Goodbye to My Faithful Friend

Hercules

February 11, 2001 - April 23, 2008

It was one of those days that you wish you could just skip over. Today, a beautiful sunny Wednesday, Hercules left his failing body and this earth. We miss him terribly.

Hercules was a miracle dog from the start. He and his brothers and sisters were dumped behind a shelter and found wet, cold, and suffering from respiratory problems. We adopted him through a Rottweiler rescue that we had worked with and brought him home when he was about 8 weeks old. He was the cutest and sweetest puppy you had ever seen. He was just a black furball with lots of puppy kisses. At 3, Herc battled his first challenge when had to have two total hip replacements. That dog had 100% titanium hips! He recovered great and was a new dog. About a year later he got a strange viral infection that attacked his intestines and nearly killed him...but again he fought back stronger than ever. This last bout, we thought we were battling arthritis and joint pain. Not so...it appears that Herc most likely had the same disease that claimed his mother...bone cancer. Early this morning, Herc woke us up yelping. When we got to him, he wasn't using his leg and in a lot of pain. I knew it was bad. X-rays confirmed the worst...a huge break in his leg and the bone around it had deteriorated. A tumor had eaten away at the bone and most likely was raging through his other bones and body parts. He had so much life in him, but a body that was failing him. We did the only loving and selfless thing we could do for him...we let him go.

Herc was my constant companion. He stayed up late with me, loved to snuggle, and gave great kisses. His love was unconditional and I will forever miss his sweet face and gentle spirit. We were lucky to have 7 wonderful years with him.

Goodbye my sweet and faithful friend...you will forever be missed and loved. I'll meet you one day at the Rainbow Bridge...for now run free my sweet boy.

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...