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.... (Anonymous)
Tibbs
A special boy who loved his "mother' until his last, unfortunate day... which came much too soon. Tibbs, a blue heeler, loved hopping, swimming, chasing cows, high pitched barking, jumping up on horses' backs, and cats. He now rests peacefully overlooking the Missouri River breaks in the Muddy Reservoir pasture.
Rango
Saved as a kitten and raised on a bottle (his mother abandoned him), little Rango grew to be a big boy. Even bigger was the strength of his bad breath, and the portrusion of his little buck teeth :) We loved him none the less, and didn't get nearly enough time to enjoy him. Rango passed tragically at a very young age.
Hank
Bobcat
Hank and her sister Bobcat blessed us with their spunkiness and witt. Being Mancoon, they LOVED water and could be found lying in the dripping bathroom sink together. Hank rode many a day in the car back and forth to town, and was quite the hit with the bank teller gals. Bobcat was more of a stay-at-home cat and enjoyed her alone time. Both passed unexpectedly at the age of 2.
NN
Caty
Here's to the sweetest, most loving cat we've ever known. NN loved being held and always was great for giving kisses. Unfortunately, she passed tragically at a very young age; we miss her every day.
Caty was a Catahula who we purchased in the hopes of having her turn into a wonderfully brave cattle dog. However, Caty turned out to be quite the opposite--she was slow moving and not agressive at all (at least to cows; chickens, now that was a different story), she actually licked cattles' noses rather than nip them.! Caty enjoyed the life of luxury...riding in the front seat of the pickup, sleeping in her master's bed, and the best food. Caty lived a long and happy life :)
Lucky
Windy
Lucky got her name because as a baby, her mother accidentally pushed her along a barb wire fence while they were running, and Lucky cut her chest horribly...so badly, she was "lucky" to be alive. With lots of time and loving care, she healed and was shown (even with her horrible scars) in halter class where she placed very well. In addition, she was broke and ridden a few years on the ranch, but then retired and used as a brood mare. Lucky raised many beautiful colts for our family until she was over 28 years old! She passed from old age in 2012.
Windy was a very loving, kind mare who spent her younger years as a ranch horse who many a child rode up and down hills and swam in reservoirs. In her middle-age, Windy was in an accident where she damaged her sinuses, and then could only be used as a broodmare. She passed away of old age in 2011.
Lady
Bess
Lady was a very kind young mare who we had high hopes for, as she was thick, muscular, and very smart. However, Lady liked to buck a bit too much and never got over it. Before we were able to sell her to someone who enjoyed getting bucked, Lady slipped under a wire fence during the winter, and severely cut up her back leg. The leg never healed, so sadly, Lady had to be put down.
The first Holstein we've ever had on our ranch! She gave the best milk...it was unormally sweet :) Bess was milked for a couple years and raised some nice babies for us, both of her own and as a nurse cow. After we stopped keeping her in the yard for hand milking, Bess graduated to the ranch pastures with the beef cows. Sadly, even though she outweighed them 2 to 1, Bess was picked on by the non-dairy cattle. She held her own though, and raised 2 very excellent mother cows and a few big steers along the way. Bess died in a bad snow storm the winter of 2009.
Streak
Gingerale
There never lived a more spirited, unbroken soul...Streak was an amazingly fast, strong, stout, brilliant gelding who lived quite an interesting life on the ranch. He HATED being caught (and would try everything not to get caught), but when he finally had to "surrender", he worked hard all day and would never stop running. My folks say he would've won the triple crown with his talent! Streak lived to be an old man until 2011, when he died of old age on the home he's known forever.
This little firecracker was a fast-walking little gal, who never gave up or slowed down. Kids or adults alike would ride Gingerale, although she was my Dad's (Bob's) mare. She had endurance like you wouldn't believe, mostly because of the Arabian in her. Gingerale was used on all aspects of the ranch, as well as as a broodmare. She passed away in 2010 of old age.
Squeak
Patches
Have you ever seen a cat play fetch??? Well, Squeak would! Squeak was born on a dairy in South Dakota, and later moved back home to Montana after I (Alisha) took a break from college in 2004. She was a great friend and travel partner. Squeak loved it at the ranch and would stand her ground to anything; her tail would grow 3 times its size when she was angry! Unfortunatley, Squeak didn't come home one day in 2007. She passed on her great genes to her one accidental batch of babies though, who are still living in North Dakota today. She just had to bring something with her from South Dakota ;)
Patches was the first heifer calf i (Alisha) ever chose for a replacement, and i was only 5 years old. I remember Dad telling me to pick one, and of course, i picked the fanciest looking one--a white and black speckled longhorn. Well, that was the best cow i could've asked for! She was born in 1988 and died in 2007, but every year since she was two, she raised a calf. We are still saving heifers from her lineage as of today, in hopes of keeping her fertility (and freckles) alive.