Penny - Rainbow Bridge

Thank you Doogs, a lovely poem and really so meaningful.

Penny was a rescue Greyhound who we found by chance whilst waiting at the vets one day. On a website called Overlooked Oldies she was there with a photo looking very appealing and a little grey round the muzzle, aged about 7. She was at the centre in Lincoln, about 3 or more like 4 hours away from home but I said to Pete this is the dog for us. We never regretted a single moment of that decision.

She was with us for just over 4 short years and learned to trust men again and to live life to the full. A constant visitor to the vet due to not knowing where her brakes were or how to turn a corner (a dog from the track runs to the left only). They knew and loved her too, always brave when injured and she really did hurt herself chasing the bunnies and squirrels, she was so focused she never saw the tree/fence/bush!

Renal failure and tired old bones, her poor back hips, finally got the better of her and we had to make the decision that she must not suffer any more pain or discomfort. Her poor old body was failing her. We were with her to her last breath, I held her gently while she passed into a deep sleep, she was in her garden in the sunshine, just as it should be. I know she was ready to leave us, she spent the morning with me looking at me with those wise old eyes saying goodbye.

Our time with her was special, she certainly lived for each day enthusiastically, always eager for her lunch time scooby snax, a new squeaky toy or the opportunity to just wander round the garden.

She is much missed already and not even a day has passed, but I feel she is here in spirit and she is now running free in the great savannah in the sky with no pain.

Penny taken this weekend with a precious squeaky duck.

A poem that was sent out via email from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy celebrating the life of Anna Merz which I think sums it up well for Penny too.

Don't weep at my grave,
for I am not there,
I've a date with a
butterfly to dance in the air.
I'll be singing in the
sunshine, wild and free
playing tag with the wind
while I am waiting for thee.

RIP our beloved greyhound Penny.

Lai

I have just sent you a message Lai but those are two beautiful Poems very fitting of such a beautiful fun loving Penny. The photo of Penny is adorable and she looks alert with those wonderful ears and her squeaky at her feet.

Penny will be remembered with love, affection and the fun she brought to your lives. I know you say 4 short years but to Penny I imagine they were a wonderful lifetime and the best years of her life. I know she gave you and Pete so much but you also gave her a magical life and for that she will always love you and be with you, they never truely leave you.

Rest & Sleep Peacefully Penny.

Lots of Love
littlewid, Nero, Tiga & Splodge

Thank you Littlewid much appreciated. I have just read your PM and replied.

Lai

Two lovely poems that brought to my eyes. A beautiful story about a beautiful Dog, who came into both your hearts, and took you into hers. It did make me smile when you talked about her brakes, and sense of direction I could just imagine her doing that, and her enjoyment of a new life with you, after the trials she had been through. It's so sad what happens to many Greyhounds after they have served their usefulness to the people that race them. Thank heavens there people like you, and Pete who give these Dogs hope, and life after their racing days are over.
As you say Penny knew, as well as both of you that the time had come. Lovely that you were there to hold her, as she took her first steps across Rainbow Bridge, and feeling her pains begin to subside, and her bones start to stenghten with each step she took, still feeling your loving touch helping her along the way. By the time she reached the end of the Bridge she would once more be a young Dog , ready to race out across the great savannah in the sky, and chase those Rabbits, and Squirrels till her hearts content. Pausing at the edge of the Bridge to look down on both you, and Pete to send her love, and thanks for the second lease of life over her lifetime you gave her, and to say although I'm here, I will always be there with you as well

RIP Penny, and enjoy the chase

WS MRs S & Poppy

WS and Doogs. All your words and messages help so much, although they have me it is in a good way remembering our lovely Penny.

I had never thought about Rainbow bridge like that WS, but I really love that concept and it made me happy visualising her every step across the bridge and onto a new life.

Thank you all so much.

Lai

Not sure what I can add to do justice to all that has been said above. Marvellous stuff from the WAA 'Beatles' on all fronts. Some beautiful prose, plus good humour with Penny's love for going anti-clockwise. And that's it. With you and Pete, Penny was able to turn back time, making up for the 'lost' time before you rescued her.

So as I sit here with Leaping Leo under my arm pit (and regularly nudging my hand to stop me typing ) I think I gain a little better wisdom to try me best to appreciate the times that we have with loved creatures, because it cannot be forever. Make the most of that, but then, even after, allow them to live on in our hearts.

And as such, there is no end. And that is a great thing.

Wise and good words GR and I love the turn back time analogy, that is very clever and a good way to think of her.

And as such, there is no end. And that is a great thing

definitely one to remember and cherish.

Lai

Mrs Kipia

GR

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS


I bet you are wondering, thinking of others as you do, of just how I’m getting along
Rainbow Bridge has been crossed safely, and I am in full song
Because this world is so full of sounds, and they’re nothing at all bleak
So I’ll let you in on a little secret, this world is the place of the squeak

A mystery of this afterlife revealed, though should it really come as a surprise?
Why did you think that I was so obsessed, with bringing about all my toys demise?
I knew deep down that once de-squeaked the sounds would soon be with my deceased furries
We dogs love unconditionally as you well know, we’re a little different to those purries

And it’s not just the squeaks that make this place such a comfort one of wonder
For wherever I lie myself to rest it’s on a cloud of fluffy splendour
So that is why all that de-fluffing, also came into play
With my life so full of sunshine, I was able to give my others hay

There are plushies galore here, replenished with fluff, but sleeping soundlessly
Their squeakers have gone elsewhere, hazard a guess? Don’t go barking up the wrong tree
They are in us canines, replacing our bark, so when we speak, we squeak, so to speak
Our bark existed to protect our dear owners, we didn’t do that for fun, we ain’t freaks

And now it is I on my comfort cloud, chasing bunnies and squirrels forever more
There are so many of the little furries that I’ll even leave those jack russells alone I’m sure
We even have race tracks up here, so I can run in my favourite anti-clockwise mode
Turning back the time like you guys did, when you graciously gave my life a new road

You saw what others could not, that I was much more valuable than my name sounds
You saw past my age and gave me the fountain of youth, I was lost but then I was found
I devour a packet of scooby snacks a day, but no place shall compare to my heaven on Earth
Because nothing can replace my caring princess and prince, elephant size in their worth

And that Rhodesian ridgeback was alright too, so I thank you, Pete & Tamu
I may be the one smiling up above, but guardian angels are the lot of you
And as I look down upon my ‘mum’ today, I see those ducklings, and I see your warmth
A Mrs Yellow in her own right.

(sorry, don’t think anything rhymes with warmth )

Thanks for posting this here GR as well as under another thread, I am so pleased you placed it here as well, as you know I was totally overcome yesterday and it took me 2 attempts to reply and say how much I loved your poem.

(Doogs GR originally posted this under another thread and I thought it was so moving, beautiful and deeply touching that I asked him to post it here).

Oh bother I am again

GR you are a true

Lai

GR That is simply brilliant Worth a 5

Beautifully put togther, capturing everything about Penny's life, and the wonderful time spent with Lai, Pete, and Tamu
I'm not surprised it took you a couple of goes to reply Lai. Like you, and Doogs that brought to my eyes it was so thoughtful of you to do that GR
WS

So much and to you all for your kudos on my efforts with this poem (poetry is not really my speciality). To have touched you guys so much really means heapsy to me.

I was actually a little lazy with it as the original idea came when Lai gave the bad news of Penny's impending demise, and that kicked off the thought that the reason for de-fluffing the toys is to make the clouds in doggy heaven super dooper fluffy, and the rest sort of wrote itself. I was originally going to write a short story, but am glad I did a poem instead. Some ideas sat 'marinating' away for a couple of weeks as I really didn't have the energy to put pieces of writing together (I think way too many crazy ideas too tire me out ), but then over the past couple of nights I got myself together to do it. Like I said, much of it wrote itself; my insertion of jack russells of course comes from my own dogs, and the fact that Bella was attacked by a greyhound, so it's even a little bit of humour there that Penny will not attack them due to all the other lovely distractions Plus it's an awareness that one day my pooches will join Penny there too, and so to make the most of the time that we have here.

And for me I view Mrs Kipia as like a guardian angel, because she has been an incredible friend to me, so I figured that if I view her in that way then Penny surely must.

I think it's a very honourable thing to adopt an older dog, so Doogs, I think you picked a terrific line as your favourite.

And it's so great that another one is set to enter the Mr & Mrs Kipia household

It would be wrong to say that I wrote that just for Lai; for I love writing, so it's for me too. Now if I actually cooked something for her then that would really be going the whole hog or extra mile

5 - WS

I 'almost' gave you a hug then Grandfather Clock

G R S - I am deeply touched that you regard me as a guardian angel - that's so lovely and kind.

WS aka GC will love the don't think for one minute he won't GR

I have just now printed out Penny's lovely poem and am going to have 3 copies, one for my office, one for home and one for my Penny file.

Lai

Hmmmm all depends on what he's wearing Lai. If it's that onsie with only one button a definately out
WS

WS!

"I have just now printed out Penny's lovely poem and am going to have 3 copies, one for my office, one for home and one for my Penny file."

It's really that this so called 'sad' smiley is really reflecting a happy one

WS, I realise now that I did actually include you in a group hug at the top of my rabbitting reply post, though lucky for you it's shirt, jumper and tracksuit pants on for me tonight, so well covered up

GR and WS are off again - great banter and very

It's really that this so called 'sad' smiley is really reflecting a happy one

Well said and very true.

Lai

GR that is such a beautiful poem, full of fun but such caring respect for Penny and no wonder Lai loves it. Pennys antics touched us all on here and I believe we were all saddened by her passing so to read that is the understanding of what a true friend to Lai you are and I am sure it's given us all tears as well as smiles. Much respect to you my friend and also to Penny for all the smiles she gave us on here.

littlewid-x-

Thank-you for your very generous words LW and again from you Doogs.

GR WAA