet again. I hope you are chasing all of the squirrels in heaven 🐿️

Yesterday, 11/12/24, after I had asked for a sign, I passed by a book at Brantley's school with a border collie on the front that looked EXACTLY like you. I know you're doing just fine. Thank you for the sign. ❤️

Photograph Album

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