Rainbow Bridge
  
 
 
 
 

This page is dedicated to our beloved rescues that have gone on to The Rainbow Bridge and await us there. They have touched our lives, and hopefully, we touched theirs.

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 to them, who had to be 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 quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him 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 the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Sony

(Unk - Nov 28, 2008)

In the summer of 1999 Norma and I rescued 4 pathetic dogs that were dumped in a pound in Northern Ohio by their breeder. Two of these dogs where Shibas that Norma took, and the other two, totally unsocialized and terrified Kai Ken, I will never forget the two dogs hiding in the back seat of the transport car, all you could see was the whites of their eyes, as they cowered and tried to be invisible. I agreed to take these poor creatures back home with me even though I knew I would never be able to place such frightened dogs. Marsha took one of the Kais to work with, and I kept Sony. It took weeks just to be able to touch him and months before he would approach me. I would go out every night and carry him into the house and hold him in my lap in my rocking chair while we watched the news. It took quite some time but finally, Sony learned to trust me.
The next several years we spent working on getting him to trust others. Sony lived in my grooming room in the front of my kennel and everyone who heard his story would stop to pet or talk to him. Many brought him treats.

Beth and Pam would bring him cheese burgers etc. Sony finally learned to trust people and would even look forward to visitors. Sony never forgot a friend and would express his affection with love nips to your behind and legs and would dance with joy when his friends came to visit.

I could not begin to count the hours that I spent working with Sony, but never once did I regret a minute of the time I spent with him and honestly believe Sony appreciated what I did for him and loved me for it.

Over the past few months Sony's health has been failing but even blind and deaf he would still run to me when I came in doing his little happy dance and still nibble on
his friends when they visited.

Sony was one of my first rescues and was the first Kai Ken I ever met. I will never forget Sony and what he taught me, that no matter what you have been through you CAN learn to love and trust............

Last night Sony passed quietly in his sleep, I found him this AM in his bed.
Sony I love you and miss you so much.

You will never be forgotten.

PAM PETERSON ROYAL KENNELS

Earl (aka Early)

(Unk - Nov 2011)

Hello,

Thought I would drop you a quick line and let you know that Earl has left us. He was around 17 years old! He was very loved and had a wonderful life with us. My son, who is now 4, called him Early and they were best buds. Matter of fact, "Earl" was Dante's first word.
He had had a few seizures this summer and he was to the point where he was having a hard time standing and getting confused about where he was and had lost a lot of weight. Letting him go was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I had him cremated so he will be with us forever. Thank you so much for your hand in saving his life... he changed ours and had a long and loved life with us. Take care and please know that I am forever grateful for you allowing us to adopt him and make him a part of our family.

Dorie

Lizzy

(Unk - 2011)

Pam,

Attached is a picture of Lizzy.

She was EXTREMELY timid when we first met her. I carried her throughout your facility. When we finally got her home, she would shake. She LOVED the outside yard. We had to make sure she didn't leave the fenced yard or out an open door. Our daughter has a swingset with a lower clubhouse and if ever you couldn't find Liz, she'd be in the clubhouse watching you look for her. No rabbit, mole, or any other creature would be able to enter without Liz knowing. She took care of atleast two moles a year. Liz had her own special bed at the foot of ours. No one slept in her bed, other than her.

We had Liz for 7 years and she needed knee surgery due to a torn ligament. We had this repaired and she had no further issues with her knees. Unfortunately, three years later, she developed a lump on her side and it was diagnosed as cancer. When the vet went to remove it, he discovered it had spread. :( She is missed.

There is a bright side to Lizzy's passing. Before Liz was diagnosed with cancer, we got Kiko. Kiko is a cream Shiba Inu and learned quite a bit from Liz. Kiko has taken care of three moles in her three years.

Thanks.

Matt and Katie

Rex (formerly Geezer)

(Unk - Mar 30, 2012)

Hi Pam,

I just wanted to let you all know that Rex has passed away. He was very much loved by me and everyone who met him and he will be deeply missed by us all.

When I first met Rex, my heart melted for him. He was older, mostly deaf, partly blind and seemed a bit weak and arthritic. I was at first intimidated because I was afraid he might require more care than I could give. But after hearing his story about how he had been dumped off by his previous owners, there was no way I could not adopt him. It was a decision I never regretted.

Before I adopted him, I bought a number of things for him in anticipation of doing so. I got a bed and put in an area I thought he would sleep in. When we arrived home, he seemed a bit nervous at first but rather quickly seemed to adjust. He wasted no time in finding his water dish. After roaming around the house a bit I thought he might be tired so I tried to get him to lie down on his bed. He then went into the dining room where he seemed to prefer the corner there so I moved his bed there and that became 'his' room.

Over the weeks, the anti-inflammatory and other supplements for his joints, I was pleased too see his physical activity increase rather dramatically. He seemed to get a burst of energy later at night, usually after 10 p.m. and would literally run circles around the room, something that I might take for granted in any other dog but given his age and health it was nothing short of a miracle. He loved going for late night walks down the street.

During the winter I noticed he was starting to slow down, but attributed it initially to colder weather affecting his arthritis. Unfortunately, his condition started worsening, he started having difficulty standing and having seizures. Our vet tried everything they could think of to help him, even if to just alleviate the symptoms. Nevertheless his condition continued to worsen and I eventually had to make the decision to let him go. He was with me a short time, but I think the fact he needed special care made us bond a lot quicker so this decision was devastating to me.

I've included a couple pictures of him. The one of him sleeping in his favorite corner was taken his first day here. I hope he now has as much peace and contentment as he did in that photo.

Dianna

Ginger (formerly Granny)

(Unk - 2014)

"Granny", 9 years old at the time, was rescued by Pam and Royal Kennels from an Amish puppy mill in August 2006. She was one of 13 Shibas. In November 2006 we traveled to Ohio to adopt this Shiba that I fell in love with online! She was spunky and I renamed her Ginger. What I remember most from the 1st few weeks is her amazement at everything- everything was new to her- toys, stairs, furniture, and all the hiding places for food like refrigerators and cupboards! She definitely loved her new home and everything quickly became the Shibas! Considering her 9 years in a mill, we were not sure how much time we would have with her so we gave her the best life we could which was almost 8 years! She would have been 17 this year. Ginger was a sweet girl and just loved life, we were so blessed to find her and thank you for rescuing her!

Eric and Merrijocelyn