Before humans die, they write their last Will & Testament, give their home & all they have, to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask…
To a poor & lonely stray, I’d give my happy home. My bowl & cozy bed, soft pillows and all my toys. The lap, which I loved so much, the tender, loving touch. The hand that stroked my fur & sweet voice which called my name. I’d will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my human’s loving heart of which there seemed no bounds.
So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand.” Instead, go find an unloved dog. One who’s life has held no joy or hope, and give MY place to HIM.
This is the only thing that I can give… The Love I left behind.
THIS is my inheritance! My Last Will & Testament.
Dog's Last Will & Testament
Our Angels
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.
~Paul C. Dahm
Finley
DOB 9/24/14 (“gotcha” day) – 2/7/18 Rest in Peace
FINLEY, a gorgeous cream golden retriever, was found as a stray on the streets of Chicago and was taken to Chicago Animal Care and Control. He sat for 3 days, unclaimed, until Fetching Tails Foundation rescued him.
We were the lucky ones who adopted him in September 2017! He fit right in with Buffett and Dudley and was such a goofy boy. He loved to play and wrestle.
Sadly, he became very sick with aspiration pneumonia and mega esophagus only 4 months after he was with us. He was taken from us too soon at only 3 1/2 yrs old.
Thank you to everyone that cared for Finley in the ICU at the Veterinary Specialty Center and also to my amazing friend and vet Dr. Kristin Wojcik at Skycrest Animal Hospital.
Finley was cared for and loved by all of you SO much!
We will all miss this silly boy.
Jenella
DOB: 6/3/12 – 7/17/15
Rest in Peace
JENELLA, aka “Jennie” or “Jen Jen” was born at the Shades of Blue Ranch.
She was an extremely stunning 28″ blue roan. She had a beautiful head with a white star that looked just like a heart! Not only was she beautiful but she was an amazing little therapy horse.
She visited and brought joy to SO many people. Sadly, despite surgery, Jennie passed away due to colic (she had a rare intussusception).
We know she is with us in spirit.
Thank you to our fabulous vet Dr. Nicky Wessel of Cutting Edge Equine for the amazing care you provided to Jennie through the day and night (and always) and helping us with decisions.
Thank you Dr. Chris Downs at Chicago Equine Hospital for doing surgery to give us some answers.
We loved you very much little girl.
Dudley
DOB 11/30/09 ("gotcha day)-
10/15/22 Rest in Peace
DUDLEY (aka “Cuddly Dudley”) was our yellow Dudley lab (a yellow lab coat with the gold eyes and pink nose of the chocolate lab). He was rescued from Almost Home Foundation and adopted by the Diegel family.
Dudley was Jodie's 2nd therapy dog (Buffett was the 1st). He became a registered therapy dog in 2011 and volunteered with Jodie in the AAT program at Northwest Community Hospital. (Together with Buffett, they had over 7,000 visits with hospital patients between 2010-2018).
He loved being a registered therapy dog at SOUL Harbour Ranch and the SOUL Buddies Animal Therapy Club at Barrington High School.
Thank you Skycrest Animal Clinic for taking the best care of our sweet old man.
We will miss Dudley SO much!
Mystery
DOB 4/27/11– 5/18/22
Rest in Peace
MYSTERY, a tiny 26" miniature therapy horse with the biggest heart and SOUL, was the very first miniature therapy horse that Jodie chose. With Lunar & Turnabout, the original "Trio"was the dream of what became SOUL Harbour Ranch, home to the Barrington area and Chicagoland's most experienced Pet Partners registered miniature therapy horse teams.
Mystery was born to be a therapy horse and passed her therapy testing when she was 14 months old! Her polka-dotted silver dappled coat and her pink sparkly sneakers added to her unflappable personality. She gave everyone confidence and over her short lifetime, she became a registered Pet Partners mini therapy horse with FORTY handlers.
She was our mascot, our media star, our go-to sweetheart as the face of SOUL Harbour Ranch.
Thank you Mystery for sharing your unconditional love and SOUL with so many. You were SO loved and adored and we will miss you, our "Pretty in Pink" girl, very much.
Touka
7/1/12 ("gotcha day") - 3/20/22
Rest in Peace
TOUKA, a stunning black and white “tuxedo” cat, was loved and owned by Therese Cramer. Touka was a stray and picked Therese to be her human.
Touka was the very first therapy cat in the SOUL Harbour Ranch program and she was SUCH an amazing therapy cat! She loved to be held, loved hugs, loved to go for walks on a leash and loved visiting others in a pet stroller as she peeked her head over to see everyone. Everyone was astonished to even hear that there was such a "thing" as a registered therapy cat!
Therese and Touka passed their Pet Partners evaluation testing in April 2021. While they were only a registered therapy team with us for a short while, they made such an impact on everyone they visited. She was an ambassador for therapy cats everywhere and we look forward to her sister TONKS joining us in the near future.
Buffett
DOB 11/23/09 – 2/29/20
Rest in Peace
BUFFETT, a very stunning
English Cream golden retriever, was Jodie’s first therapy animal and the inspiration for SOUL Harbour Ranch.
He was a very kind old SOUL and he brought his gentle laid-back attitude to everyone he met. Buffett became a certified therapy dog in 2010 and started his therapy work in the AAT/Animal Assisted Therapy program at Northwest Community Hospital.
Together with Jodie & Dudley, they shared their unconditional love at over 7000 patient visits.
He was an integral part the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program and the SOUL Buddies Animal Therapy Club at Barrington High School.
Thank you to everyone that loved Buffett.
We will miss you “Big Head!”