Golden Spike Farm's Plog

Two years is too short.  Less than 2 years ago I rescued Shadow.  (Click here to see his welcome home post.)  He quickly became one of the best dogs I have ever owned.  He truly was my Shadow.  He followed me everywhere. He was always keeping an eye on me.  He barked alerting me of visitors to the farm.  He went on trail rides with me. He slept by my bed every night.

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Recently when we would go out to the barn he started checking out the parameter of the property.  I called doing surveillance or making his rounds.  Well this past Thursday, I guess he went to a neighbors house and somehow ingested ethylene glycol, the ingredient in antifreeze for cars. You can read about it here.

Since we had no idea he ingested it we did not catch it in time. His condition worsened all of Friday. By Saturday morning he was having seizures.  We took him to the local emergency animal hospital where they  admitted him and ran blood test.  It was the kidney function tests that enabled the vets to figure out what had happened.  My that time he was in complete kidney failure.  We gave him 24 hours in the hospital to see if the IV fluids and diuretic medications would help kick start his kidneys.  It didn’t.

On Sunday morning we made the incredibly sad decision to let him go.  We picked up his body later that afternoon and buried him on the property. He will be just off the path between the house and the barn.

I miss him so much.  I have had animals almost all of my life and have never been this upset by a passing.

Rainbow Bridge

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…