At Chenoa we realize that many of our special family members will not live as long as us and we wanted to honor their memory. This page is devoted to just a few of those who have crossed over the 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 - There seems to be some confusion as to who the author of this wonderful poem is. Recently someone emailed me that Paul C. Dahm is the author. I was in the process of trying to obtain permission from him or his publisher for the use of this poem on this site, when I discovered that there are two other people who claim to have written this poem. Therefore, in the interest of fairness, below are the names of all the persons who claim to have authored this poem in one form or another.

Paul C. Dahm -
Mr. Dahm is a grief counselor and is said to have written the poem in 1981, copyrighted it in 1994, and published in a book titled "The Rainbow Bridge" in 1998.

William N. Britton -
Mr. Britton's book, "Legend of Rainbow Bridge", was copyrighted and published in 1994.

Dr. Wallace Sife -
Dr. Sife a professional grief counselor heads the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. His version of the poem, titled, "All Pets Go to Heaven," appears on that organization's site. Dr.Fife's poem also is featured in his book, "The Loss of a Pet".

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Caprice Purr-Fect Kat

(Purr-Butt)
May 22, 1986 - June 19, 1995

Purr had been shown and traveled in her younger days with a handler, earned a major reserve, but was never finished. Purr had a very unique personality and she "told" her owner that she didn't want to show any more and stopped "performing." She was retired and came home to Boulder and became a brood bitch. In 1994, we leased her from her owner, Margaret, of Caprice kennels. Caprice kennels has been around for over 30 years and bred many healthy, happy pets, working dogs, and many, many champions. Purr-Butt as she was known, came to Chenoa on a "temporary" basis. We wanted to start a new line utilizing Caprice's strong genetics for both health and temperament, but at that time we could not afford to purchase such a wonderful dog. Purr came home with me, she was bred at her next heat cycle, whelped out a healthy litter of 8 puppies at the ripe "young" age of 7. When the puppies were all placed and I took Purr back to her breeder/owner, Purr said "hello" to Margaret and then jumped back in my truck. She had made her choice. Margaret took it good naturedly and said, "well, she's made her choice", and she gave me that wonderful, unique dog.

Purr-Butt changed my life. She was loving to all, an alpha bitch in our kennel, was a fantastic mother and became a "grandmother" to a few other litters. She even nursed one litter that wasn't hers that another bitch wouldn't feed. Purr-Butt had a distinctive personality that included a sense of humor. She would come up behind you, poke you in the butt and then run away, looking back over her shoulder and I swear she was laughing. She was playing tag.

When Purr-Butt died, she took my heart with her. I still think of her, at times I still grieve. I have her picture, her collar, and her ashes and will never part with them.

Purr, I love you, I miss you, and you can never be replaced no matter how many dogs come into my life.

Your second mother, Susan

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Abby

April 8, 1999 - June 28, 2003

Abby came from one of our out-cross litters. She was a beautiful black and tan bitch that was placed with a wonderful young man then in his teens. Todd had researched the different breeds of dogs and decided that he wanted a German Shepherd Dog. He was interested in showing in competitive obedience. He researched the breed and was well educated in the possible problems in the German Shepherd Dog breed. I do not think I have ever met a more well versed and prepared puppy buyer than Todd and his family. He had saved up his own money to purchase Abby. At around two years of age they found out that Abby suffered from pancreatic insufficiency which was preventing her from keeping on weight because she was not able to efficiently utilize all the nutritional value of her food. Todd had Abby on medicine to help her with this condition. Unfortunately, there would soon be another blow to this wonderful family. Abby developed bloat and passed away. She was a wonderful dog and our hearts and prayers are with Todd, his family and Abby.

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Conlee's Katana v Chenoa

(Katie)
January 2, 1999 - February 8, 2000

Although Katie's time with us was very short, she made an enormous impact on my life. She was a beautiful, correct sable puppy. Katie was always a very playful girl and enjoyed everyone who came into contact with her. When she died (due to torsion), she took a piece of my heart with her. It was several months before I could even talk about her and what had happened to her. While I wasn't there when she was whelped, I was there when she died at the vet's office and I was able to hold her and say my goodbye's. Katie you are still greatly missed.

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Kubistraum's Damon

(Damon)
September 3, 1989 - October 3, 1999

Damon came to Chenoa on a co-ownership from a well-known kennel back east. He was almost 4 years old when I got him. He had OFA'd "excellent" on his hips and we were looking forward to showing him to his championship and breeding him. In May of 1993 we bred him to one of our bitches and were eagerly awaiting the litter. During this time, he and I traveled to Utah for a four-day specialty show. On the last day he started limping on his front leg. Once we returned home, we had him x-rayed and discovered that he suffered from fragmented coronoid process (FCP) which is a elbow dysplasia. We struggled with the fact that he had elbow dysplasia, that we did not know that there was a problems with elbows in the breed, the fact that we had already bred him, and most of the litter had been pre-sold. I contacted all the puppy buyers and told them about Damon, most of them had met Damon and loved him. I offered them the opportunity of either receiving a full refund of their deposit money and they could get a puppy from someone else or they could still get a puppy from his litter and I would still stand behind my contract about dysplasia. We did the responsible thing and had Damon neutered. The litter he had sired was born, and there were 9 puppies. Out of that litter (which was whelped in 1993) not one puppy has been reported to have any elbow problem. One of those puppies buyers were the McCormick's and they are featured on our puppy page.

Damon had an incredible personality. He didn't like to be alone and could go over, under any fence. One day, I had put him in the back yard as the fence was 6 feet high and went to town to get the mail, I was gone about 1/2 an hour. When I got back home I saw that my front door was opened. When I got to the door I noticed that there was a very small rip in the screen. I went inside and there in the hall was Damon wagging his tail and saying "aren't you proud of me, I opened the door all by myself and I was waiting for you." I had to go to my room to laugh he was so funny. One day there was a lot of snow in the front yard and he was out there with three of my other dogs. The phone rang and my neighbor down the street said your dog just got out and he is taking the other dogs down the street. Yep, there was Damon in the lead and the others were following him down the street. I called to him and they all returned. They didn't jump the fence, the snow had piled up in one corner and Damon just showed the others how to walk over the fence. Quite a few of us allow our dogs to lie on our beds or even to let them sleep on our bed with us. Damon slept with me, but he didn't curl up near the bottom of the bed. Oh no, he had to lie next to me with his head on the pillow. He was a big baby and I always called him Damon Buddy.

In August of 1994 I placed Damon with a great family in Denver. Originally they had come to see me about getting a puppy but fell in love with Damon. Damon spent the rest of his life being loved and pampered by the Johnson's. He died in the Fall of 1999. He is greatly missed by all of those whose lives he touched.

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Chenoa's Great Adventure

(Rhini)
December 11, 1994 - November 15, 2004

Rhini is a bitch that Susan got from a breeding out of her beloved Purr-Butt by CH Kinni-V Oz v. Kubistraum. Rhini was sold as a puppy to my husband and me. Susan handled Rhini at shows and so did her step-son, Kevin. Even though she was never a champion she was one in our hearts. Rhini was an intelligent bitch, and made us very happy. Rhini whelped two litters, and was a wonderful momma. Rhini was especially happy when one of her pups out of her last litter stayed with her. Rhini gave us a lot of love and liked to sleep right in between us at night. She also loved to just lay beside us on the couch and be petted. In February of 2004, Rhini was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma cancer, she bravely fought the disease for 10 months until the disease won and we humanely let her go. Even at the end, Rhini still insisted on getting in bed with us and also laying on the couch. When Rhini passed, a big part of my heart went with her. Rhini was the type of dog that was in tune with my feelings and knew when I was upset. Rhini would come over and lay her head on my lap and look at me with those big eyes and say " its okay I'm here, I will make you feel better". Rhini was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all, especially by us and our son. Rhini certainly lived up to her name. She was a Great Adventure!!!!!!!!!!! Written by Luanne Crinklaw specifically for this site (used by permission).

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