If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember . . . The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter -- simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room -- and when you feel it brush against you for the first time -- it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional.  But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet -- and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness.  And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day -- if your friend and whatever higher being you believe in have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own -- on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit.  But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you -- you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.
But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul -- a bit smaller in size than your own -- seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come.

And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg -- very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lie you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your heart.  As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of its own. You will both reject it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when -- along with the memory of your pet -- and piercing through the heaviness in your heart -- there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love -- like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow -- and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets it is a Love we will always possess.

Author: Martin Scot Kosins

Bootsie - Cat, owned and loved by Mary Stumpo.

 Max - A very beloved cat of Dolores & Jim Luzader.  He went to the Rainbow Bridge in August on 1994.  He is missed

Gotcha - My beloved friend and confidant of 6 years born around Nov 1992, and laid to rest Jan 16,1999. You will always be in my heart. ~ Peitra Chamberlain

Murphy - I lost the sweetest little girl on December 23, 1998 -  a Westie with so much personality. I miss her so very much. ~ Sally

Charlie - (a 4 yr old male westie) died of disease over Christmas ~ Jenn

Chadwick - Westie, always a champion,  loved by Jim, Patti and Jordan Page.

Mugsy - Westie, loved and missed by Jeanne Mills and family.

Noel and Hannah - will always be in our hearts because they were our hearts. ~ Maureen & Frank

Louie
June 10, 1984 - December 10, 1998

He was so much more than a dog, he was my best friend.  We were inseparable. He was my companion and protector.  I miss him terribly!   ~Renaye, Dennis, Chris & Doug ~

My darling Spiffy - died a year and a half ago when he was only 3yrs. 10 mos. and I miss him everyday. Kiltie and I now have our darling Duffy but Spiffy will remain in our hearts forever. Life will never be the same. ~ Nancy Palmer

Smitty - 10 year old Westie, loved and missed by Keeliey.

Cricket - A wonderful Scottie, loved and missed by Peggy Truesdell.

Duncan McGee - 14 year old Westie, loved and missed by Susan Schader.

Belle - Our beloved and beautiful Westie who crossed the rainbow bridge after 14 years. Loved and missed by Carl, Cathy, Carl and Erica Graf

Bosley - our beloved Westie, went to the Rainbow Bridge on January 24,1998--just short of his 19th birthday--2/14/79. He is deeply missed! He was the BEST! ~ Beverly & John Murphy

Lady - Westie loved and missed by Monica Cox.

Mickey - Westie loved and missed by Becky Bruno.

Astin - 14 year old Westie, loved and missed by Randy.

12 Year Old Lab - loved and missed by Peggy Roesner.

Tora - Beautiful cat, loved and missed by Terre Yuki.

15 year old Cat - Loved and missed by Barb Ashmead.

Sassy - black lab - loved by Kathy for thirteen years. (1977 - 1990). "I still miss you."

Bonnie - Westie - loved by Tony & Kathy (1990 - 1996). "Your years were short but special to us."

Sulu - Akita. Loved by Kathy."You were always with me and still are. I miss you (1992 - 1998)."

Fagins Waif Oliver Twist-1982-1994 Old English Sheepdog
Angus MacTavish-1978-1986 Westie
"We will always keep you both in our hearts. You are still missed so much." ~ Barb Merrill & Family

Mac-"The love of my life at 15 1/2 yrs he left us on Easter 1999 and the hurt won't go away. He was my baby." ~ Lynn

Foxy - Pomeranian, loved and missed so much ~ Lacey Janae Florian

Hamish - Westie, ( 1995-1999) "Wee Hamish" loved and missed so much ~ Liz Rich

Winnie (Winfred McBoof) - Westie, 14 years old, loved and missed so much ~ Lorna Udy

Billie (Chatine Merrie Maureen) -Westie, 8/11/84 - 1/29/2000 "You are so missed." ~ Yasmin

"Snuggles was my Ragdoll Siamese whom I miss terribly." ~ Betty Clark

Gonzo, our family dog, recently passed away. He was with us for almost 10 years. Each day in all those wonderful years, Gonzo never failed to delight us, he kept us amused, kept us loved in his own little doggie way, even till the very end. He was not a pure-bred westie but that didnt make us love him less. We will never forget Gonzo as he will always be part of the family and will always have a special place in our hearts.~ Claire

Meghan - She taught me so much about unconditional love and patience ~ Blake

Lily - Our Westie angel (1988-1999) Not a day dawns that we don't miss our sweet Lily. We love
you, Sweetheart... Dorothy and Harry

Nikki, 1986-1999--my sweet, little, angelface. Nothing can replace this little westie in my heart. I look forward to the day that I am reunited with my white angel. I love you, Nikki ~ Deb Garber

Rikki 7/22/00 - Loved and missed by Rick Turner.

Marty (M&M) (Jan 6, 2000 - August 31, 2000) Our dear sweet little puppy will always be loved by Margaret, Saul, Virginia, Jenna, Alex, and Tequila.

Wesley, Westie loved and missed ~ Kim Vacanti

Charlie, Westie loved and missed ~ Paul Carr

Sandy, Westie loved and missed ~ Sharon Milloy

Fred, 10-11-2000, Westie loved and missed ~ Anne

Pookie, My Pookie was not a Westie but a Lhasa-Apso/Poodle mix. She crossed the rainbow bridge on Nov.14 2000 at approximately 14 years old. I loved her as a best friend and loyal companion for 13 years. She was the sunshine in my life and I miss her terribly. I don't think I can go on without her and I pray that I will see her again some day. ~ Teresa

Heidi, 15 years old, loved and missed ~ Linda Hager

Westie, almost 18 years old, March 2000,  Loved and missed ~ Lynn

Blizzard,  beloved 12 1/2 year old Westie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on November 22, 2000. He had a fabulous life and brought everyone so much joy. For my Mother, Father, and myself, our loss is immense, but we know he is in a much better place waiting for us. Thank you Lord for putting him on earth and in our lives for the last 12 1/2 years. ~ Annie Emanuelson

Norman, Westie loved and missed ~ Jo-Anne Ville

Chelsea,  1/08/01 "The pain at times is still almost unbearable.She weathered many storms of life and still managed to live to be an "old lady" . She was always by our sides both at work and home. Sometimes I hear her bark ,see her face or feel her nudge my leg when it's time for her to eat. Nothing could be harder than losing her , until I read things such as these poems that make me remember she no longer feels all the pains her 14 year old body forced upon her.

Dante, Westie 12-14-2000 Loved and missed ~ Angela B. Keel

Gillian, Westie, Loved and missed ~ Sandy Morgan

Brandy, Cocker Spaniel, Loved and missed ~ Pat Crossman

MoMo, Westie 2-12-2001 "A love for a Westie is like no other. She will hughly missed." ~ Carol

Andy, Loved and missed ~ Kelly Kemski

Jasper,  my cat for twenty-two years. She left me eight months ago and I still miss her so! ~ Eileen

Buffy, Went to Rainbow Bridge, August 2000. Loved and Missed by Pat Siterlet and family.

Summer, Loved and missed by Linda Threewit.

Wonderful, sweet members of our family waiting at the Rainbow Bridge: by Marilyn Livermore

TOBY (Captain Tobias MacGregor, aka "The Cartain' 'Toby-Boby-Man' 'Mr. Perfect') Our feisty, loving and faithful first little Westie! He left us on May 14, 2001, after a 3-year battle with serious illnesses. Toby-you were a fighter, and very, very brave! So much loved, and missed every minute of every day! Oct 5, 1984-May 14, 2001

MAGGIE (Lady Margaret MacGregor) Our first little girl Westie, left for the Bridge March 25 1995, at the age of 12. The most gentle and loving little lady one could have for a companion!

GIDGET (beagle mix)Never at a loss for interesting things to do, from mud-rolling to hauling home those old smelly woodchuck ramains!! So faithful, and oh so loving!

COCOA SAM (Sammy) Our georgeous Siamese cat. Lived happily to the age of 18!

TRIXIE Petite, long-haired calico cat, lived to the ripe old age of 21!

BEARCAT (Bear) wonderful long-haired grey tiger cat. Killed by our neighbor's dog, and mourned for oh, so long!

HURRICANE Our sweet little kitten, curious and full of mischief, killed when she decided to escape and explore the road. We were devastated!

SCOOTER Our daughter's little calico cat, our very first pet. Also killed by a neighbor's dog. She taught us what it meant to lose a pet, and how we never, ever forget them!

JAKE - Westie, Born 11/24/86 - Died 01/03/02 ~  "My Best Friend and Soulmate. He was so smart, sweet, and perfect. I miss him so very much." ~ Wendy

GINGER - Fawn Boxer, "I miss her terribly" ~ Judy Noe

BONNIE - We really miss the fun Bonnie gave us. ~ Bob Allard.

TUCKER - "Yesterday morning I set my Westie Tucker's spirit free to find a healthy body. He took such incredibly good care of me for 14 years, and all I could do for him was to let him go before he suffered too much. I am so much better a human being for all he gave me." ~ Julie Roberts

ANGUS - Loved and Missed ~ Sandy Ryan

PIPER - We have a huge, empty space in our lives. ~ Jane

SIR DOOGIE McTAVISH - One of our "little loves". Our "kids" are the best friends one could ever have. ~ Marlene Heuer-Graham

CASSIE - March 3, 2002. I miss her so much. She was the light of my life. ~ Carolyn Cornelius

BARNEY - Loved and missed. ~ Arlene