A Heartbreaking Farewell

[Rrune]

I believe there is so much more to this physical existence of ours. My dearest best friend passed away back in 2000, his name was Rusty. He was so close to my heart. Since that time i have finally reached that point in my life where i am able to have pet birds. I lost a few already over these past few years and as sad as it is to lose one my mind imagines a park bench where my friend Rusty is sitting enjoying a wonderful day. I imagine as he is sitting there my wonderful hen JubaLee comes walking up to him and jumps up in his lap. He smiles and knows why she is there and tells her so reassuringly "we will sit here and wait for Ron, OK?"

I think this helps me feel comforted that she is still safe, and not alone or afraid. I even take humor at the fact that along with this hen so many other wonderful pets of my life have begun to join them on that bench, enjoying that wonderful day. Then i begin to laugh as he scans across everyone chattering and jumping around thinking "That Ron better hurry up LOL".

Don't worry Rusty, I will be along before you know it and Thank you for looking out for my wonderful little friends.


Birbmom4ever, I am sending you a hug and a prayer, I know how empty the world must seem right now as i have felt this same feeling many times before. Your life was blessed and i believe those blessings will show themselves to you often to help your through this sad time. I believe we will reunite with everything we have loved one day and we have so much more room to love more and more each day.

Biggest Huggs, ...Ron

[Reti]

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Romeo.

Reti

[Lin Hansen]

Cathy,

I'm so sorry you are going through such heartache over the loss of Romeo. Going through something like this is so painful.

Ron -- I like how you imagine your best friend and your animal friends enjoying themselves and keeping each other company, passing the time while they wait for you.
The thought of such a joyful reunion someday is very comforting.

Linda

[feralpigeon]

Birdmom4ever, I'm truly sorry to hear of Romeo's passing and the difficult decision that you labored over. You handled it with great dignity and gave Romeo the support, as always, that he needed to go thru that experience as gently as possible. Good graces and blessings to you for doing the hardest thing that was ultimately the best solution for Romeo, in familiar loving surroundings.

fp

[Birdmom4ever]

That's a beautiful picture, Ron. Thank you for sharing. I really feel the prayers and kind thoughts. There's an old saying that "a joy shared is doubled and a sorrow shared is halved," or words to that effect. It helps so much to hear from people who love their pets the way I do. Not everyone in my life is an "animal person," and people who haven't been bonded to a pet can't understand what I'm going through, but you guys do.

This is a familiar pain, as I've periodically had my heart broken by little creatures since I was a child. But it never stops me from loving new ones and taking them into my heart. My life is so much richer for having always shared it with pets. They are not the same as people, but there is a sweetness and innocence to animals that is such a blessing. You can be completely yourself around your pets; there is no pretense, no awkwardness. It's a special bond that I can't quite put into words. And though it always ends in tears sooner or later, it's worth the pain. Romeo far exceeded my expectations of what it would be like to have pet geese. He was the best.

One little thing to add: On Thursday, those last few hours while we waited for the vet to come, I hastily took care of the pigeons. As I scraped boxes in the aviary, my white fantail cock landed on my shoulder and cooed in my ear repeatedly. He once lived in the house so he's pretty tame and he does this once in while, but he had not landed on me in a long time. He stayed on my shoulder for several minutes, cooing the whole time. It was almost as if he was trying to comfort me, like a little white angel. His name, by the way, is Gabriel.

[tamiboza]

I am so sorry for your loss. I rescued our petie pigeon in July he is wonderful.Weeks later our collie had a mass show up on the xray...and things happened the same for us.We brought Sam home to sat goodbye, the vet came to my flower garden and sat with the family and Sam awhile and when we were ready she euthanised him with us at his side on the ground.Though Sam was a dog and Romeo was a goose they still live on in our lives.The last thing I said to Sam as he was drifting off was that he was going to be with Jesus for safe keeping. I do hope that time will help you also.
tam

[DeadIrishD]

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


*hugs* I am sorry for your loss.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by tamiboza

I am so sorry for your loss. I rescued our petie pigeon in July he is wonderful.Weeks later our collie had a mass show up on the xray...and things happened the same for us.We brought Sam home to sat goodbye, the vet came to my flower garden and sat with the family and Sam awhile and when we were ready she euthanised him with us at his side on the ground.Though Sam was a dog and Romeo was a goose they still live on in our lives.The last thing I said to Sam as he was drifting off was that he was going to be with Jesus for safe keeping. I do hope that time will help you also.
tam

Hi Tam,

Welcome to pigeons.com.

Thank you for sharing, I am practically in tears over yours and everyones' stories.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Originally Posted by Birdmom4ever

They are not the same as people, but there is a sweetness and innocence to animals that is such a blessing. You can be completely yourself around your pets; there is no pretense, no awkwardness. It's a special bond that I can't quite put into words.

I couldn't agree with you more, Cathy. You can just be yourself around your animals and act goofy, talk to them in your own little language and just accept them as they do us

Originally Posted by Birdmom4ever

As I scraped boxes in the aviary, my white fantail cock landed on my shoulder and cooed in my ear repeatedly. He once lived in the house so he's pretty tame and he does this once in while, but he had not landed on me in a long time. He stayed on my shoulder for several minutes, cooing the whole time. It was almost as if he was trying to comfort me, like a little white angel. His name, by the way, is Gabriel.

What a wonderful sign, perhaps this was also Romeo's way of thanking you and letting you know he's ok

[Lady Tarheel]

I have debated about posting this little story in case folks think I'm loony-tunes, but here goes anyhow. In September, 2002, on a Saturday morning, we had taken a sick pigeon to the emergency vet. While there, we also picked up a new pigeon and on the way home, stopped by "the bridge" and saw a little bundle of feathers on the sidewalk. It turned out to be a baby we named Sapphire, weight 148 but so tiny it fit in the palm of my hand. The poop was very runny, she was loaded with flies, very dirty and had poop on her back, feet, and feathers. I initially thought she would make it. We hydrated her, then later fed, cleaned up a little, put on heating pad etc.

The next morning she was very ill and I knew it was probably only a matter of time. She grew progressively worse. I had her in the kitchen with me so I could watch her and would pick her up from time to time for a cuddle. By early afternoon, I simply picked her up and told her it was ok to go. I laid her back down, went to the sink and within a minute or so literally felt the rush of wings go by my head and an indistinct impression of something going through the wall. I immediately got chill bumps, went to the baby, picked her up and she died in my hands.

Now, I don't know if that was her soul departing before the body actually died. I have never before, or since had that happen and I have had pets all of my life - dogs, cats, birds, etc. You would think that it would have happened when we lost our 17 year old miniature pinscher but it didn't. I don't know if I imagined things or not but at the time it seemed very real. Why it was this little bird I'll never know.

To Dan, that Rainbow bridge quote was very beautiful. Thank you.

[Trees Gray]

No, you're not loony tunes.

I think when you told her it was okay to go, it allowed the bird to relax and give over to dying in peace, which allowed her to share the moment of her passing with you. She shared her spirit leaving in peace, as she shared the moment of death, because you gave her comfort, care and warmth those last hours, that she never knew before.

Thanks for sharing..

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Maggie,

Thank you for sharing your story of Saphire, that is really a strange thing that you experienced! Very sad that she passed away but very uplifting that you heard and felt this phenomenon. I don't think you're crazy, you just got to experience something that most of us never have.