MountainParadise

Randy's Angel

Jim & Michelle's Eddie

Tracy & Paul's Chuck with The Cat Pack

Diana's Cassie

Jenny's Badger

Kathy & Jerry's K.C. Karl Peter

A Bridge Called Love
It takes us back to brighter years, to happier sunlit days and to precious moments that will be with us always.
And these fond recollections are treasured in the heart to bring us always close to those from whom we had to part.
There is a bridge of memories from earth to Heaven above... It keeps our dear ones near us.
It's the bridge that we call love.
Author Unknown

The tribute below was written by Eddie's grieving fur baby parents
Jim and Michelle and sent to me on February 20, 2002

Eddie Hargreaves was born 08 April 1999
and he died 15 Feb 2002.
He is and always will be our beautiful, funny, silly,
happy Poodle boy.
These words below are what I am trying to work to.

Request From Rainbow Bridge
by Constance Jenkins

Weep not for me though I am gone
Into the gentle night
Grieve if you will but not for long
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest
There is no need for tears.
There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear now all has gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on
Remeber not my fight for breath
Remember not my strife
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.

Love Michelle & Jim

SHADOW'S SONG
(on the death of a cat)

I'm not gone...not really.
I haven't gone away...I've only gotten bigger.
My eyes, so bright now shine among the stars.
My voice sings with the wind in winter, as I leap
And dance among the tree tops.
I stalk the blown leaves in autumn,
and brush the Flowers gently in the spring.
I come to you in dreaming, on feet
grown dreamtime soft,
And lay my cheek against yours, and whisper:
"Peace be with you." Someday we will
play again together, you and I, among the stars.
'Til then, fear not to love, for your
love gave my life meaning.
And I return that love to you...a
hundredfold...a housandfold...
Forever.

Copyright � 1996 by Audrey E. Nickel

Nina

Rainbow Bridge: Sequel To The Original

Oh, when we get to Heaven
We hope that we will find
The souls that once we loved
Who left us all behind.

Some left us at the right time
They left this world in peace
Others left too sudden
Without the chance to say Goodbye,
They were gone before we had
The chance to even cry.

There's a special place for grownups
A special place for kids
Me? I'll be on the other side
The side called Rainbow Bridge.

Across the dark green meadow
A'top the hills I'll run
Where the colors from the rainbow
Glitter from the sun.

And there I'll find my sweetheart
Running fast toward me
In my arms where he belongs
for all eternity.

Jean McColgan

Beyond The Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the
times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth
would fade.
I saw a wondrous image then of a place
that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on
the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush
and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far
as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as
could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and
healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, to tell you
I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful,
then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining
bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in
its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in
the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no
eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me,
we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and
listen with your heart.

cg - 1995

EDDIE'S STORY & ADDISONS DISEASE

Dear Veterinary/Dog Owner,

Please take some time to read Eddie's story it could save your dog's life,especially if he is a young
Standard Poodle. Eddie died aged 2 years & 10 months.He was a slim athletic,not skinny Standard
Poodle. We got Eddie at approx 7/8 weeks old.
Apart from his ear infections he showed no visible health problems prior to the symptoms which
manifested in the few days leading up to his death,which will unfold as I tell his story. Before I tell his
story I must digress briefly as the information regarding his ear operation is relevant.

In November 2001 Eddie had a 1 and 1/2 hour operation to remove part of his outer ear,under the floppy
outer ears.This was required to erradicate the cycle of gluey ear infections enhanced by his narrow ear
canals. The operation was a great success,in every aspect and there weren't any complications whilst
Eddie was under anaesthetic, which is always a great worry of mine..

On 12th February 2002,I arrived home form work,my husband advised me that Eddie had been shaking
nervously and would not eat his tea(Eddie had 2 meals a day to help prevent gastric torsion a known
problem with Standard Poodles).I was a little concerned as he had not eaten his breakfast either.( he had
always been a fussy eater but by adding chicken gravy ,sardines or something tasty he usually ate it
eventually)There had been fireworks outside also that evening so I put the shaking down to that. Eddie
had become a "more" nervous dog recently.We put that down to the fact his ears no longer caused him
problems, and the fact his hearing would be more acute.
I managed to get Eddie to eat a tin of tuna and some boiled chicken and rice(this always works when my
dogs are under the weather).No further problems that evening. However, in the morning Eddie vomited
and brought back the lot . I then made an appointment for later that day 13th February 2002.
The vet gave Eddie a thorough examination and put the problem down to gastro-enteritis.His
temperature and heart was ok.Antibiotics I think were administered and anti inflammatory ,as my
husband said he had pressed on Eddie's back and he had growled.We went home and despite coaxing
Eddie did not eat anything this day either.He passed one firm stool which was okay.
Thursday 14th February 2002Eddie, again refused food ,even his favourite,Yoghurt. He then passed some
loose stools and they had blood in them. I was very worried and made an appointment for 9o'clock the
same day. I have seen many dogs with gastro-enteritis and none of them had it for 48 hours without
showing some improvement when they had recieved treatment.

I took annual leave from work and Eddie and I attended the appointment.The vet gave him a further
thorough examination,his heart and temperature was okay,and the vet felt for a possible blockage in his
tummy and intestine.Nothing seemed to be amiss.Eddie was given further anti-inflammatory and
antibiotics.The vet said try him with small amounts of boiled chicken and rice form 12 o'clock onward
,and every hour after that.
I fed him at 11.30 because I could't wait I was worried sick.He wolfed down th small amount of food I
gave him,I was releaved,my relief was short lived,12.30 came he wouln't eat 1.30, nothing and so on. I
tried everything I could think of. He was still drinking plenty of water and he managed a short walk.I
telephoned and spoke to the vet and said Eddie had not eaten anything now for 3 days except for the
small amount of food at 11.30.The vet made a further appointment for the next day Friday 15th February
2002., first thing.
Friday duly came and again he refused all attempts at giving him favourite foods.He was still lethargic
and burping alot. I saw the other vet at the practice.Again Eddie was examined and I relayed all the
previous days events regarding Eddies symptoms. I advised of the food refusal and said Eddie had drank
tea and water that morning.
The vet said it could be a possible blockage,that thought had crossed my mind but Eddie did not have a
history of eating foreign bodies like his sister . The vet said he would give him a light sedation,do x-rays
and take some blood tests.Iwasn't unduly worried about the sedation as he had had the long operation 3
months earlier in November,and he was a young usually healthy dog

I telephoned at 12o'clock to see when I could collect him.I was told he was actually having the x-ray and
blood tests as we spoke. I was told to ring again at 2o'clock. The vet phoned my husband at 2
o'clock,Eddie was dead.We were in total shock I was hysterical,we were devasted and still are.
A few days after when my husbands grief was more under control he had a chat with the vet.The vet and
all the staff were also distraught.The vet explained that Eddie had been given the reversal for the sedation
and come round okay and was in his pen awaiting collection.Meanwhile the tests were coming through
on the machine.the x-rays showed nothing except abuild up of gas in the chest. The blood tests revealed
Eddie's potassium levels were off the scale and Addisons disease was confirmed.By the time the vet got to
Eddie,it was too late he had already gone,he must have gone into Addisonian crisis,which was
exacerbated by the sedation.

Since this terrible day I have trawled the internet to find out more about this condition as it is not
mentioned in our many Poodle books.We have found from the internet and talking to people about their
Addisons dogs's that many vets are not picking up on the symptoms early(although I must add this was
not the case with our vets).Thus many Addisons dogs suffer for months before the ACTH test is
undertaken.
This delaycan be traumatic for the dog and owner as the dog dies going into Addisonian crisis,as in our
case.I must stress at this point that Addisons disease once diagnosed is very treatable,with appropriate
medication prescribed by your vet.

We have also found out from American websites that young Standard Poodles ,male or female are
predisposed to Addisons disease, and this is not mentioned in the poodle books in the UK. If it had been
we, as caring Poodle owners would probably have picked up on it.

THE SYMPTOMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
LETHARGY
DEPRESSION /NERVOUSNESS /SHAKING
VOMITING /DIARRHOE POSSIBLY BLOODY
LOSS OF APPETITE
SLOW HEART RATE

I understand these symptoms could cover a multitude of dog ailments,however if these symptoms are
treated and your dog displays them after 48 hours max has elapsed, please consider Eddie's story and ask
your vet to test for Addisons disease immediately. I certainly would, but my vet would do this anyway
as we have a sister of Eddie also.

For further detailed clinical information regarding Addisons Disease & Addisonian Crisis please look at
the following web sites.
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/addisons.htm
http://www.marvistavet.com/htm/body_s_disease.html
http://www.inkabijou.co.uk/addisons.htm
http://www.vipoodle.org/
If Eddie's story has been useful to you in any way please e-mail me at:
[email protected]
Thankyou for listening
Michelle Hargreaves(Eddie's mum)